Universal Credit Change of Circs not being actioned

Marsha2007

My son left college on 20th June and is waiting to start University. I notified UC via the change of circs on the same day that he is no longer in full time education and checked via the journal that it was all done correctly which they said it was. 

My statement on 9th July included the child element, so I contacted them again to say this was incorrect and what do I do. I didn't receive a reply for 3 weeks despite sending many messages after this to try and get this sorted. I received a message on 28th July saying the child element should have been removed and they think I've been overpaid due to a technical error and to check my statement this month to make sure it has come off. They also said I should receive a prompt so I can notify them of the change in education. I never received a prompt, and today on my statement the child element is still on there. I've sent them 4 messages again since 28th July and have messaged again this morning. I have also re completed the change of circs just to be on the safe side. I'm really worried about the overpayment as the chkld element is £339 a month which will obviously need to paid back. I'm so annoyed that it's taking them weeks to reply to me, if you phone they just tell you to put it in the journal or check the journal. What am I supposed to do now? I'll need to get my disabled husband to ring them on Monday to try and sort this as I'm not able to ring them. I thought using the journal was preferable and, for me especially with work where it's impossible to ring and be in hold for so long using ybe journal to contact them was so much easier... But not if they don't blooming reply!!

How will they reclaim the money? Obvs with the loss of the chkld element I'm losing a big chunk of money, how much more will I loose with an overpayment? Will I be sanctioned or receive a penalty if they think I haven't notified them... Which I did (and my journal shows this)? 

Marsha2007

I've been looking at a few other posts re children leaving college and now worrying that I've worked it all out wrong!

Am I right in thinking it's only the child element which will be taken off... Everything else stays the same?  We get couple element, housing, disability and carer element. My wages are reduced and my husbands esa is taken off pound for pound. He is registered blind, on HR daily living and mob Pip and in support group of New style ESA. I don't get carers as my wages are over threshold but get carer element. 

When I put it into the benefit calculators with my son being 18 and not in FTE it gives me a total which is my current UC minus the child element. Is this right? I assume nothing else will get taken off? 

I've also read that I should have listed him as another person living with us, not as a child who has left education. The change of circs just asked if he's in education, which I put no. Should I have done something different? 

Marsha2007

I think what I'm trying to say is will my work allowance be affected? As my husband is on Lcwra will the work allowance remain even if my child is no longer a child (now 18). I'm assuming not and the only thing I will lose on the UC claim is the child element - everything else remains the same? 

huckster

Yes a work allowance will be on the claim due to LCWRA

Northern_Wanderer

Marsha2007 said:

My son left college on 20th June and is waiting to start University. I notified UC via the change of circs on the same day that he is no longer in full time education and checked via the journal that it was all done correctly which they said it was. 

My statement on 9th July included the child element, so I contacted them again to say this was incorrect and what do I do. I didn't receive a reply for 3 weeks despite sending many messages after this to try and get this sorted. I received a message on 28th July saying the child element should have been removed and they think I've been overpaid due to a technical error and to check my statement this month to make sure it has come off. They also said I should receive a prompt so I can notify them of the change in education. I never received a prompt, and today on my statement the child element is still on there. I've sent them 4 messages again since 28th July and have messaged again this morning. I have also re completed the change of circs just to be on the safe side. I'm really worried about the overpayment as the chkld element is £339 a month which will obviously need to paid back. I'm so annoyed that it's taking them weeks to reply to me, if you phone they just tell you to put it in the journal or check the journal. What am I supposed to do now? I'll need to get my disabled husband to ring them on Monday to try and sort this as I'm not able to ring them. I thought using the journal was preferable and, for me especially with work where it's impossible to ring and be in hold for so long using ybe journal to contact them was so much easier... But not if they don't blooming reply!!

How will they reclaim the money? Obvs with the loss of the chkld element I'm losing a big chunk of money, how much more will I loose with an overpayment? Will I be sanctioned or receive a penalty if they think I haven't notified them... Which I did (and my journal shows this)? 

You will only lose the child element. Put the overpayments in a separate bank account and do not spend them, then you have the money ready to pay back the overpayment when DWP ask for it. Keep copies of journal entries showing your notification of change of circumstances. Keep on at the DWP until they make the change correctly. This is your responsibility as you know you are receiving an element you are not entitled to. There's no point having a hissy fit about this, it will get sorted at some point, you just ensure you don't spend the overpayments you are getting.

Rubyroobs

Marsha2007 said:

I've been looking at a few other posts re children leaving college and now worrying that I've worked it all out wrong!

Am I right in thinking it's only the child element which will be taken off... Everything else stays the same?  We get couple element, housing, disability and carer element. My wages are reduced and my husbands esa is taken off pound for pound. He is registered blind, on HR daily living and mob Pip and in support group of New style ESA. I don't get carers as my wages are over threshold but get carer element. 

When I put it into the benefit calculators with my son being 18 and not in FTE it gives me a total which is my current UC minus the child element. Is this right? I assume nothing else will get taken off? 

I've also read that I should have listed him as another person living with us, not as a child who has left education. The change of circs just asked if he's in education, which I put no. Should I have done something different? 

