Questions regarding Universal Credit application in response to Coronavirus

ftsos

I am applying for "benefits" for the first time in 15 years, so I am figuring things as I go along like many people right now. I have been self-employed for the last 15 plus years, and the Coronavirus situation has affected me very badly. I realised I am in the same boat as millions of people, so I am not complaining. The last 2-3 years my self-employed income has been minimal (due to long term health issues), and I do mean minimal without exaggeration. Although I haven't claimed any state help, I don't think I was making more then £100 a week on average. I did have other sources of income, mainly my wife worked part-time. Because of this, my accountant told me I wouldn't be eligible for any government help which was made available for the self-employed due to the virus. My accountant suggested that I should apply for Universal Credit, so that's what I did.

I went through the online application, and as I am married, I had to give both of our information. As we are on the electoral register and pay council tax they were able to digitally verify us within a reasonable amount of time. However, its been about 25 days since I completed everything. The ID checks and task lists on the Universal Credit site have all been completed about 25 days ago. I realise they are extremely busy, but I was wondering how long it has taken for most people to get any money. The bottom line is I would like to know if I am going to get any financial support. If I don't get anything then I'll just have to accept it, but at least I can plan either way. 

So, I would love to hear from anyone who has experience in this area or anyone who has done a Universal Credit application during the virus outbreak. I would like to know if you have received any payment and if so, how long did it take? Did they call you? Did you have to jump through any more hoops?

Thank you.

74leeboy

I applied and had a phone call after 5 days and they did the Id checks over the phone. Said if I wanted an advance to give them 30 mins and the details would be online. They asked if I needed money straight away but I  didn't, so  they would've probably sorted something out there and then. They didnt speak to my wife as I passed the checks for us both. 1 hour later advance was available and 3 days later was in the bank. Have to wait for 1 month from date of claim,  to find out what we will be entitled to and receive and then 5 days after that we get any money owed to us. I can't see how they could be any more helpful. Everything was very easy and straight forward. 

poppy12345

It takes 5 weeks for your first payment (if you're eligible) once you've claimed. You will receive your first statement 1 month after you applied. You should also have access to your online journal and this is where you will receive your monthly statements.

Put all your details into a benefits calculator to see if you're eligible. https://www.entitledto.co.uk/

Savings/capital will exclude you from claiming. Council tax reduction can be claimed from your local council.

Spoonie_Turtle

The usual timeframe for UC payments is 5 weeks - one month for the assessment period, then within the next week they calculate your entitlement, make your statement available, and pay it a few days after the statement. (I don't know how contacting claimants is going in the current circumstances.) They don't normally tell you in advance whether you'd be entitled to anything anyway.

You can put your details info a benefit calculator, or you can manually work out what your entitlement might be using the information here: https://www.understandinguniversalcredit.gov.uk/new-to-universal-credit/how-much-youll-get/

tomtom256

If you click the payments option on your home screen, it will tell you when your statement will be available and when your first payment will be made.

ftsos

To everyone, thank you for taking the time to answer the question. I followed your suggestions, and I found the following message on the UC dashboard:

Your statement will be ready on 5 May 2020. Check again then.

Your statement tells you how much you will get and how we worked it out.

On 9 May 2020 you will be paid any money you are entitled to.

sammyjammy

Its nice to see a positive experience at this difficult time.  Hope you get what you need.

TheShape

ftsos said:

To everyone, thank you for taking the time to answer the question. I followed your suggestions, and I found the following message on the UC dashboard:

Your statement will be ready on 5 May 2020. Check again then.

Your statement tells you how much you will get and how we worked it out.

On 9 May 2020 you will be paid any money you are entitled to.

You've stated in your first post that you are self-employed.  If you've correctly declared yourself as self-employed, on 2nd May you should receive a text or email directing you to report your income and expenses for the period 3rd April to 2nd May.  You must complete this, even if your earnings are zero, as it will prevent your Universal Credit from being calculated until you do this.  You'll need to do this each month.  If your wife is PAYE her earnings should get picked up automatically.  Check your statement to see if they've been correctly reported.

ftsos

TheShape said:

ftsos said:

To everyone, thank you for taking the time to answer the question. I followed your suggestions, and I found the following message on the UC dashboard:

Your statement will be ready on 5 May 2020. Check again then.

Your statement tells you how much you will get and how we worked it out.

On 9 May 2020 you will be paid any money you are entitled to.

You've stated in your first post that you are self-employed.  If you've correctly declared yourself as self-employed, on 2nd May you should receive a text or email directing you to report your income and expenses for the period 3rd April to 2nd May.  You must complete this, even if your earnings are zero, as it will prevent your Universal Credit from being calculated until you do this.  You'll need to do this each month.  If your wife is PAYE her earnings should get picked up automatically.  Check your statement to see if they've been correctly reported.

I am self-employed in the sense that I have 2 limited companies under my name. I don't draw any salary from it or dividends as there is minimal income coming into it. One of those companies is a big project and it won't show any income for a few years, it's just eating money for now, but I am okay with that. Because its a tech-online business, the overheads are low, so I can kind of live with it. 
When it comes to accounting, finance, I am genuinely bad at keeping these things organised. I just do what the accountant says. I am shocked that I have ever been able to make money!

ftsos

A quick update for everyone. I have cancelled my application for the Universal Credit. It is just too frustrating. Even though I know its designed to be frustrating so that you give up, I couldn't stress myself out anymore. It makes me very angry, as someone who has paid into the system for so long. Anyway, that is life.  'll just find a way of earning some money somehow or something. 

klitos1962

hi i I started work on March the 2nd and dismissed at the end of March as i did not qualify for furlough I made my UC claim on the 30th of March on  line  and had a telephone interview 12 days later. I was told that I would get my claim on the 6th of May I got the detailas of my award on the 2nd of May. They said my claim was from the 30th of March until  the 29th of April I was awarded £409 single person  and £1220 for housing benefit but deducted £1300 because they took my March Wages into account. They would not accept any of my pleas that my March wages where for work carried out in March and my claim was form the 1st of April as I had request in my claim . They accepted that if I had applied on the 1st of April I would not of had the £1300 money deducted but as I made the first enquires on the 30th of March I would miss out and have no money for rent. Does any one have any advice