Universal Credit dispute

rangout

Last week they closed my UC account, as they wrongly assumed I was paid by a (non existent) employer. Obviously, they didn't bother telling me, I found out when I logged onto my journal

This was done last Tuesday. I took my bank statements to them last Thursday and was told it should be resolved in a couple of days. After hearing nothing from them, I went to see them and have now been told it could be a while before it gets resolved (it's getting passed up to the central office to be looked at). They should have called this afternoon to let me know what's happening, but haven't.

It's almost a week without money. Does anyone know how long this should take?

[Deleted User]

I didn't think they closed it anyway? If it showed up you were paid and resulted in a nil payment I thught it stayed open for six months?

rangout

I can view it, but I can't update it, and neither can they

The front page says the claim has been closed

sportsarb

MarkN88 wrote: »

I didn't think they closed it anyway? If it showed up you were paid and resulted in a nil payment I thught it stayed open for six months?

Some offices, at least one that I am aware of personally, close as soon as there is a nil entitlement period. They seem to treat it much like an IS claim would have been treated.

Ineededaname

If you know you don't have income you should submit a reclaim as soon as possible. Log in on your usual details and do this as soon as possible. Once you've submitted a reclaim you may be able to request an advance payment. Not ideal but if you are desperate..

Not much you can do about the dispute except wait. They will have been told by HMRC that an employer has paid you. They will go back to HMRC who may need to contact the employer.

rangout

I can't do anything with the account. Because they closed it, I'm not able to add any details

No one at the job centre told me about a reclaim. They keep telling me it'll be resolved in a couple of days, but that's now turned into the next week or so. In the meantime, I've been advised not to open a new claim, as they will have to close it in order to reopen the old one!

Ineededaname

When you log in you the first thing you should see is a message saying your claim has been closed. There should be a green button there you use to reclaim.

You don't want to start a completley new claim. You need to use your old account. Your claim closing may be a mistake but this happens correctly to people all the time and the reclaim procedure is there so they can be assessed again for the next period if they know their income could be lower.

rangout

I've been told by the job centre to leave it for the time being

But if they won't give me a timescale for this mess,. I'm going in tomorrow to do it

Ineededaname

See here.

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/universal-credit/claiming/reapply-for-universal-credit/

I think you may have been told incorrectly on this. It's true you shouldn't make a completley new claim, but you need to reclaim if you want to be assessed for the next payment. Cant see why this would affect your dispute in any way, but maybe speak to them again.

tomtom256

They may be trying to reopen it without a break in the claim, if it is reopened prior to this by you then you may miss out on any payment due.

I would ring the service centre and discuss it with them to see what is being done to be safe.

rangout

Well, still no update after two and a half weeks, but now they've told me it might be another month before they make a decision! I handed them the information they requested over 2 weeks ago (bank statements), but they only escalated to their line manager last Tuesday

In the meantime, I have no money and they have stopped my housing benefit

Is there any way I can escalate this? I have a horrible feeling this is going to happen again this month