I think you probably should add him as a non dependent if he is still living with you but as he is under 21 you will not have any deduction from your rent element until he is 21, in fact maybe not even then as your husband is on PIP, hopefully someone else will confirm this. As above you will keep your work allowance as your husband has LCWRA on your claim. 

Marsha2007

Northern_Wanderer said:

Marsha2007 said:

My son left college on 20th June and is waiting to start University. I notified UC via the change of circs on the same day that he is no longer in full time education and checked via the journal that it was all done correctly which they said it was. 

My statement on 9th July included the child element, so I contacted them again to say this was incorrect and what do I do. I didn't receive a reply for 3 weeks despite sending many messages after this to try and get this sorted. I received a message on 28th July saying the child element should have been removed and they think I've been overpaid due to a technical error and to check my statement this month to make sure it has come off. They also said I should receive a prompt so I can notify them of the change in education. I never received a prompt, and today on my statement the child element is still on there. I've sent them 4 messages again since 28th July and have messaged again this morning. I have also re completed the change of circs just to be on the safe side. I'm really worried about the overpayment as the chkld element is £339 a month which will obviously need to paid back. I'm so annoyed that it's taking them weeks to reply to me, if you phone they just tell you to put it in the journal or check the journal. What am I supposed to do now? I'll need to get my disabled husband to ring them on Monday to try and sort this as I'm not able to ring them. I thought using the journal was preferable and, for me especially with work where it's impossible to ring and be in hold for so long using ybe journal to contact them was so much easier... But not if they don't blooming reply!!

How will they reclaim the money? Obvs with the loss of the chkld element I'm losing a big chunk of money, how much more will I loose with an overpayment? Will I be sanctioned or receive a penalty if they think I haven't notified them... Which I did (and my journal shows this)? 

You will only lose the child element. Put the overpayments in a separate bank account and do not spend them, then you have the money ready to pay back the overpayment when DWP ask for it. Keep copies of journal entries showing your notification of change of circumstances. Keep on at the DWP until they make the change correctly. This is your responsibility as you know you are receiving an element you are not entitled to. There's no point having a hissy fit about this, it will get sorted at some point, you just ensure you don't spend the overpayments you are getting.

"A hissy fit" - bit harsh. And as for keeping on at them and it being my responsibility, do you not think I know that, this is why I'm trying to get it sorted and have been trying to get it sorted for the last month.

But thank you for your opinion 👍

HillStreetBlues

Marsha2007 said:

"A hissy fit" - bit harsh.

Not only harsh, but totally uncalled for.

spaniel101

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-work-pensions/about/complaints-procedure

Universal Credit

Make an online complaint about Universal Credit.

Complete an online Complaint explaining just as you have done above.   They will action it for you asap and be in touch within a few weeks.  That way you have covered all bases before it escalates further.  

spaniel101

I would also leave a further 'journal message' enlightening them to the fact you have submitted a formal complaint.

Northern_Wanderer

Marsha2007 said:

Northern_Wanderer said:

Marsha2007 said:

My son left college on 20th June and is waiting to start University. I notified UC via the change of circs on the same day that he is no longer in full time education and checked via the journal that it was all done correctly which they said it was. 

My statement on 9th July included the child element, so I contacted them again to say this was incorrect and what do I do. I didn't receive a reply for 3 weeks despite sending many messages after this to try and get this sorted. I received a message on 28th July saying the child element should have been removed and they think I've been overpaid due to a technical error and to check my statement this month to make sure it has come off. They also said I should receive a prompt so I can notify them of the change in education. I never received a prompt, and today on my statement the child element is still on there. I've sent them 4 messages again since 28th July and have messaged again this morning. I have also re completed the change of circs just to be on the safe side. I'm really worried about the overpayment as the chkld element is £339 a month which will obviously need to paid back. I'm so annoyed that it's taking them weeks to reply to me, if you phone they just tell you to put it in the journal or check the journal. What am I supposed to do now? I'll need to get my disabled husband to ring them on Monday to try and sort this as I'm not able to ring them. I thought using the journal was preferable and, for me especially with work where it's impossible to ring and be in hold for so long using ybe journal to contact them was so much easier... But not if they don't blooming reply!!

How will they reclaim the money? Obvs with the loss of the chkld element I'm losing a big chunk of money, how much more will I loose with an overpayment? Will I be sanctioned or receive a penalty if they think I haven't notified them... Which I did (and my journal shows this)? 

You will only lose the child element. Put the overpayments in a separate bank account and do not spend them, then you have the money ready to pay back the overpayment when DWP ask for it. Keep copies of journal entries showing your notification of change of circumstances. Keep on at the DWP until they make the change correctly. This is your responsibility as you know you are receiving an element you are not entitled to. There's no point having a hissy fit about this, it will get sorted at some point, you just ensure you don't spend the overpayments you are getting.

"A hissy fit" - bit harsh. And as for keeping on at them and it being my responsibility, do you not think I know that, this is why I'm trying to get it sorted and have been trying to get it sorted for the last month.

But thank you for your opinion 👍

My apologies. You're not "losing" anything with the overpayment as you are no longer entitled to that element, as you already know. I understand that the change in benefits when children leave education is difficult for most parents. As others have said, a compliant to DWP could help.