Benefit calculator incorrect

faith2021

So I used the benefit calculators advised by the government and all 3 showed what we was entitled to for universal credit. When we got our statement from universal credit it show a significant amount of difference. I called numerous times and even got hung up on. I was told the calculators are just an estimate but I think they shouldn't be used as they are misleading people into thinking they will get that amount when really it's significant less.  

Spoonie_Turtle

faith2021 said:

So I used the benefit calculators advised by the government and all 3 showed what we was entitled to for universal credit. When we got our statement from universal credit it show a significant amount of difference. I called numerous times and even got hung up on. I was told the calculators are just an estimate but I think they shouldn't be used as they are misleading people into thinking they will get that amount when really it's significant less.  

Your UC statement should show how it was worked out.  Have they taken deductions for anything that wasn't factored into the benefit calculator - an advance, or previous benefit overpayment for instance?  

If you are willing to share some more details, members here may be able to help you work out whether your UC is correct and includes all the elements that it should.

Another thought occurrs, if you are working then the taper rate of earnings deduction will be changing.  When did you put your details into the calculator, and when was your UC payment date?  The calculators will now be showing the updated rates for new claims, but if you are working and your first payment was under the old taper rate then that would likely account for quite a difference.

faith2021

Thankyou for your reply. I added our earnings correctly and made sure everything was correct. I contacted citizens advice and they said it all looked okay just that the calculators are estimates of what you could get. I just found them to be quite misleading as once uc had added mine and my husbands earnings it was minimum to what the calculator had shown even if it was a few pounds I could understand but it was £600 difference. 

poppy12345

A benefit calculator is only as good as the information you put into it. I wouldn't say they are misleading. Your entitlement to UC will depend on earnings received during your assessment period. If you don't have the work allowance then your earnings will reduce your UC by 55% (although the earnings taper was 63% until a few days ago)

No one can advise you further unless you give some more information.

You mention a partner and you both work, can you give us some figures of earnings? Do you have dependant children? does anyone claim any disability benefits like PIP/DLA?

Do you rent or own your home?

Spoonie_Turtle

faith2021 said:

Thankyou for your reply. I added our earnings correctly and made sure everything was correct. I contacted citizens advice and they said it all looked okay just that the calculators are estimates of what you could get. I just found them to be quite misleading as once uc had added mine and my husbands earnings it was minimum to what the calculator had shown even if it was a few pounds I could understand but it was £600 difference. 

Wow, £600 is a huge difference!  When you say you added your earnings, are you self-employed?  (I infer from the bolded part you maybe don't want to post details on a public forum and that's fine, I just ask in case the MIF comes into play here.  I'm not sure it *should* but that's the only thing I can think of that might explain such a huge difference.  Or maybe rent?  I don't know, that would be an unusually large difference.)

The calculators are usually quite good, accurate to within a few pounds if all of the input is correct.  If you chose to have the results e-mailed to you then you may be able to compare and perhaps identify where the difference arose.

turnitround

About twelve years ago I was in a position where I needed to claim benefits for the first time ever. The calculator showed we qualified for housing benefit and council tax benefit. In the council office they told me the same so I filled in all the application forms

I was refused any help at all. When I queried it with the council and told them they themselves had told me we would get help I was told 'We only use the same calculators available to you and they quite often say you will qualify when you actually dont'. 

I've heard others say the same.

calcotti

Whenever i have found any significant error in the entitled or turn2us online calculators I have been able to trace it back to an input error. Policy in practice I have found to be less reliable.

TELLIT01

The gov.uk site says to use an independant benefit calculator, and provides links to them.  They cannot therefore be held responsible for any inaccuracies in the result.  I looked on 'entitled to' and on the first screen it states " To find out what you might be able to claim enter your details", it does not say this is the amount you will receive.