Second JC Appointment Cancelled As I Earn Too Much (Not)

Riverstone58

I was officially made redundant over 2 weeks ago and had my first appointment at the JC last week.

My next appointment was booked for next month as my now WC is away until then. I have now just received a message to say that it's been cancelled as they say I'm earning over the limit where appointments are required???

I had been claiming UC as a top-up in my then full-time employment and this claim should still continue with my change of circumstances. I'm also eligible for contribution based new style JSA.

I've replied back querying this but as I'm now out of work and having a lot of major troubles elsewhere, I'm totally stressing out and in meltdown because of this.

Any ideas or is everyone as baffled and confused as I am.
Thanks.

Riverstone58

Their full reply to my querying this is:

"Apologies for any inconvenience caused, at the moment as you are earning over the limit where appointments are required these have been cancelled."

If it makes any difference I was paid weekly, not monthly, and at the same time today my UC statement was ready for my next payment on the 22nd 

huckster

Where the earnings reported by employers ( via HMRC) exceed the minimum threshold within the assessment period, it means that according to legislation that Job Centre appointments are not required. And the Job Centre is then required to cancel the appointment, so they have the appointment time available for those with no earnings or earnings below the threshold.

Link to the legislation on the earnings threshold.

The Universal Credit (Administrative Earnings Threshold) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 (legislation.gov.uk)

Riverstone58

Thanks for the reply but with respect the attachment isn't in plain English for me to understand.

For my last assessment period, this was based on 4 weekly pay days plus outstanding holiday due.

So for this assessment period my monthly statement reads that I will be paid the princely sum of £7-83 so I am unclear how this exceeds an earnings threshold for UC?

Also, as I am entitled to JSA (contributions based) I thought you had to attend interviews regardless?

A work colleague who was made redundant at the same time isn't entitled to UC as she is way above the 16k threshold. She's still entitled to JSA, though, and is having to attend interviews and so I am more confused than ever.

tomtom256

UC takes precedence for a dual claim yo UC and NS JSA. So if you don't need an appointment for UC, you won't need one for NS JSA.
You probably have a nil awarfd for UC, owing to the NS JSA payment.

Riverstone58

But I haven't had a NIL UC award!!

I reported a change of circumstances (i.e. now unemployed) and was asked to attend an interview at the JC 10 days or so later. Looking for work, commitments, sanctions etc were explained to me during the interview.

I haven't as such put in a "claim" for JSA as I thought this automatically follows? My current UC statement I received today only mentions that the payment is based on earnings: no mention of JSA and I have only been classed as unemployed for 2 weeks.

Spoonie_Turtle

Riverstone58 said:

So for this assessment period my monthly statement reads that I will be paid the princely sum of £7-83 so I am unclear how this exceeds an earnings threshold for UC?

It's just an earnings threshold whereby meeting/exceeding it automatically classes you as 'working enough' so the system says you don't need appointments.  Regardless of the actual situation.

Understandable why you're finding it stressful, not knowing why that's happened, but once your earnings go down next month you'll be booked in for appointments again.  In the meantime please try not to worry.  Just do what your claimant commitment asks and wait for the system to say you need to attend appointments again, which will probably after your next assessment period due to low/no earnings.

Alice_Holt

Riverstone58 said:

I haven't as such put in a "claim" for JSA as I thought this automatically follows? My current UC statement I received today only mentions that the payment is based on earnings: no mention of JSA and I have only been classed as unemployed for 2 weeks.

      No.
      You need to apply for New Style JSA, if you wish to receive it.
      Unlike UC it's not means-tested and entitlement is by way of previous years NI contributions.
     https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-style-jobseekers-allowance

     It's payable fortnightly for a maximum of 6 months.

Riverstone58

Spoonie_Turtle said:

Riverstone58 said:

So for this assessment period my monthly statement reads that I will be paid the princely sum of £7-83 so I am unclear how this exceeds an earnings threshold for UC?

It's just an earnings threshold whereby meeting/exceeding it automatically classes you as 'working enough' so the system says you don't need appointments.  Regardless of the actual situation.

Understandable why you're finding it stressful, not knowing why that's happened, but once your earnings go down next month you'll be booked in for appointments again.  In the meantime please try not to worry.  Just do what your claimant commitment asks and wait for the system to say you need to attend appointments again, which will probably after your next assessment period due to low/no earnings.

Thanks Spoonie, that makes a bit of sense now.

I have a number of health issues, and one in particular which will most definitely limit the type of work I may be able to do.

I explained this to the WC at my first appointment last week. She said I would need an ongoing fit note so I can have a work assessment. 

So on the basis I get this from my doctor, who I see next week, I guess I just notify them as explained by the WC and wait and see.

Thanks again.

Riverstone58

Alice_Holt said:

Riverstone58 said:

I haven't as such put in a "claim" for JSA as I thought this automatically follows? My current UC statement I received today only mentions that the payment is based on earnings: no mention of JSA and I have only been classed as unemployed for 2 weeks.

      No.
      You need to apply for New Style JSA, if you wish to receive it.
      Unlike UC it's not means-tested and entitlement is by way of previous years NI contributions.
     https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-style-jobseekers-allowance

     It's payable fortnightly for a maximum of 6 months.

Jesus, this is a total nightmare but thanks for the heads up.

Just had a quick look but I'm too exhausted to bother so will have to deal with it tomorrow.

I'm 65 and the last time I had anything to do with this c*** was in the 80's.

If you were unemployed you filled in a form, signed on every 2 weeks and received a Giro cheque 2 days later. 

For those who were too ill to work, they would post in sick notes and receive their Giro as normal.

If they were continually ill for 6 months they would then be put on invalidity benefit with a benefit increase and a pension book to cash weekly.

Housing benefit and the then property rates were claimed through the council.

This 'new' method of UC is supposed to be simpler?!!! No it isn't: it's totally stressing me out and I'm totally exhausted having gone through this.

Many, many, thanks again Alice for the heads up: I'd have missed out even more on the pittance I'll be paid! (really p***** off now the WC didn't tell me this).

Too tired to carry on any more so nite nite everyone and take care.

Spoonie_Turtle

Riverstone58 said:

Alice_Holt said:

Riverstone58 said:

I haven't as such put in a "claim" for JSA as I thought this automatically follows? My current UC statement I received today only mentions that the payment is based on earnings: no mention of JSA and I have only been classed as unemployed for 2 weeks.

      No.
      You need to apply for New Style JSA, if you wish to receive it.
      Unlike UC it's not means-tested and entitlement is by way of previous years NI contributions.
     https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-style-jobseekers-allowance

     It's payable fortnightly for a maximum of 6 months.

Many, many, thanks again Alice for the heads up: I'd have missed out even more on the pittance I'll be paid! (really p***** off now the WC didn't tell me this).

Too tired to carry on any more so nite nite everyone and take care.

The JSA will be deducted in full from a UC claim and I'm not sure how JSA works with having a fit note either.

ESA would likely be more appropriate, and is paid for up to a year unless you're put into the Support Group (the UC equivalent is assessed as having LCWRA) in which case it continues indefinitely - or more realistically, until retirement age for you.