Universal credit

Cheechee

Thank you for everyone's reply,  very knowledgeable and helpful forum.

I'm going to stick with just Universal credit and hopefully in September I'll be able to find another TA job and won't have to claim anymore.

Cheechee

Another question please

I've just read that you can't claim universal credit for 3 months if you leave a job voluntarily.

I wasn't asked this on the application form.

I did hand my notice in with every intention of getting another job but that is not possible now until schools go back.

Will I be penalised for this and have to pay back any money?

huckster

If during a UC claim, someone just gave up a job, yes they could be sanctioned for 3 months. 
It is very unlikely to come up in any conversation with UC, if you gave up work, before you claimed UC.  It might have done before the virus and yes in theory, if you just handed in your notice without good reason, they could deny you claiming for 3 months.  But with the virus and job centres being closed, plus relaxed rules, you may find that they won't penalise you, as you thought you could get another job,  But that was before the lockdown and the economic disaster hit.

NedS

Cheechee said:

Another question please
I've just read that you can't claim universal credit for 3 months if you leave a job voluntarily.
I wasn't asked this on the application form.
I did hand my notice in with every intention of getting another job but that is not possible now until schools go back.
Will I be penalised for this and have to pay back any money?

The important factor here is that you did not give up your job with the intention to claim benefits. That situation arose because of corona virus, something which was totally out of your control. As @huckster said, very unlikely they would penalise you.

Cheechee

Thank you both for putting my mind at rest.

Before lockdown, I did apply for several jobs and one school replied saying if interviews had taken place I would have been on the shortlist and they will contact me in the future. I added all this into my UC account when I made the claim so they can see I was/am actively looking for a job.

Cheechee

Hi, 

I've got a tax credits overpayment.

Will this be deducted from my universal credit payments, if not will they notify me how to pay our do I need to contact tax credits?

Thanks

huckster

Any Tax Credits debt you have, if you don't deal with it directly with HMRC, can be referred to DWP Debt Management and there could be deductions from UC awards.  

Cheechee

Hello,

I know I've asked this before but I'm still a bit confused.

On my original claim I told universal credit what my savings were (they were above £6000 but below £16000).

I've had to dip into my savings (still above £6000) but there doesn't seem to be anywhere to log this as a change of circumstances. Should I just write a note in my journal to my work coach?

I know that money gets deducted for savings so I would be missing out if they didn't know my savings had reduced.

I am finding it really difficult to pay all bills and shopping hence the need to use some savings!

huckster

You cannot do it via report a change. Either phone UC or send a journal with full details of savings. If you give Bank or savings account numbers only give last four digits.

Cheechee

Thank you for your help