Help with Universal credit for my son

sharktale

Hi my son has worked but unfortunately last year he was in a lot of pain and eventually (after months) we found out he has 2 breaks in his back, this has left him temporarily unable to work, he can hardly walk and is now on morphine. We are hoping surgery will happen and hopefully he'll be able to return to work. He is getting around £400 a month, is that correct? He lives at home with us. He currently has a sick note from the doctor. It just seems such a very small amount. I'm not sure if there's anything else they should be giving him as he is unable to work so can't be looking for employment. U/c call him every couple of weeks. He had a assessment over the phone where they said he was fit for work! However they have since apologised and said this shouldn't have happened.We have never claimed universal credit before so we have next to no understanding of it at all. Any advice would be much appreciated. 
Thanks 

elsien

That is the correct amount for universal credit for a single person over 25 without any rent to pay. 

How long has he had the health issues  for, as he could potentially look at claiming PIP depending on what he actually needs help with day-to-day.

KxMx

As you are inexperienced with the benefits system, I'd recommend getting some professional advice from a trained benefits advisor. 

https://advicefinder.turn2us.org.uk/

itsthelittlethings

He could claim the limited capacity for work element if he has a fit note.

Rubyroobs

If he is unable to work then he needs to report his health conditions to UC and submit fit notes to them. After 28 days of submitting fit notes he should be sent a UC50 form to complete and is awarded Limited capability for work and work related activity ( LCWRA ) after assessment he could potentially receive an extra £420 a month on his UC.. 

rosewalk

I wonder if he has already had a Work Capability Assessment as you mention that he had an assessment over the phone and was found to be fit for work. Did he complete and return a UC50 form before the telephone assessment? 

sharktale

Hi, thanks all. I was considering pip, he went on sick from work Mar/April 24 then they laid him off in July, he wanted to go back to work with adjustments but they couldn't accommodate this, very manual work. By the time he has an operation and recovered I would imagine we're looking at at least another 10 moths, just my assumption.
Yes he has filled in the UC50, this is where they said he was fit for work, then apologised at the next phone call saying this shouldn't have happened. I did wonder if he might be entitled to more money as he physically cannot work. I do feel he should be put on the temporarily unable to work but can work in the future ( once operation done and recovered) he's over 25.
Many thanks for your help 

KxMx

You can appeal the fit for work decision. 

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/universal-credit/problems-with-your-payment/challenging-a-universal-credit-decision-mandatory-consideration/

sheramber

PIP is different  from UC  and is a separate application form. 

Spoonie_Turtle

sharktale said:

… I did wonder if he might be entitled to more money as he physically cannot work. I do feel he should be put on the temporarily unable to work but can work in the future ( once operation done and recovered) he's over 25.
Many thanks for your help 

There are two potential not-fit-for-work outcomes:
LCW (Limited Capacity for Work) which means being required to do work-related/work preparation activities, potentially attend appointments, no extra money, or
LCWRA (LCW and work-Related Activities) which means being left alone until any reassessment, not required to attend appointments, extra money (from the 4th full assessment period after reporting the health condition).

If he has had a Work Capability Assessment after having sent off the form, he should receive a decision letter in his journal.  Also his commitments will give an indication of whether he's been put into any group other than the default.  [It's commendable and understandable you want to help him but unless he struggles with technology it might be simplest if he engages with this thread himself rather than trying to relay information through you, because he's the one who should have access to his journal and be able to tell us what's there.]