Universal Credit & Working Tax Credit

Squeekyclean

Just a warning before you claim Universal Credit

I'm self employed and following government advice I stay at home and have claimed Universal Credits only to find my Working Tax Credit would be stopped, but no warning when filling in my claim for UC which is rediculous, UC are saying that I will get a payment on 22nd May, that will be 8 weeks after my initial claim, it's a struggle I'm sure many people are going through but I feel I would have been better off staying on Working Tax Credits.

I've put three loans I have on 3 month payment holidays but what happens after that is anyones guess, I might not have any other option but to go back to work in the next few weeks as it's getting desperate, I've even had to contact a food bank and had a food delivery, looks like I may have to do this again unless I can get money in to buy groceries and pay my bills.

Please think carefully before applying for Universal Credits if you are getting Working Tax Credits, it may not be worth the wait for a UC payment.

When they eventually get round to paying 80% for self employed this may change, I really hope so.

poppy12345

This won't be the first time this has happened and it most likely won't be the last. I'd advise you to contact your local MP and tell them that you claimed UC not knowing that your tax credits would end. It may not help and i wouldn't hold out your hopes but if enough of people contact local MPs then something maybe done about it.

As for your first UC payment, this should be 5 weeks after you first claimed and not 8 weeks. You can ask for an advance payment but this will need to be repaid back.

Any earnings you receive during your assessment period will reduce your UC payment by 63% if you don't have a work allowance.

As for working, the advice is to work from home where possible. The government haven't advised people not to work. If you can work then you will have to, even if it's not from home. Unless of course you've received the shielding letter from NHS.

As you're self employed are you entitled to the grant in June? https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-a-grant-through-the-coronavirus-covid-19-self-employment-income-support-scheme

calcotti

Squeekyclean said: UC are saying that I will get a payment on 22nd May, that will be 8 weeks after my initial claim, 

It should be just over 5 weeks, not 8 weeks.

Hermann

Squeekyclean said:

Just a warning before you claim Universal Credit

I'm self employed and following government advice I stay at home and have claimed Universal Credits only to find my Working Tax Credit would be stopped, but no warning when filling in my claim for UC which is rediculous, UC are saying that I will get a payment on 22nd May, that will be 8 weeks after my initial claim, it's a struggle I'm sure many people are going through but I feel I would have been better off staying on Working Tax Credits.

I've put three loans I have on 3 month payment holidays but what happens after that is anyones guess, I might not have any other option but to go back to work in the next few weeks as it's getting desperate, I've even had to contact a food bank and had a food delivery, looks like I may have to do this again unless I can get money in to buy groceries and pay my bills.

Please think carefully before applying for Universal Credits if you are getting Working Tax Credits, it may not be worth the wait for a UC payment.

When they eventually get round to paying 80% for self employed this may change, I really hope so.

As you're self employed I'm afraid there may be even worse news coming later on.

UC has a feature called Minimum Income Floor which is currently suspended for the crisis, when that feature returns there is a good chance your entitlement will drop to zero.

You have also lost your right to Transitional Protection by claiming UC, this would have protected your level of payments in the future when the Government transitioned you from TC to UC.

Read about MIF ...
http://https//www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/universal-credit/on-universal-credit/how-the-minimum-income-floor-works-if-youre-self-employed/

Read about Transitional Protection...
https://www.entitledto.co.uk/help/Transitional-protection-Universal-Credit