Don’t switch

Richard4518

I know these are very strange times and everyone is doing the best they can. I am a self employed taxi driver who is going to be heavily impacted for the unforeseeable future. Over the past few weeks we’ve had it drummed in to us by the government to apply for Universal Credits if we are going to struggle, particularly with the announcement regarding SSP, and if our income is going to dry up. I thought this was the right thing to do so followed this advice and claimed. 

The problem we now have is that we had an ongoing Working Tax Credits award (with a disability element for my wife). Due to my claim for UC, our Tax Credits has now stopped. Now you may say I should have realised, and yes maybe I have been a bit naive, but I followed the government advice. I now have tried for 4 days solid trying to get through without success. I am now left with no benefit coming in for the foreseeable future and don’t know how we are going to manage. My advice would be to stay where you are as the UC is a nightmare, especially at the minute with what’s going on.
Does anyone know if there is a way to reverse this decision especially since we had a disability element? It looks like going through most calculators that we are also going to be considerably worse off.
Any help will be much appreciated 
Thanks

calcotti

Unfortunately I don’t think there is any way to cancel your claim and return to Tax Credits. Unfortunately too you are correct that UC may pay you less than Tax Credits because of the disabled worker element in WTC, although this will depend on your other circumstances.

Your wife obviously gets a disability benefit otherwise you would not be getting a disability element in WTC. Make sure that UC know this and that you look after her, this will increase your UC entitlement because you will get the carer element. If your wife’s health limits her ability to work she should ask for a Work Capability Assessment. If she is found to have Limited Capability for Work and Work Related Activity then the LCWRA element will be payable from your fourth payment. She will need to give UC a Fit Note from her GP.

Richard4518

Many thanks for the prompt reply. I spoke to WTC helpline yesterday and he said they had been inundated with the same query, it’s a shame because if they’d informed people better, we could’ve stayed with WTC instead of putting an increased strain on the staff trying to deal with the new claims for UC. What does LCWRA  stand for please? It looks like I’ll have to persevere and spend the next 3 weeks trying to get through to UC.
cheers again

hmc

This is what I’m worried about single-parent get tax credits, self-employed cleaner no work, not sure what I’m supposed to live on who should I ring up today do I just try and stay on the little bit of working tax credit? So if I ring universal credits I would automatically be switched over which I didn’t want to be until late as possible

poppy12345

Richard4518 said:

 What does LCWRA  stand for please?

Limited Capability For work Related activity.

calcotti

Richard4518 said:

 What does LCWRA  stand for please? 

As in my post

 Limited Capability for Work and Work Related Activity then the LCWRA element will be payable 

Just didn’t want to type it all out again.
Good luck.

calcotti

Richard4518 said:

Many thanks for the prompt reply. I spoke to WTC helpline yesterday and he said they had been inundated with the same query, it’s a shame because if they’d informed people better, we could’ve stayed with WTC instead of putting an increased strain on the staff trying to deal with the new claims for UC. 

Completely agreee

calcotti

hmc said:

This is what I’m worried about single-parent get tax credits, self-employed cleaner no work, not sure what I’m supposed to live on who should I ring up today do I just try and stay on the little bit of working tax credit? So if I ring universal credits I would automatically be switched over which I didn’t want to be until late as possible

There are online calculators to help you assess entitlement  https://www.gov.uk/benefits-calculators

Richard4518

Thanks everyone.
STAY SAFE

Robbie64

The DWP could help by adding in a question at the start of the online claims process by asking if someone receives tax credits (or Housing Benefit) and putting a simple advisory note up that progressing a claim for Universal Credit will lead to these benefits / credits ending.

calcotti

Robbie64 said:

The DWP could help by adding in a question at the start of the online claims process by asking if someone receives tax credits (or Housing Benefit) and putting a simple advisory note up that progressing a claim for Universal Credit will lead to these benefits / credits ending.

That's an excellent suggestion. It could also include a note directing people to online benefit calculators.