Applying for Universal Credit during Covid-19

NedS

RebeccaChelsea07 said:

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

In terms of the process - you apply online. Once you have submitted your application, the jobcentre will book you a telephone appointment to do the things that need doing to progress your claim. They will notify you of your appointment through your online account.

When you make your claim online, if you can use the GOV.UK Verify system to verify your ID online with one of the trusted partners, then great. If not, don't worry, the jobcentre will verify your ID by asking you a series of personal questions based on info they hold about you, from previous claims etc during your telephone appointment. This is only likely to be an issue if you have never claimed any benefits before and have no work history (i.e, DWP holds no information on you)

If there are any other documents or information required to support your claim, they will ask you to upload these where you can (e.g, take a photo on your phone and upload) or post in, or they may be able to just take details over phone depending on what's required. Depending on your claim / circumstances, you may not be required to provide any documents (although DWP reserve the right to ask for supporting documents to support a claim at a later date once Covid is over). Appointments are generally by phone at present and face to face appointments are only used where absolutely necessary and preferably not at all during lockdown.

Overall, the process of making a claim is pretty straight forward for the vast majority of people assuming you have internet access and are reasonably competent online.

Iamdebtfree

RebeccaChelsea07 said:

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

It's fairly straight forward. Just a long form to fill in on the gov.net - proof of identity part of it is a bit of a nuisance. Takes about 5 weeks to come through.They get in touch with you through your online account to do a phone assessment or some such, once the application is submitted. I did it for a good friend at the beginning of lockdown 1. She got a decent payout.

(NedS laid it all out a lot better - read his post)

[Deleted User]

Iamdebtfree said:

RebeccaChelsea07 said:

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

It's fairly straight forward. Just a long form to fill in on the gov.net - proof of identity part of it is a bit of a nuisance. Takes about 5 weeks to come through.They get in touch with you through your online account to do a phone assessment or some such, once the application is submitted. I did it for a good friend at the beginning of lockdown 1. She got a decent payout.

(NedS laid it all out a lot better - read his post)

Make sure it’s gov.uk. 

Don’t want to be providing information to the wrong people. 

Iamdebtfree

Oh sorry, of course, gov.uk