UC - Deferral

olgadapolga

Well, they rang back, denied everything, told me all sorts of rubbish (I'll update here tomorrow as no time tonight) but the bottom line is that they can't/won't help so I'll be emailing the details to my MP tomorrow to ask him for assistance.

Newcad

I realise that we do not have the full details here.

You are going to have to move to UC at some time soon. can anyone see any particular reason why not now instead of later?

Sometimes it's better to get things over with than struggle trying to put them off.

Yamor

Yes, as they have capital over £16k, they will only get UC for 12 months, so it is in their interest to delay claiming as long as possible.

Newcad

Yes that is a reason for getting a deferral if you can.

However my worry here would be that now the migration notice has been received the clock is ticking, it's already a month (at least) into the OPs migration notice period, so any deferral needs to be gained fairly quickly or the TCs will stop at the end of the notice period.
The DWP (and HMRC) are not reknowned for doing such things quickly, and lacking a deferral then unless a UC claim has been made before the deadline the opportunity for the 12 month savings disregard could be lost.

OK that is a worst case scenario, but one to consider.

olgadapolga

Thanks to all for your comments.

Just  to update:

My conversation with the UC helpline did not end well. The first person I spoke to didn't have any knowledge of deferral due to having a nineteen year old in non-advanced FT education but was happy to investigate. He called he back but had someone in the background who was responding to my questions. The bottom line from them was that I couldn't request a deferral as it wasn't a thing, I had to apply for UC and that was IT. I told them that I would be worse off under UC as a result but they weren't having it as "Tax Credits are ending and you have NO CHOICE". I think I may have upset them when I said that there was always a choice, and my choice was to take it up with my MP.

During the conversation, I was told that support for my son would end next August (as per my understanding of UC around nineteen year olds in non-advanced FT education). I was then told that support would continue until the end of his course (I queried this as it won't end until 2025 and he will be a few months off 21 by then). They were quite adamant about this, despite having said otherwise just before that. 

They also told me that my older son, who has just turned 20 (so child benefit and CTC has ceased) could claim UC in his own right, even though he is a FT student (non-advanced, he's in the second year of his A-Levels). I said that there was no way he could look for work as his A-Levels are very intensive and was told that he wouldn't need to. Not sure about that, as I thought that claimants in education also had to look for work?

I have now emailed my MP explaining the situation to him, along with links to the documents etc. I have impressed upon him the need to act fairly rapidly due to the migration deadline at the end of January 2024.

I don't know who else I can enlist to help with this.

poppy12345

olgadapolga said:

Thanks to all for your comments.



During the conversation, I was told that support for my son would end next August (as per my understanding of UC around nineteen year olds in non-advanced FT education). I was then told that support would continue until the end of his course (I queried this as it won't end until 2025 and he will be a few months off 21 by then). They were quite adamant about this, despite having said otherwise just before that. 

Umm no, that's not correct. Child element of UC stops on 1st September following their 19th birthday, it doesn't continue past that.

olgadapolga said:

They also told me that my older son, who has just turned 20 (so child benefit and CTC has ceased) could claim UC in his own right, even though he is a FT student (non-advanced, he's in the second year of his A-Levels). I said that there was no way he could look for work as his A-Levels are very intensive and was told that he wouldn't need to. Not sure about that, as I thought that claimants in education also had to look for work?

Full time students and UC do not mix. He would need to be claiming a disability benefit at least and then he still may not qualify. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/universal-credit-and-students though many many full time students work at the same time. My daughter worked part time as well as study all the way through her Uni degree and yes, that was a full time course.

olgadapolga

poppy12345 said:

olgadapolga said:

Thanks to all for your comments.



During the conversation, I was told that support for my son would end next August (as per my understanding of UC around nineteen year olds in non-advanced FT education). I was then told that support would continue until the end of his course (I queried this as it won't end until 2025 and he will be a few months off 21 by then). They were quite adamant about this, despite having said otherwise just before that. 

Umm no, that's not correct. Child element of UC stops on 1st September following their 19th birthday, it doesn't continue past that.

olgadapolga said:

They also told me that my older son, who has just turned 20 (so child benefit and CTC has ceased) could claim UC in his own right, even though he is a FT student (non-advanced, he's in the second year of his A-Levels). I said that there was no way he could look for work as his A-Levels are very intensive and was told that he wouldn't need to. Not sure about that, as I thought that claimants in education also had to look for work?

Full time students and UC do not mix. He would need to be claiming a disability benefit at least and then he still may not qualify. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/universal-credit-and-students though many many full time students work at the same time. My daughter worked part time as well as study all the way through her Uni degree and yes, that was a full time course.

@poppy12345 - thank you for clarifying these details. I thought that the helpline person was wrong as she was authoritatively spouting this stuff at me. They clearly need more training as they should not be giving out incorrect information to anyone and if they don't know then they should admit that and go and find out.

OhWow

olgadapolga said:

 

They also told me that my older son, who has just turned 20 (so child benefit and CTC has ceased) could claim UC in his own right, even though he is a FT student (non-advanced, he's in the second year of his A-Levels). I said that there was no way he could look for work as his A-Levels are very intensive and was told that he wouldn't need to. Not sure about that, as I thought that claimants in education also had to look for work?

Because your son is two years behind everyone else with A-Levels, the welfare system doesn't really fit for you to still claim money for him. 

As already said, most work while they do their A-Levels and full-time degrees. 

Have you considered that he might be better off learning a trade? Although I'm not sure where that will leave you with the benefits you want, he could pay you for his keep.

olgadapolga

My MP wrote to the DWP over the weekend. 

Today I received a call from the UC helpline stating that the managed migration has been cancelled and Tax Credits will continue. Letter confirming this to be sent out.

One less thing to worry about. 

peteuk

olgadapolga said:

My MP wrote to the DWP over the weekend. 

Today I received a call from the UC helpline stating that the managed migration has been cancelled and Tax Credits will continue. Letter confirming this to be sent out.

One less thing to worry about. 

Name and Praise (the opposite of name and shame I guess) your MP…