Self employed scheme and UC

calcotti

poppy12345 said: Next month if you receive no earnings during your assessment period then you'll receive your maximum UC entitlement. 

Unless there are ’surplus earnings’ to take into account. Depends on the size of the grant and the UC entitlement.

poppy12345

calcotti said:

poppy12345 said: Next month if you receive no earnings during your assessment period then you'll receive your maximum UC entitlement. 

Unless there are ’surplus earnings’ to take into account. Depends on the size of the grant and the UC entitlement.

Thanks, forgot to mention that.

helenlacey123

calcotti said:

helenlacey123 said:

...so effectively I receive less ‘grant’ than someone who receives no u/c support. How is that fair? 

But are still getting more support overall because of the UC you have had and will get again (if needed).

helenlacey123 said:

Not having this taken into account has lost me £700 of u/c with no notice. 

Government have been clear that SEISS would be taken into account as earnings for those claiming UC so I don’t see that it was without notice.

Because no one at dwp could tell me if allowances would be made for the THREE months not one. I appreciate I get government assistance and should be grateful but that’s a second issue. The money was to replace the money I WOULD have earnt if not for corona...I wouldn’t normally keep this money AND my u/c and that’s how I survive...I DO earn money from my own business normally and that is just topped up a little by u/c until my child goes to nursery...so I don’t feel that it’s was just to remove pretty much all my u/c for the month because they don’t acknowledge the grant covering THREE months...it is merely paid in one lump sum....does this make sense....I appreciate this may just be a flawed system I need to get over but still...seems unfair that I loose out on the all of the grant because I receive u/c which is ultimately what has happened...🤷‍♀️

helenlacey123

poppy12345 said:

helenlacey123 said:

What I don’t understand is why u/c don’t take into account the fact that the grant is awarded in one lump sum but covers three months. Why are we not allowed 3x our work allowance in the month we receive the grant. Not having this taken into account has lost me £700 of u/c with no notice. It feels as thought we are penalised for being on u/c as what the government gives with one hand it is taking with the other...so effectively I receive less ‘grant’ than someone who receives no u/c support. How is that fair? Even the people I have spoken to at DWP have said it doesn’t really make sense...surely there must be loads of people in this position? Any thoughts?

Whether we agree or not unfortunately it's how UC is worked out. Even if you receive a tax rebate, it's always classed as income in the month it's received. That's what UC is all about. There's nothing anyone can do. Next month if you receive no earnings during your assessment period then you'll receive your maximum UC entitlement.

I understand what you’re saying but my argument is that the government has given grants to cover the three months...they have just happened to PAY it in one lump some...but they clearly state it’s ‘x’ amount for each month....so why can’t u/c acknowledge this too...and make allowances with the work allowance or we just loose out on a pretty substantial amount of money....I have been left with no money to pay my rent and bills etc😕🤷‍♀️

poppy12345

helenlacey123 said:

calcotti said:

helenlacey123 said:

...so effectively I receive less ‘grant’ than someone who receives no u/c support. How is that fair? 

But are still getting more support overall because of the UC you have had and will get again (if needed).

helenlacey123 said:

Not having this taken into account has lost me £700 of u/c with no notice. 

Government have been clear that SEISS would be taken into account as earnings for those claiming UC so I don’t see that it was without notice.

.seems unfair that I loose out on the all of the grant because I receive u/c which is ultimately what has happened...🤷‍♀️

What have you lost out on? In the months where you received less earnings or even no earnings then your UC would have increased. It makes sense that the month you receive the earnings it affects the amount you're entitled to in that month, it's what UC is all about.

calcotti

helenlacey123 said: I understand what you’re saying but my argument is that the government has given grants to cover the three months...they have just happened to PAY it in one lump some...but they clearly state it’s ‘x’ amount for each month....so why can’t u/c acknowledge this too...and make allowances with the work allowance or we just loose out on a pretty substantial amount of money....I have been left with no money to pay my rent and bills etc😕🤷‍♀️

It’s not as simply as that. Because of the way UC works for some people if the government paid the grant in three parts they would have got more UC than the way it has been done. For others had the grant been paid in three parts they would lose more UC. Different circumstances will give different results.

helenlacey123

poppy12345 said:

helenlacey123 said:

calcotti said:

helenlacey123 said:

...so effectively I receive less ‘grant’ than someone who receives no u/c support. How is that fair? 

But are still getting more support overall because of the UC you have had and will get again (if needed).

helenlacey123 said:

Not having this taken into account has lost me £700 of u/c with no notice. 

Government have been clear that SEISS would be taken into account as earnings for those claiming UC so I don’t see that it was without notice.

.seems unfair that I loose out on the all of the grant because I receive u/c which is ultimately what has happened...🤷‍♀️

What have you lost out on? In the months where you received less earnings or even no earnings then your UC would have increased. It makes sense that the month you receive the earnings it affects the amount you're entitled to in that month, it's what UC is all about.

