Universal Credit Underpayment - How to appeal?

mapleleaf1010

DWP underpaid me twice the past few months.

I explained that to DWP and presented all the evidence, calculations and breakdown to demonstrate the underpayments.

They ignored my messages and kept saying that their records indicate that there was no underpayment.

How do I escalate this matter?

Cheers.

huckster

What is the issue causing underpayments ?

Every statement UC issue can be appealed against using mandatory reconsideration process.

Have you used a benefits calculator such as Turn2Us or Entitledto, to check the UC payment amount ?

See this regarding how to appeal and complain.

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-work-pensions/about/complaints-procedure

mapleleaf1010

huckster wrote: »

What is the issue causing underpayments ?

Every statement UC issue can be appealed against using mandatory reconsideration process.

Have you used a benefits calculator such as Turn2Us or Entitledto, to check the UC payment amount ?

See this regarding how to appeal and complain.

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-work-pensions/about/complaints-procedure

I was on JSA beforehand and the UC staff miscalculated my payments twice.

I explained everything and presented all the calculations in the UC journal messages. UC are now fobbing me off and saying that there is no decision to request mandatory reconsideration. What??????

UC advised me to make a complaint instead. (Knowing too well that I'll probably receive a standard reply such as 'Our records indicate that there hasn't been any underpayment' blah blah blah).

Ineededaname

You're going to have to explain why you believe you are being underpaid if you want any useful advice.

Also i'm a bit confused by your post. If the underpayments were on a previous JSA claim it's no use trying to resolve it through UC. Contact JSA or go ahead with your written complaint?

If you believe you are being underpaid UC then please say why and we might be able to advise you.

. UC are now fobbing me off and saying that there is no decision to request mandatory reconsideration.

Which is essentially correct. I've never heard of a Mandatory reconsideration over payment amounts. Reconsiderations are to appeal decisions DWP have made. Your payments are not a decision, the amounts are set out in legislation and you are paid based on the circumstances you have declared and verified. You can't appeal a decision that has not been made.

Now some decisions that are made can affect the payment, and if this has happened you can submit a reconsideration of that decision itself. (For example a sanction, WCA decision, housing unit decision.) However I'm assuming this is not the case if they told you there is no decision to request a reconsideration for.

This is not to say you can't be paid incorrectly of course, and how you get a mispayment corrected would be based entirely on what it is. You need to provide more information.