Another Universal credit question......

whiteroom184

Hi all,

just a bit of advice/knowledge please :j

I became unemployed on 12th July and submitted my claim for UC on 15th July. My previous employer did not pay monies owed until 26th July.
UC have now awarded me zero, as they say they take into account any payment made in the period irrelevant to whether it was earned then.
They've also told me this morning that that period of assessment is gone and is cannot be re-claimed back, is this right?

I will also lose rights to access council tax reductions, free school meals etc etc.

they have closed my claim and I have had to start a re-claim today and go to another commitments meeting etc.........

just don't know what to do to be honest.........:undecided

calcotti

The DWP are correct. Any income received within the assessment period is taken into account. DWP really should provide guidance that for many people it is beneficial to only claim UC after receiving final payment from employer - but unfortunately they don't.

You have no choice but to reopen the claim and do what they ask. You can ask for an advance payment but this is a loan and will result in reduced payments in the future until the advance is repaid (over 12 months).

whiteroom184

calcotti wrote: »

The DWP are correct. Any income received within the assessment period is taken into account. DWP really should provide guidance that fir many people it is beneficial to only claim UC after receiving final payment from employer - but unfortunately they don't.

Thanks for that, I thought as much, so frustrating, I did tell them I was still outstanding a payment when I claimed!

calcotti

whiteroom184 wrote: »

Thanks for that, I thought as much, so frustrating, I did tell them I was still outstanding a payment when I claimed!

At which point a system that actually worked for claimants would have said "You may prefer to wait until after that payment is received before claiming".

TheShape

whiteroom184 wrote: »

Thanks for that, I thought as much, so frustrating, I did tell them I was still outstanding a payment when I claimed!

calcotti wrote: »

At which point a system that actually worked for claimants would have said "You may prefer to wait until after that payment is received before claiming".

Which is what used to happen on the UC-Live service. In fact, your claim wasn't progressed at all if you expected a certain amount of wages in the first assessment period.

calcotti

TheShape wrote: »

Which is what used to happen on the UC-Live service. In fact, your claim wasn't progressed at all if you expected a certain amount of wages in the first assessment period.

It appears that a number of aspects of UC-Live were more claimant friendly that the full digital service. However DWP keep reassuring us that they are learning from experience to improve UC!

NedS

To be fair, I believe the system does ask you if you expect to receive any money/payments from employment in the next month when you make your claim. I think most people do not understand the significance of the question, or assume because they are no longer working (having just finished) they will not have any earnings and maybe answer incorrectly. In most cases, by the time they've made a claim and attended an appointment with DWP it's too late.

Robbie64

NedS wrote: »

To be fair, I believe the system does ask you if you expect to receive any money/payments from employment in the next month when you make your claim. I think most people do not understand the significance of the question, or assume because they are no longer working (having just finished) they will not have any earnings and maybe answer incorrectly. In most cases, by the time they've made a claim and attended an appointment with DWP it's too late.

A UC claim can be withdrawn up to the point that the first assessment period ends (or possibly before payment is due to be made). That still gives the DWP time to inform the claimant that the first payment may be affected and time for the claimant to withdraw the claim.

calcotti

Robbie64 wrote: »

A UC claim can be withdrawn up to the point that the first assessment period ends (or possibly before payment is due to be made). That still gives the DWP time to inform the claimant that the first payment may be affected and time for the claimant to withdraw the claim.

Is that correct? According to
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/793836/adma2.pdf

A2111 A person who has made a claim may withdraw it at any time before a determination has been made on the claim.

What is the date of determination for a UC claim?

I fear the DWP will consider the date of determination to be the date the claim is accepted as valid. If that is the case seeking to withdraw the claim will not make it as if the claim never existed, it will simply close the claim. If the claim is closed then any attempt to claim again within six months will preserve the assessment periods already established which will be of no use to someone in OP’s situation.

salduck

Sorry to jump on but seems most relevant thread! Does this also apply that I started a job today, meaning I will no longer claim uc however I don’t get paid until 25th September. Do I still get uc until I get paid? My period runs from 1st September. Will I get a full uc payment on 8th September? And then in 8th October?
Thanks

calcotti

salduck wrote: »

.... I started a job today, meaning I will no longer claim uc however I don’t get paid until 25th September. Do I still get uc until I get paid? My period runs from 1st September. Will I get a full uc payment on 8th September? And then in 8th October?
Thanks

You will get full UC payment on 8th September assuming you have not received any pay prior to the 31st August. Presumably by 30th September you will have received some pay from your new job. Therefore on 8th October you will get a reduced UC payment or no UC payment at all depending on how much your earnings are.

If you do get paid something before 31st August then your 8th September will be reduced.

You do not need to close your UC claim. just note on your journal that you have started work and details of the job. UC will calculate entitlement based on information they get from HMRC about your earnings (which will have been reported by your employer to HMRC). However you should check your UC journal to make sure the earnings used by UC match the amount you have received. If their is a discrepancy you need to tell them.