Universal credit - appointment

sassyblue

Hi all

I’m having a terrible time with the menopause at the moment and gave up work late last year as I wasn’t coping well.  Maybe I should have gone on the sick with them but i ended up hating my job after a management take over and I didn’t want to go back anyway.  I’m over 50 and have been in full time employment since leaving school.

I've been living off our savings (hubby is in full time work) but with the cost of living our savings are going down fast so I thought I’d try and claim some government help while I’m trying to get sorted with treatment.  I’m not sleeping, suffering terrible anxiety, mood swings, depression and flushes so am not fit for work currently.  

My doctor gave me a sick note so I went online, had to create a universal credit account and have gone through all of that application. Now I’ve been told to attend an appointment with a 'work coach'?

Can anyone advise what happens?   I thought the state might help me for a bit while I get on the right treatment plan, the doctor says it’ll take 3 months to know if I’m on the right treatment and if not it’ll take longer.  I don’t want a work coach pestering me to find work, I’ve worked for years and know I’m not in a decent state at the moment.   Have I applied for the right benefit? 

Thanks in advance 

calcotti

If you live with your husband you can’t claim UC on your own, you both have to claim and the amount, if any, is based on your joint circumstances.

You can apply for new style ESA,  which is not means tested, but to be paid anything depends on having a full NI record for tax years 2020-21 and 2021-22.

Brie

You could try to claim job seekers but that would mean you looking for a job and it only last 6 months.  And it's "only" something like £55 a month but not dependent on your OH's money.  Maybe that's something to leave til when you are in a better state.

You may actually be better trying for PIP - I don't know what they think of something that is "so minor" (not my opinion) as menopause.  Things are changing but lots think this is a real non issue still.  Probably mostly men (sorry for being sexist!!) or those women who are lucky enough not to have issues with this.  Personally you have my full sympathy.  

poppy12345

Brie said:

You could try to claim job seekers but that would mean you looking for a job and it only last 6 months.  And it's "only" something like £55 a month but not dependent on your OH's money.

A claim for New style JSA can only be made if you're looking for work, OP isn't currently looking for work because of their health.

£55 a month, that's not correct? JSA pays £77 per week (over 25) which clearly the OP is. New style ESA pays the same amount.

sassyblue

Brie said:

You could try to claim job seekers but that would mean you looking for a job and it only last 6 months.  And it's "only" something like £55 a month but not dependent on your OH's money.  Maybe that's something to leave til when you are in a better state.

You may actually be better trying for PIP - I don't know what they think of something that is "so minor" (not my opinion) as menopause.  Things are changing but lots think this is a real non issue still.  Probably mostly men (sorry for being sexist!!) or those women who are lucky enough not to have issues with this.  Personally you have my full sympathy.  

Thank you, you made me cry!  I would have thought the fact I’ve never not worked or claimed a penny but now I feel I need to for a little while, says it all - but….?

Calcotti, yes it was a joint claim, ridiculous since hubby is working and always has done too.

poppy12345

sassyblue said:

Brie said:

You could try to claim job seekers but that would mean you looking for a job and it only last 6 months.  And it's "only" something like £55 a month but not dependent on your OH's money.  Maybe that's something to leave til when you are in a better state.

You may actually be better trying for PIP - I don't know what they think of something that is "so minor" (not my opinion) as menopause.  Things are changing but lots think this is a real non issue still.  Probably mostly men (sorry for being sexist!!) or those women who are lucky enough not to have issues with this.  Personally you have my full sympathy.  

Calcotti, yes it was a joint claim, ridiculous since hubby is working and always has done too.

It's a means tested benefit and you're living together so entitlement will be based on your joint circumstances. Have you used a benefits calculator to check if there's any entitlement? Are you renting your home or do you own it? If you own it then there may not be any entitlement to UC but it will depend on the earnings your partner receives each month.

You should look into claiming New style ESA as mentioned by calcotti. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-style-employment-and-support-allowance#eligibility

HillStreetBlues

Also with UC the amount of your savings (including joint)  will be taken into account.
Over 16k you can't claim, between 6-16k  there is a deduction of £4.35 pm per £250 (or part) that's  over 6k

JonVarnas

@sassyblue

Honestly don't worry about work coach appointments, they're usually quite brief and work coaches are pretty laid back unless it's blatantly obvious you can't be bother and that's when they turn the screw. So long as you let them tick their boxes they're fine. I'm in the intensive work search group (i.e. supposed to see them every week but it's actually two because they're so backed up with appointments) and today I was literally in and out within 5mins. They didn't even ask about my work search.

Spoonie_Turtle

Did you report your health condition when you made your UC claim?  If not you should do so ASAP and they will ask you for details of your fit note.

At your appointment you will need to tell the work coach how your health is making life difficult for you, and they have discretion to turn off work-related requirements.

I would echo poppy's advice to do a benefits calculation to see if you're entitled to anything with your husband's earnings (try a calculation with a condition affecting your ability to work, and another without, to see what the difference could potentially be).

calcotti

Please check entitlement. If you have the required NI please do, as suggested earlier, try claiming new style ESA. It is your claim, is not means tested and will not be affected by your husband’s finances. If you do claim ESA and UC the ESA is deducted from the UC. However ESA will only continue beyond 12 months if you are found to have Limited Capability for Work and Work Related Activity.

Rubyroobs

With your husband working , have you actually received any money from UC ? If you have paid National Insurance contributions during the last 2-3 tax years then you may be better off qualifying for new style ESA which is non means tested so your husband's income would not be taken into account.