UC is impossible

rufuschucklebutty

I have been claiming UC for 4 years and much of that time it hasn't been paid, constant sanctions and claim closed for stupid reasons ,  the system is impossible with two contradicting offices managing my claim, my local job centre and an online only office, the job centre says they can't contact or change anything the online office does, I just had to start my claim again as it was closed in October and now it's been shut down again because I didn't receive a call , I have told them many times I have no phone signal where I live. 

I have a genuine claim and a serious mental illness  that is signed off by my GP but the UC system is impossible,  even the job centre staff are baffled by its stupidity. 

Muttleythefrog

Hmmm.. I wonder if this is one for your MP to get involved with especially given you cannot receive UC calls and are paying in sanctions.. the MP also will have, or have a team that can get, a handle on localised UC delivery problems.. 

Try to keep a good separate copy of record of the journal entries for reference especially if there is risk of claims closing - I didn't realise my entire history would vanish from view when I reported a change of circumstances (separation from partner) and it caused me a headache or two

(As an aside... if landline is option have a look at social broadband tariffs like BT's which can be cheap and may give phone option at home.. in fact a techie around here may say you can take calls over wifi on a smartphone.. but of course some areas are tough to get broadband)

Auti

If you are an ipad user you can back up entire journal to Books - make sure you click on expand all entries so that you have all of the conversation (not just the first bit) and if they send a message that you have to open - open it and then save that to Books. I save when they or I send a message so I always  have the latest info. 

It also makes it easier to show MP etc relevant bits that they can then take a copy of.

TimeLord1

Just what area are you based to have a terrible reception and who is your provider?

born_again

I know we do not know the full situation.
But given you will get a message in your journal with date & time of your call. Are you not able to go to a area where you do have a signal?

Spoonie_Turtle

Have you had a work capability assessment?  If so, when and what was the outcome?

TheShape

rufuschucklebutty said:

I have been claiming UC for 4 years and much of that time it hasn't been paid, constant sanctions and claim closed for stupid reasons ,  the system is impossible with two contradicting offices managing my claim, my local job centre and an online only office, the job centre says they can't contact or change anything the online office does, I just had to start my claim again as it was closed in October and now it's been shut down again because I didn't receive a call 

Claims should only be closed where there is good reason to do so.  You state that your claim has been closed for 'stupid reasons'.  What are these reasons for claim closure?

M25

Exactly what is the problem and what has been happening and what have you not being doing?

If it's just a general whinge then most people will agree UC is a nightmare for many people. I believe anyone with any common sense would be of the opinion that UC was designed just for that purpose.

Muttleythefrog

M25 said:

Exactly what is the problem and what has been happening and what have you not being doing?

If it's just a general whinge then most people will agree UC is a nightmare for many people. I believe anyone with any common sense would be of the opinion that UC was designed just for that purpose.

I suspect from background reading there is a mix of struggling to administrate claims like this due to mental health problems but also a general frustration with such systems. What I do note is that the Op may struggle to engage meaningfully in their threads as they tend not to be active in them including the last one on UC.

My advice to go to MP was to try to save them documenting anything here that could be complex and of multiple issues.... forcing the Op or their MP (perhaps both) to determine what is actually service delivery problems and discrimination from what is claimant failing to manage their own claim (for which they may need some other personal support or representative). Then there's possible issue of WCA which may require another strand of support like from CAB. I just don't think there is much chance of us being able to unpick it here and I'm not anticipating any information to do so. 

If the Op is willing to present information... my own question would be have they managed to acquire LCWRA (or LCW) so at least they're not facing the demands of work searches etc. Because if they have then administrating a claim should be fairly simple (with LCWRA for example phone calls would be rare irregular events)... but if they're in some vicious circle of claims closing due to lack of basic compliance and therefore never getting through a Work Capability Assessment I can imagine it is difficult to get anywhere. I'm worried they say they're signed off by their GP when looking at history (and the above reference to claiming for 4 years) I would have hoped they'd have been through a WCA by now saving the need for such unless they failed to qualify. Can the Op clarify their WCA situation...?

Refer https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6502980/universal-credit

rufuschucklebutty

Muttleythefrog said:

M25 said:

Exactly what is the problem and what has been happening and what have you not being doing?

If it's just a general whinge then most people will agree UC is a nightmare for many people. I believe anyone with any common sense would be of the opinion that UC was designed just for that purpose.

I suspect from background reading there is a mix of struggling to administrate claims like this due to mental health problems but also a general frustration with such systems. What I do note is that the Op may struggle to engage meaningfully in their threads as they tend not to be active in them including the last one on UC.

My advice to go to MP was to try to save them documenting anything here that could be complex and of multiple issues.... forcing the Op or their MP (perhaps both) to determine what is actually service delivery problems and discrimination from what is claimant failing to manage their own claim (for which they may need some other personal support or representative). Then there's possible issue of WCA which may require another strand of support like from CAB. I just don't think there is much chance of us being able to unpick it here and I'm not anticipating any information to do so. 

If the Op is willing to present information... my own question would be have they managed to acquire LCWRA (or LCW) so at least they're not facing the demands of work searches etc. Because if they have then administrating a claim should be fairly simple (with LCWRA for example phone calls would be rare irregular events)... but if they're in some vicious circle of claims closing due to lack of basic compliance and therefore never getting through a Work Capability Assessment I can imagine it is difficult to get anywhere. I'm worried they say they're signed off by their GP when looking at history (and the above reference to claiming for 4 years) I would have hoped they'd have been through a WCA by now saving the need for such unless they failed to qualify. Can the Op clarify their WCA situation...?

Refer https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6502980/universal-credit

I have filled out the WCA form multiple times but never got any decesion because my claim has been closed down before the result is received. 

I am signed off for mental health reasons and they have made it so frustrating and impossible I can no longer deal with it, they just find a reason to close the claim and that wipes out everything even my proof of ID has to be done again. 

Muttleythefrog

rufuschucklebutty said:

I have filled out the WCA form multiple times but never got any decesion because my claim has been closed down before the result is received. 

I am signed off for mental health reasons and they have made it so frustrating and impossible I can no longer deal with it, they just find a reason to close the claim and that wipes out everything even my proof of ID has to be done again. 

I see. Then you really need to tackle the precise reasons the claim is being closed down... as I feared you're in some vicious cycle of never getting to a point where you're benefitting from being assessed as having LCWRA (or LCW) meaning you're taking part in (or rather struggling to take part in) activity potentially avoidable. 

You have to tackle the closing down of the claim reasons - they tend not to do it without a solid reason but we cannot see what they have been. If this is because you are not complying with what they require such as taking calls... you need to resolve that yourself, or if you cannot resolve with UC alternatives, then contact MP who can take on cases like this to resolve because there are broader problems like for example UC are setting you up to fail as you haven't got the technology to manage your claim or there is incompetence or failings at localised delivery of UC. 

Ultimately if you are found to have LCWRA your responsibilities will be easy to deal with - basically just inform them of any changes and deal with any specific requests they have like updating your savings level. No more fitness notes required from GP and you could get more money.

If you feel all of this is too much.... please try to speak to CAB or similar who can pick up the reigns and help advise you with facts in front of them we cannot see unless stated here. It's not acceptable that someone with mental health problems is being caught in some vicious cycle of claim never able to actually get to assessment phase due to demands of the system but I am sure there will be fixes here (including telephony related if necessary). Good luck!