Self Employed Income Support Scheme (SEISS) effect on Universal Credit (UC) claim

bicyclist

Looks like I may have had some dubious advice... I started the online UC application in April but didn’t think I’d completed it (I decided I didn’t want UC). I then had a phone call a few weeks later saying I would be receiving UC... I tried to explain I was going to try to survive without it but the person was very brusque and said I’d applied so I’d get it (which I did - a full month’s UC a couple of weeks later). Fast forward to this month and I got a message to enter any income for the last month online. I phoned the UC help line and asked if I should enter one month’s SEISS or all three. I was told to divide the amount by three and use that figure - although the person I spoke to didn’t sound 100% confident. That’s what I did. 

Jeremy535897

As universal credit works on a cash basis, I am mystified as to how you could have been advised to divide your SEISS grant by three to get the figure to include as income. Were you supposed to declare the rest over the next two months? I don't know about the mechanics of universal credit, but I think you should start by contacting them again to explain the situation. It may also be sensible to explain the mistake and why it was made in your journal. Maybe those with actual experience in making claims can advise better.

poppy12345

bicyclist said:

Looks like I may have had some dubious advice... I started the online UC application in April but didn’t think I’d completed it (I decided I didn’t want UC). I then had a phone call a few weeks later saying I would be receiving UC... I tried to explain I was going to try to survive without it but the person was very brusque and said I’d applied so I’d get it (which I did - a full month’s UC a couple of weeks later). Fast forward to this month and I got a message to enter any income for the last month online. I phoned the UC help line and asked if I should enter one month’s SEISS or all three. I was told to divide the amount by three and use that figure - although the person I spoke to didn’t sound 100% confident. That’s what I did. 

The SEISS is classed as income for UC in the month it's received for the whole grant. You shouldn't have divided it by 3 and i'm not sure why you were advised to do it that way. You need to report ALL of the grant minus your expenses on your journal. My advice is to report it now on your journal and add a note stating that you were advised to devide the grant by 3.

calcotti

poppy12345 said: The SEISS is classed as income for UC in the month it's received for the whole grant. You shouldn't have divided it by 3 and i'm not sure why you were advised to do it that way. You need to report ALL of the grant minus your expenses on your journal. My advice is to report it now on your journal and add a note stating that you were advised to devide the grant by 3. 

Completely agree with this especially about noting that you acted on advice you were given on the phone but which you now understand may have been incorrect.

gt94sss2

Just to note that while the government has announced a second SEISS grant in August, if are eligible to claim for the first grant and haven't yet claimed that you have by Monday 13 July to do so if you want it.