'Other people' section of Universal Credit Claim

CharlieTHX

Hi, hope someone can help.  My severely disabled child is leaving specialist school this year and as they are unable to work I need to make a UC claim on their behalf.

I'm currently confused by the 'other people' section.  Our child lives with us and a sibling who is still at school, we do not live with our child if that makes sense, our children live with us.

Do I include anyone in 'other people' I really don't want to make any mistakes?  I'm really confused.

KxMx

UC are only interested in non dependants or partners. Your child has none of those so UC do not need to know they live with parents and sibling. 

Even though you live together you are considered separate households for benefit purposes. 

CharlieTHX

When I search online for this the AI Google answer says 'For Universal Credit purposes, your parents and brother are considered members of your household, not "other people" to be included in the "other people" section of your claim. '

But I don't know whether to trust it.

CharlieTHX

KxMx said:

UC are only interested in non dependants or partners. Your child has none of those so UC do not need to know they live with parents and sibling. 

Even though you live together you are considered separate households for benefit purposes. 

Thank you so much for your help, I feel so anxious about getting this right for our child.

CharlieTHX

One other question, our child finishes school on the 18th July, should I wait until then to submit the UC application or should I do it now because it takes times to process?

TimeLord1

Hello,

In your case, you are making a UC claim on behalf of your severely disabled child. This means your child will be considered the claimant.

When it asks about "other people" in the household, it's generally looking for people who are not part of the claimant's Universal Credit "benefit unit" but still live in the same property.

I'm unsure when you received your letter, as you have 3 months to claim, but if you're unsure, phone the UC helpline 0800 328 5644 


You can input a fair amount of information without submitting the claim, but it's best to submit it on a payment date before that month is ending.

huckster

One of the reasons UC asks about other people living in the household, is to work out bedrooms being used. If you are in social housing with a Housing Association, if you don't include your disabled child, then you may receive less Housing as UC may calculate a spare room to deduct for.

If your disabled child claims UC in their own name, then get a Doctors fit note that runs from day 1 of the UC claim. And advisable to get a fit note that is for as long as possible. This is part of the UC process where someone is not able to work, so they can be referred for Work Capability Assessment process.

Read link below regarding claims made by those under 18

Universal Credit: Eligibility - GOV.UK https://share.google/RkbTbzUGOhWlJiE7Q

Northern_Wanderer

How old is your child?

You need to apply as an appointee of benefits for your child or have a Power of Attorney for them.

You could use the Help to Claim helpline via Citizens Advice.

CharlieTHX

Thanks for your replies and help, child is 19 and I was appointed by the DWP to deal with their PIP and understand that means I can do their UC claim.  I have a 3 month fit note from the GP.  We haven't received any letters inviting them to claim for UC I just assumed I could make a claim as soon as they were no longer in education or training.

8dayweek

CharlieTHX said:

One other question, our child finishes school on the 18th July, should I wait until then to submit the UC application or should I do it now because it takes times to process?

You need to claim on or after 19th July if that’s the case. 

Spoonie_Turtle

CharlieTHX said:

When I search online for this the AI Google answer says …

But I don't know whether to trust it.

For future reference: no, ignore AI overview and go straight to the actual search results (the old-fashioned way(!)) to try to find the answer yourself and evaluate the veracity of the sources.  AI overview is simply not reliable no matter how natural the results sound or how well it's laid points out.