Universal Credit and Savings over £6000 because of bank loan

Soconfused14

I wrote about getting a bank loan and how it would effect my Universal Credits.
The loan was taken and I informed Universal Credits and had to go for an interview.
I had to take bank statement for the date the change took place.
I heard nothing back so contacted my work coach via journal. He said it would be disregarded as was for home improvement.

Suprise suprise, I get my notice of what my payment will be and they have taken £56 off next payment.

I have contacted my work coach to ask why I have been penalise when he said the decision had been made to disregard.
Also how do I show the money is now gone.
Its such a farce and the secrecy around the rules and proceedure is crazy.

What do I do now?

Robbie64

You'll need to ask for a reconsideration of the decision. You should e able to do this via your journal though i don't know how much information you'll be able to put into your request via the journal. You may need to follow up the request by putting more details in writing.

Spoonie_Turtle

Soconfused14 said:

Also how do I show the money is now gone.

Bank statement showing the relevant transaction(s), I'd assume.

Soconfused14

@Spoonie_Turtleut will this mean I have to print it all off again and have another appointment. Cant believe there is no way to send this info online for sake of handing in a few pieces of paper 

HillStreetBlues

If you reported it as "home improvement"  there might be an issue there.
The guidance is 

H2123 Where, in the past 6 months, a person has acquired a sum of money by way of a loan, grant or
otherwise which is to be used for making essential repairs or alterations to premises occupied or
intended to be occupied as the person’s home, that amount can be disregarded from the calculation of
that person’s capital but only where it is used for that purpose1

The trouble is a WC doesn't know all the rules and rather than say "it's up to a DM to decided"  they give their own personal view.
It would seem pot luck if it will be disregarded, one DM might be more lenient (read the guideline as alterations) another more rigid (read the guideline as essential alterations).
Hopefully you will get it disregarded.

If they don't disregarded, then challenge the amount that they have deducted, as it shouldn't be everything over £6k
Your payment of UC paid in that month should be taken off the amount, as that's income not capital. Also if you got any CoL payments ask for that to be taken off as well.

Spoonie_Turtle

Soconfused14 said:

@Spoonie_Turtleut will this mean I have to print it all off again and have another appointment. Cant believe there is no way to send this info online for sake of handing in a few pieces of paper 

I don't know if there's an upload facility or not, as many bank statements can be accessed or turned into a PDF.  But I've not had to upload anything for UC so I really don't know if it's possible.

rangout

There is a way to upload documents, but the Work Coach\Assessor has to activate it (I've used it in the past to upload CVs, proof of training course attendance, etc)

Best to leave a message in the journal that you have documents they need to see

Soconfused14

Just waiting for someone at UC to get back to me. 
I was actually told that this had been looked at and a decision had been made to disregard which is why it came as such a shock
@HillStreetBlues the amount they have worked it out from is my full account balance which obviously includes my UC payment so may be able to get it at least reduced. 
The whole system is such a farce, none of the advisors have a clue unless its a bog standard enquiry.
So frustrated.

HillStreetBlues

@Soconfused14
Just reread your post (so deleted my last reply)
I wonder what decision the WC is talking about?  I suppose it's possible that it was looked at again, or the deduction is a mistake (hopefully the later).
Hope the wait isn't too long as it's so annoying with the extra hassle.

Soconfused14

Had a sort of reply that they will look at it again, so fingers crossed.

Soconfused14

Going forward with a mandatory reconsideration.

How do I now continue with the savings in my account as its reduced?

Can anyone point me to the actual rules/regs/guidance?