Universal Credit - Ending Claim

WoodyMax

Hi could someone help me understand something. I had an appointment with my work coach today 18/09 and advised him I wanted to close my claim as I am going to cash in a small pension and live off that for a while. There was no option to do this from my UC online account and he told me to call UC helpline, which I did. They immediately closed the claim but when I checked my account it says it was closed from 12/09/2019.

Does anyone know why they didn't close it from today's date? Also as I had to wait 5 weeks before getting my first payment, will there be a final payment to come next 'pay day'. My payment date happens to be the 18th of each month.

Thank you so much for any help you can give.

Woody

calcotti

UC works on monthly assessment periods. If your payment date is the 18th I infer that your assessment period is from 12th to 11th of each month. I think when you said you wanted to close your claim it will have been closed from the beginning of the current assessment period 12/09/2019. You should still receive payment due today which is for period 12/08/2019 to 11/09/2019 but I think that will be your last payment.

If your pension income is less than the amount of UC you were getting there I nothing to stop you receiving pension income and still getting a UC top up - subject to meeting any work search requirements etc.

If you mean that you are taking a lump sum settlement which will take you over the £16,000 capital limit then you have no choice but to close the UC claim. You can claim again as soon as capital drops below £16,000 but your entitlement will be reduced by £4.35/month for every £250, or part thereof, over £6,000.

WoodyMax

Thank you Calcotti. The lump sum should be around 11,000 but I am taking it so that I can live on that until I find a job rather than be forced into the work commitments. Thank you for confirming for me you are right by the way the period ran from the 12th to the 11th of every month.