Closing Universal Credit Account, good idea?

textbook

Had my first meeting with Jobcentre Coach regarding my claim switching from tax credits to Universal credits (it was only about £106/month) and she calculated that I'd get nothing.  Roughly if you earn more than around £550/ month you get nothing. I asked her bluntly if  she recommended not bothering making the claim and she said to close the claim. 

But was this wise? 

I have to fil it in every month - incoming and outgoings (bit of hassle as there are rules) but think I'd still have been eligible for free prescriptions and the cost of living electricity payment this spring   Regarding any money- I probably wouldn't work only if I was injured but she said in that case you claim the new style employment allowance which is better than UC.   I'm getting £900 PAYE at moment and some self employed when not injured but the PAYE could easily end.   Have I done the right thing or is it easy to start a new claim?

poppy12345

textbook said:

Had my first meeting with Jobcentre Coach regarding my claim switching from tax credits to Universal credits (it was only about £106/month) and she calculated that I'd get nothing.  Roughly if you earn more than around £550/ month you get nothing. I asked her bluntly if  she recommended not bothering making the claim and she said to close the claim. 

How much you can earn before your UC reduces to zero will depend on what your maximum UC entitlement is. It will be different for everyone depending on your circumstances. Personally, I wouldn't take the advice of any work coach. 

textbook said:

I have to fil it in every month - incoming and outgoings (bit of hassle as there are rules) but think I'd still have been eligible for free prescriptions and the cost of living electricity payment this spring  

To be entitled to free prescriptions when claiming UC if your UC doesn't include the child element then your earnings would need to be £435 or less in the last assessment period. 

 If it includes a child element then earnings would need to be £935 or less in your last assessment period. https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/help-with-health-costs/help-with-health-costs-for-people-getting-universal-credit/

What cost of living electric payment are you talking about?

Spoonie_Turtle

Have you closed the claim?  If so I'd recommend reopening it, if only to see whether you are entitled to a payment at the end of the month. 

If this is a managed migration from Tax Credits then transitional protection is supposed to make sure you are protected against getting significantly less than on Tax Credits (unless your circumstances change such as a qualifying young person no longer qualifying).

textbook

Spoonie_Turtle said:

Have you closed the claim?  If so I'd recommend reopening it, if only to see whether you are entitled to a payment at the end of the month. 

If this is a managed migration from Tax Credits then transitional protection is supposed to make sure you are protected against getting significantly less than on Tax Credits (unless your circumstances change such as a qualifying young person no longer qualifying).

Yes, she asked me to send her a message to request closing it after saying I wouldn't be entitled to anything and made no sense to keep it open.  Shall i say i dont want this and to leave it open (I've changed my mind)? Just checked the journal and my claim is closed.  Just logged onto the journal..   I have until 28th Feb for an explanation if i disagree with the decision, shall i call and ask for it to be reopened?

This is a managed migration yes from tax credits.   Only from working tax credits   not child tax credits.

Can't send a message on the journal.

Regarding prescriptions, can you pay £90 annually and get free prescriptions?  She told me that too

Spoonie_Turtle

I don't know what's best to do to get it reopened, hopefully some other members with hands-on experience of this might be able to help.

Edit: and I've just had a horrible thought, as a managed migration it may not be possible, if closing the claim ended any transitional protection.  But nothing to lose by trying, at this point.

For prescriptions you can buy a prepayment certificate; currently the annual one costs £111.60/yr which starts you saving if you need more than 12 items in a year
https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/help-nhs-prescription-costs/nhs-prescription-prepayment-certificate-ppc

HillStreetBlues

I would made it clear that it's not reopening you want, as Spoonie has pointed out it might affect the TP.
What you want to happen is for the closure to be reversed due to misinformation, so it's not a closure and reclaim., it's one continuous claim.

Alice_Holt

Next time don't rely (and act) on what your DWP work coach / call handler tells you.

I'm sure it is much easier for her if you closed your claim, but it's very conceivable you have now stymied any chance of retaining any TP due over and above any potential UC entitlement. 
Your circumstances may well change in the next 12 months.
I'd have just let the UC claim run, and see how it pans out.

I fear having actively closed (before any payment?) it yourself that ends it (and any chance of TP).  

So, no it wasn't wise.

textbook

HillStreetBlues said:

I would made it clear that it's not reopening you want, as Spoonie has pointed out it might affect the TP.
What you want to happen is for the closure to be reversed due to misinformation, so it's not a closure and reclaim., it's one continuous claim.

There's a phone number-   08003285644

I'll call it this week and claim I was fed misinformation.  What's TP?

Found this too on login page-

Ask us to reconsider

You can also ask us to look at the decision again. This is called a 'mandatory reconsideration'.

You need to ask us by 28 February 2024.

How to do this

You can contact Universal Credit:

• using the Universal Credit helpline
• by sending us a letter

You cannot use your journal to contact us because your claim has been closed.

poppy12345

textbook said:

HillStreetBlues said:

I would made it clear that it's not reopening you want, as Spoonie has pointed out it might affect the TP.
What you want to happen is for the closure to be reversed due to misinformation, so it's not a closure and reclaim., it's one continuous claim.

IWhat's TP?

Transitional Protection.

textbook

So I called them and they said they'd review the case and there would be a good chance they'd reopen the old account with transitional protection.   They called me back on Monday and said they were on it and to login soon and check my acccount.  When I logged in this morning (Saturday)there was no message.  Last week i did get half way through filling in details for new account but never finished it.  Call them back?  Go into Jobcentre?  I can query what's happened until 28th Feb.

textbook

I stupidly closed my UC account with transitional protection and now trying to reopen it on the phone

So I called them and they said they'd review the case and there would be a good chance they'd reopen the old account with transitional protection.   They called me back last Monday 12th and said they were on it and to login soon and check my acccount.  When I logged in this morning (Saturday 17th Feb)there was no message.  Last week i did get half way through filling in details for new account but never finished it.  Call them back?  Go into Jobcentre?  I can query what's happened until 28th Feb