Is Universal Credit now putting pressure on self employed?

beelzebomb

I am full-time self-employed and signed up to Universal Credit as per Martin Lewis' recommendation. In 2020 things went smoothly - the UC website and submitting earnings each month has been a great help and went without hitch.
Now, I seem to be getting more and more contact; I've had 4 phone interviews sine June alone - in 2020 I had just 2. This takes up my precious time and the same things are just repeated each time. Now I have been informed a physical appointment has been booked for me, so that's half a day I have to take away from work. I've been told in one of these calls that the system isn't geared up properly to show if you are self-employed - if you go 3 months without getting anything from UC (best solution obviously) their system shows you are working, if you get a small amount from UC in the next month, it then shows you are 'out of work' and so on!
Anyone else in similar situation now feel like they are getting more attention? Maybe it's a subtle way to make a percentage of self-employed fed up and get them off the system.

poppy12345

You've posted in the Covid section, which isn't anything to do with your question. You'll have better advice if you post in the benefits section of the forum... here. https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/categories/benefits-tax-credits

beelzebomb

Well it is due to the pandemic that us self-employed were strongly advised to sign up for UC. I would not have needed to otherwise, hence posting here.

poppy12345

I realise that but the benefits section is still the correct place to post because that's where the member with the most knowledge for benefits post. I have some knowledge of UC but not to this extent.

beelzebomb

Maybe I could move it if there was an easy findable way to delete this one? 

poppy12345

beelzebomb said:

Maybe I could move it if there was an easy findable way to delete this one? 

Just copy and paste your question...

beelzebomb

I get that - I don't want to duplicate and then get notifications from all the tensed up keyboard warriors pointlessly angry that a post is duped! Guess it will just stay here.

poppy12345

beelzebomb said:

I get that - I don't want to duplicate and then get notifications from all the tensed up keyboard warriors pointlessly angry that a post is duped! Guess it will just stay here.

Could could edit and remove your question and replace it with "posted in wrong section"

kuratowski

If you email the forum team, they will move it for you
forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com

tomtom256

Gateway interventions and mandatory appointments are back for self-employed people.

The minimum income floor has now returned, so interviews are being arranged for those that claimed prior to March 2020 and new claims made after 01/08/2021.

huckster

@beelzebomb if you no longer need UC, why not close your claim ? 

It was always going to be the case, that once Covid measures allowed appointments in the Job Centre that they were going to check your business information.