Universal Credit - capital and housing costs

NedS

Muttleythefrog said:

I am reluctant to use the report change of savings standard option for fear I might get a standard response of non entitlement and I would presume the functionality behind the option hasn't been well written to accommodate such situations as this. 

Any advice other than gambling by making a call next week to someone who might be as well wide of the correct advice as the last idiot (I'll spare the details but an unrelated matter of carer) I spoke to on their helpline?

You need to report the change, as that will trigger the requirement for a decision maker to look at it and make a decision. They can't consider or make a decision on something that is hypothetical, so you must first report the change, which will set the wheels in motion.

Hope that helps

Muttleythefrog

NedS said:

Muttleythefrog said:

I am reluctant to use the report change of savings standard option for fear I might get a standard response of non entitlement and I would presume the functionality behind the option hasn't been well written to accommodate such situations as this. 

Any advice other than gambling by making a call next week to someone who might be as well wide of the correct advice as the last idiot (I'll spare the details but an unrelated matter of carer) I spoke to on their helpline?

You need to report the change, as that will trigger the requirement for a decision maker to look at it and make a decision. They can't consider or make a decision on something that is hypothetical, so you must first report the change, which will set the wheels in motion.

Hope that helps

But if I use the option to report the change how will I detail the circumstances... does it give option? My fear is I report my savings level and it simply then becomes a closed claim due to having too high savings. Does a decision maker look at every case of changed savings levels?

NedS

Muttleythefrog said:

NedS said:

Muttleythefrog said:

I am reluctant to use the report change of savings standard option for fear I might get a standard response of non entitlement and I would presume the functionality behind the option hasn't been well written to accommodate such situations as this. 

Any advice other than gambling by making a call next week to someone who might be as well wide of the correct advice as the last idiot (I'll spare the details but an unrelated matter of carer) I spoke to on their helpline?

You need to report the change, as that will trigger the requirement for a decision maker to look at it and make a decision. They can't consider or make a decision on something that is hypothetical, so you must first report the change, which will set the wheels in motion.

Hope that helps

But if I use the option to report the change how will I detail the circumstances... does it give option? My fear is I report my savings level and it simply then becomes a closed claim due to having too high savings. Does a decision maker look at every case of changed savings levels?

The question gets asked as part of the claim closure consideration, at which point it will get referred to a decision maker to make the decision (as the person considering the claim closure will not be able to make that decision).

Muttleythefrog

NedS said:

Muttleythefrog said:

NedS said:

Muttleythefrog said:

I am reluctant to use the report change of savings standard option for fear I might get a standard response of non entitlement and I would presume the functionality behind the option hasn't been well written to accommodate such situations as this. 

Any advice other than gambling by making a call next week to someone who might be as well wide of the correct advice as the last idiot (I'll spare the details but an unrelated matter of carer) I spoke to on their helpline?

You need to report the change, as that will trigger the requirement for a decision maker to look at it and make a decision. They can't consider or make a decision on something that is hypothetical, so you must first report the change, which will set the wheels in motion.

Hope that helps

But if I use the option to report the change how will I detail the circumstances... does it give option? My fear is I report my savings level and it simply then becomes a closed claim due to having too high savings. Does a decision maker look at every case of changed savings levels?

The question gets asked as part of the claim closure consideration, at which point it will get referred to a decision maker to make the decision (as the person considering the claim closure will not be able to make that decision).

Ah great thanks Ned

Muttleythefrog

NedS said:

Muttleythefrog said:

NedS said:

Muttleythefrog said:

I am reluctant to use the report change of savings standard option for fear I might get a standard response of non entitlement and I would presume the functionality behind the option hasn't been well written to accommodate such situations as this. 

Any advice other than gambling by making a call next week to someone who might be as well wide of the correct advice as the last idiot (I'll spare the details but an unrelated matter of carer) I spoke to on their helpline?

You need to report the change, as that will trigger the requirement for a decision maker to look at it and make a decision. They can't consider or make a decision on something that is hypothetical, so you must first report the change, which will set the wheels in motion.

Hope that helps

But if I use the option to report the change how will I detail the circumstances... does it give option? My fear is I report my savings level and it simply then becomes a closed claim due to having too high savings. Does a decision maker look at every case of changed savings levels?

The question gets asked as part of the claim closure consideration, at which point it will get referred to a decision maker to make the decision (as the person considering the claim closure will not be able to make that decision).

Thanks again Ned, it worked. Unfortunately my journal messages were ignored as I don't have a work coach. But reporting the change of savings triggered them to then look at the change and prompt for details of savings held. Once declared the matter was referred to Decision Maker who then disregarded the sale proceeds from capital held for 6 months. No documentary evidence was requested.

calcotti

Motley, do you mind expanding on exactly how this worked from your end. Did you get asked questions through the journal as you reported the change to savings or was it done some other way?

Muttleythefrog

calcotti said:

Motley, do you mind expanding on exactly how this worked from your end. Did you get asked questions through the journal as you reported the change to savings or was it done some other way?

So I reported a change of "savings, investments and other capital" through the option to do so in the Report a change of circumstances section of U/C account. From memory it asked only the date of change and general level of savings - in my case I flagged over £16000.01. An entry is created in journal to say the change has been reported.

That triggered a case manager to look at the matter and they created a "to do" entry which was a form for completion of further information on savings etc held. They appear to give 2 weeks to complete this form. Information you provide is freely entered into a single large text box. So I detailed accounts and amounts held plus cash held in that entry box. I also asked that they disregard the house sale proceeds as capital for at least 6 months. An entry is created in journal to say the form has been completed.

That triggered the case manager to look again at the matter and refer on to a Decision Maker. 

The Decision Maker responded with entry to journal and link to decision letter.

calcotti

Thanks, Muttley. That’s very helpful.