UC - assessment periods/new claim

jessejazza

I am new to this and would very grateful for advice.

I was given notice 4 jun19 with two weeks notice. 18jun19 I go to the Jobcentre and am told little about the UC and its assessment periods. In my last payslip 14jun19 - my holiday pay was left out along with the period of notice. The following week 21jun19 I receive it.

The jobcentre didn't tell me that this late payment would mean I get NO benefit that assessment period. My assessment period would be 18junb19-17jul19.

I haven't been dishonest and have been told that I can't make a complaint and this is now law.

So what I should have done was left the claim for a week or so and then the late payment would have been ok. I have now had no payment for 6 weeks, spent £59 travelling into the jobcentre... and for absolutely nothing.

[Deleted User]

Yes that's right, that's how UC works,if you'd have claimed later you would have received uc for the period. No complaint will be successful.

tacpot12

Your £59 has not been wasted because you have made a valid claim for UC and will receive a payment at the end of your next assessment period.

jessejazza

Thank you for your replies - I posted and then found out from someone else just afterwards.

I think it is utterly iniquitous. Many folk when a job ends; do NOT know if they will receive final money due. Also some folk are paid expenses at a later date and separate from wages. This is then deducted from your benefit.

Where in this application procedure for UC is there any warning of this? When I made a claim I expected a Jobcentre appointment like Income Support where one's claim is explained/discussed THEN you sign your agreement. If I recall one is actually asked on the Income Support if you are going to receive late wage payments and all can be declared. With UC this is not the case.

When one has completed the form there should be some final stage that asks this before the claim is started. In my case to survive i have had to cash a pension... so no UC payment this 2nd assessment period. At least I can do that otherwise I would have no money to even get food with.... although they are keen to point out you can have an advance of about £300+ which in my case isn't going to help paying water, electricity etc. Mortgage cost aside no home owner can avoid getting into serious debts within two months. My mortgage is only small and ends in 3 years.

Conveniently you can't complain - our new age of dictatorship. Before submitting a claim one should have a right to a review and sign final agreement along with Jobcentre staff. No benefit and no council tax reduction... and council tax is more of a problem than utility bills - one warning letter and court summons for a CCJ.

As I said in a letter to my MP (Conservative) - the party who of course introduced this scheme... "who on earth will vote conservative". This scheme is worst than the Poll Tax - Poll Tax was fair BUT the collected was ill thought out.

This scheme was like Poll Tax introduced in haste. As well of course to deny any benefits possible they can. It is almost not worth claiming as it is so much hassle. Also conveniently based on the assumption you have a computer at home.... otherwise you go to the Jobcentre each day at a cost in my case of £4.90 on the bus (which comes out of the claim - which for me means the claim is reduced by £24.50 per week).

poppy12345

jessejazza wrote: »

No benefit and no council tax reduction... and council tax is more of a problem than utility bills

Council tax reduction isn't part of UC and you need to claim this from your local council.

[Deleted User]

I think your agony has something to do with why Employers will no longer want to commit to notice periods.

Council tax reduction actually took longer then getting UC in place.
Only this week I heard back about it and that was 2 weeks after closing claim. It was worth waiting for as my future payments went to zero with them owe'ing me a refund so was really worth doing - (clearly going to have to put them right now.)

Don't half wish I knew my way around the benefit system - there is a UC Advisor job going at my CAB for 24k fixed term!!!

jessejazza

poppy12345 wrote: »

Council tax reduction isn't part of UC and you need to claim this from your local council.

Please tell me more! My understanding is that HMRC, UC and council tax are linked and have been for some time. The council check that one is on UC or Income Support (back in 2017).

I signed onto council tax reduction 27jun19. I have already had an email saying I should be paying the full amount with no explanation. I had no income for 3 months when I moved here (3 year ago) and was told I had to pay full council tax even though I had no income.

tomtom256

jessejazza wrote: »

Please tell me more! My understanding is that HMRC, UC and council tax are linked and have been for some time. The council check that one is on UC or Income Support (back in 2017).

I signed onto council tax reduction 27jun19. I have already had an email saying I should be paying the full amount with no explanation. I had no income for 3 months when I moved here (3 year ago) and was told I had to pay full council tax even though I had no income.

The council can see what benefits you are receiving, buty you have to actually apply at the council for the council tax reduction scheme.

It is no longer an automatic right that one awards the other.

jessejazza

tomtom256 wrote: »

The council can see what benefits you are receiving, buty you have to actually apply at the council for the council tax reduction scheme.

It is no longer an automatic right that one awards the other.

Well I claimed council tax in the same week with my appointment on the 27th Jun. Ar the time I was told the weekly amount and that no payment is required until I get the invoice which seems to take 3-4 weeks. I asked to start paying that immediately to avoid arrears which builds up. Then when I am back in work Iwill be paying the full amount of £17 (approx) per week. As I learnt in 2017 when I was doing agency work (off and on).

What happens is one's arrears starts to mount up and then one can be paying an extra £10+ per week.

If one does not receive benefit the default is...?