No, my u/c didn’t increase in the months I wasn’t earning...it’s stayed the same...🤷‍♀️so all the SEISS money I received I had to pay back to people who had lent me ‘my income’ to pay my bills...then I received virtually no u/c because of my SEISS income and am left unable to pay rent and remaining bills.. Effectively they have given with one hand and taken away with the other and left me ultimately ‘loosing’ the equivalent of about 1/3 of the money I was entitled to receive 😔 . Seems harsh🤷‍♀️

poppy12345

helenlacey123 said:

poppy12345 said:

helenlacey123 said:

calcotti said:

helenlacey123 said:

...so effectively I receive less ‘grant’ than someone who receives no u/c support. How is that fair? 

But are still getting more support overall because of the UC you have had and will get again (if needed).

helenlacey123 said:

Not having this taken into account has lost me £700 of u/c with no notice. 

Government have been clear that SEISS would be taken into account as earnings for those claiming UC so I don’t see that it was without notice.

.seems unfair that I loose out on the all of the grant because I receive u/c which is ultimately what has happened...🤷‍♀️

What have you lost out on? In the months where you received less earnings or even no earnings then your UC would have increased. It makes sense that the month you receive the earnings it affects the amount you're entitled to in that month, it's what UC is all about.

No, my u/c didn’t increase in the months I wasn’t earning...it’s stayed the same...🤷‍♀️so all the SEISS money I received I had to pay back to people who had lent me ‘my income’ to pay my bills...then I received virtually no u/c because of my SEISS income and am left unable to pay rent and remaining bills.. Effectively they have given with one hand and taken away with the other and left me ultimately ‘loosing’ the equivalent of about 1/3 of the money I was entitled to receive 😔 . Seems harsh🤷‍♀️

There's a maximum amount of UC you're entitled to for your circumstances. When you receive earnings during an asssessment period it reduces the amount of UC you're entitled to. You can't expect to receive the SEISS and your UC on top, sorry but that's not how it works. I don't see anything harsh about it.

helenlacey123

poppy12345 said:

helenlacey123 said:

poppy12345 said:

helenlacey123 said:

calcotti said:

helenlacey123 said:

...so effectively I receive less ‘grant’ than someone who receives no u/c support. How is that fair? 

But are still getting more support overall because of the UC you have had and will get again (if needed).

helenlacey123 said:

Not having this taken into account has lost me £700 of u/c with no notice. 

Government have been clear that SEISS would be taken into account as earnings for those claiming UC so I don’t see that it was without notice.

.seems unfair that I loose out on the all of the grant because I receive u/c which is ultimately what has happened...🤷‍♀️

What have you lost out on? In the months where you received less earnings or even no earnings then your UC would have increased. It makes sense that the month you receive the earnings it affects the amount you're entitled to in that month, it's what UC is all about.

No, my u/c didn’t increase in the months I wasn’t earning...it’s stayed the same...🤷‍♀️so all the SEISS money I received I had to pay back to people who had lent me ‘my income’ to pay my bills...then I received virtually no u/c because of my SEISS income and am left unable to pay rent and remaining bills.. Effectively they have given with one hand and taken away with the other and left me ultimately ‘loosing’ the equivalent of about 1/3 of the money I was entitled to receive 😔 . Seems harsh🤷‍♀️

There's a maximum amount of UC you're entitled to for your circumstances. When you receive earnings during an asssessment period it reduces the amount of UC you're entitled to. You can't expect to receive the SEISS and your UC on top, sorry but that's not how it works. I don't see anything harsh about it.

I see what you’re saying but you don’t understand my situation. I am a single mother to a young baby. I currently can earn £296 before any deductions are made from my U/c. I very rarely make more than this a month currently so receive my full u/c benefit amount. As I have said in previous posts this is temporary until my child is old enough to attend nursery (which corona has messed with a bit)...anyhow...as such I usually earn my £300 ish (maybe a little over) AND receive u/c (plus child support) and am ok on this...BUT because the government grant was a huge lump and didn’t account for the three months it meant I ‘earnt’ way over my £296 and therefore received only a minuscule amount of u/c. I think that IS harsh as i didn’t get to keep the SEISS money as had to use it to cover April, may, June’s out goings (as my income normally does and is the point of the scheme) but the difference I then had no u/c as normal to pay rent and left over bills...where as if SOME allowance had been made for the fact it was three months earnings I would have been ok.... do you understand what I mean...not sure if I’m explaining myself poorly? I’m not being greedy or entitled...it’s just this hasn’t really ‘worked’ for me and I can’t be the only one (and yes, I know it was all very rushed and I AM grateful that we had one of the most financially supportive governments).😊 

huckster

Helen, pointless writing your frustrations on MSE and also pointless contacting UC.  Neither can help you. Government designed the benefit and passed legislation in Parliament.
If you want to raise this issue in the most effective way. Contact your local MP and also contact the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG).  CPAG often takes the Government to Court about benefit issues which affect children and they sometimes win.