Applying for Universal Credit during Covid-19

RebeccaChelsea07

Hi, I was made redundant end of September and now thinking of applying for Universal Credit as finding a job is (of course) difficult at the moment. What has the process been like for applying for Univerasal Credit in recent times? As I've been told it slightly changed when lockdown number 1 started in March. What is the process like? And what documents do they need? Any advice would be appreciated. I've never applied for benefits before so not sure of the process

macman

Do you have savings of less than £16K?
Why have you not already applied for JSA, which is not means-tested? That would have lasted for 26 weeks.

Alice_Holt

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/universal-credit/

https://www.gov.uk/jobseekers-allowance

https://www.gov.uk/benefits-calculators

Rubyroobs

Claiming Uc will work out more than just claiming new style JSA at the moment due to the covid increase. Both can be claimed together but the new style JSA would be deducted from the UC. I helped my son with a Uc claim a couple of months ago and it was very straightforward. He was able to verify his ID online using passport and driving license. It was very straightforward. He was sent an appointment with a work coach within a couple of weeks but had found a zero hours job by that point so did not need to attend the appointment.

poppy12345

UC is means tested so if you have savings/capital of more than £16,000 you're excluded from claiming. If you live with a partner you claim as a couple. Use the benefits calculator in Alice's comment to check entitlement.

A claim for UC will end any tax credits you may already be claiming.

calcotti

Rubyroobs said:

Claiming UC will work out more than just claiming new style JSA at the moment due to the covid increase. 

...if there is no other household income and/or tariff income to take into account which might reduce the UC below JSA levels, and assuming the OP is not excluded from UC.

MissLFC

I applied about a month ago just before I was made redundant, I found the process confusing (I have autoimmune problems & sometimes my cognitive function isn't 100% so maybe that's why I struggled). I haven't had a phone call or appointment with anyone & no information regarding if I can claim for my health issues since things are getting worse.

I will not be receiving any money for the first assessment period which suprised me as Citizen's Advice told me what I should get even with my low wage- I gave UC & CAB the same info but they seem to have calculated it differently. I have asked them for clarification as I was hoping I'd be able to apply for warm homes discount asap since the cold affects my joints & I don't dare put the heating on too long

Mrsn

MissLFC said:

I applied about a month ago just before I was made redundant, I found the process confusing (I have autoimmune problems & sometimes my cognitive function isn't 100% so maybe that's why I struggled). I haven't had a phone call or appointment with anyone & no information regarding if I can claim for my health issues since things are getting worse.

I will not be receiving any money for the first assessment period which suprised me as Citizen's Advice told me what I should get even with my low wage- I gave UC & CAB the same info but they seem to have calculated it differently. I have asked them for clarification as I was hoping I'd be able to apply for warm homes discount asap since the cold affects my joints & I don't dare put the heating on too long

Did you have a payment of redundancy or wages during your assessment period as this will reduce any UC due to you.

poppy12345

MissLFC said:

I applied about a month ago just before I was made redundant, I found the process confusing (I have autoimmune problems & sometimes my cognitive function isn't 100% so maybe that's why I struggled). I haven't had a phone call or appointment with anyone & no information regarding if I can claim for my health issues since things are getting worse.

I will not be receiving any money for the first assessment period which suprised me as Citizen's Advice told me what I should get even with my low wage- I gave UC & CAB the same info but they seem to have calculated it differently. I have asked them for clarification as I was hoping I'd be able to apply for warm homes discount asap since the cold affects my joints & I don't dare put the heating on too long

Starting your own thread would have better. It always causes confusion when asking questions on other peoples thread.

Earnings received during your assessment period will reduce the amount of UC you're entitled to by 63% if you don't have the work allowance. If you received your final pay after you claimed UC then the calculation is probably correct.

If your health conditions prevent you from working then you'll need to report your health condition and send in fit notes from your GP and this will start the work capability assessment process off.

MissLFC

Mrsn said:

MissLFC said:

I applied about a month ago just before I was made redundant, I found the process confusing (I have autoimmune problems & sometimes my cognitive function isn't 100% so maybe that's why I struggled). I haven't had a phone call or appointment with anyone & no information regarding if I can claim for my health issues since things are getting worse.

I will not be receiving any money for the first assessment period which suprised me as Citizen's Advice told me what I should get even with my low wage- I gave UC & CAB the same info but they seem to have calculated it differently. I have asked them for clarification as I was hoping I'd be able to apply for warm homes discount asap since the cold affects my joints & I don't dare put the heating on too long

Did you have a payment of redundancy or wages during your assessment period as this will reduce any UC due to you.

No redundancy pay as not entitled, got last wage soon after applying.

poppy12345 said:

MissLFC said:

I applied about a month ago just before I was made redundant, I found the process confusing (I have autoimmune problems & sometimes my cognitive function isn't 100% so maybe that's why I struggled). I haven't had a phone call or appointment with anyone & no information regarding if I can claim for my health issues since things are getting worse.

I will not be receiving any money for the first assessment period which suprised me as Citizen's Advice told me what I should get even with my low wage- I gave UC & CAB the same info but they seem to have calculated it differently. I have asked them for clarification as I was hoping I'd be able to apply for warm homes discount asap since the cold affects my joints & I don't dare put the heating on too long

Starting your own thread would have better. It always causes confusion when asking questions on other peoples thread.

Earnings received during your assessment period will reduce the amount of UC you're entitled to by 63% if you don't have the work allowance. If you received your final pay after you claimed UC then the calculation is probably correct.

If your health conditions prevent you from working then you'll need to report your health condition and send in fit notes from your GP and this will start the work capability assessment process off.

I didn't ask a question just giving my experience as OP asked what the process was like. Thanks for info re fit notes.

poppy12345

MissLFC said:

Mrsn said:

MissLFC said:

I applied about a month ago just before I was made redundant, I found the process confusing (I have autoimmune problems & sometimes my cognitive function isn't 100% so maybe that's why I struggled). I haven't had a phone call or appointment with anyone & no information regarding if I can claim for my health issues since things are getting worse.

I will not be receiving any money for the first assessment period which suprised me as Citizen's Advice told me what I should get even with my low wage- I gave UC & CAB the same info but they seem to have calculated it differently. I have asked them for clarification as I was hoping I'd be able to apply for warm homes discount asap since the cold affects my joints & I don't dare put the heating on too long

Did you have a payment of redundancy or wages during your assessment period as this will reduce any UC due to you.

No redundancy pay as not entitled, got last wage soon after applying.

This will be why your UC was reduced to zero. Had you waited until after you received your final wages then you would have received a payment. You'll now have to wait another 5 weeks for your first payment, if you've received no earnings during your assessment period then you will receive your maximum UC entitlement.