Benefit advice for someone who came off due to inheritance/savings

Torry_Quine

Jaskon said:

Torry_Quine said:

Jaskon said:

Spoonie_Turtle said:

Darn, you could have kept your support group status even if you had no contributions-based ESA entitlement by keeping your claim open for NI credits only even if you weren't entitled to any payments, then that would have meant not having to go through it all again (unless they decided to reassess you anyway but just as a normal part of having a long-term claim).

How long ago did you close your claim, just for context?  I don't think there's anything you can do about it now but just in case any more knowledgeable member knows of anything.

I close in mid January

i was on ESA income based support group, not contribution based

I'm confused. I thought you literally had to get off benefit, they can't just pause payments and stay on benefit (without any money). You're not entitled to any.

I've been on an ESA claim for NI credits for several years as too much savings 

contribution  or income based?  

Contribution based. 

Newcad

Jaskon said:

 I looked to see if my UC account (to transfer to ESA to UC but never went through with it after I received inheritance )  was still around, looks like they must have deleted it since I was  able to create new account with same email.   Given I have under 16k,  I best start to reclaim.

As you say that you have created a new account then you have already started a new claim.

On the onscreen forms say when it asks about health that you have a condition that restricts working.

You will be asked to provide Fit-Notes, so you might want to get that in hand with your GP.

Once you start providing UC with the Fit-Notes then you have started your 'health journey'.
You will be sent a UC50 questionaire*, fill it in and send it back.
Then wait for a Work Capability Assessment appointment, they are usually done over the phone these days.

*(or it might be the new version - WCA50 which has replaced both the UC50 and the ESA50 with the one form. The questions asked are the same though, so they are still using up the older ones).

Jaskon

Newcad said:

Jaskon said:

 I looked to see if my UC account (to transfer to ESA to UC but never went through with it after I received inheritance )  was still around, looks like they must have deleted it since I was  able to create new account with same email.   Given I have under 16k,  I best start to reclaim.

As you say that you have created a new account then you have already started a new claim.

On the onscreen forms say when it asks about health that you have a condition that restricts working.

You will be asked to provide Fit-Notes, so you might want to get that in hand with your GP.

Once you start providing UC with the Fit-Notes then you have started your 'health journey'.
You will be sent a UC50 questionaire*, fill it in and send it back.
Then wait for a Work Capability Assessment appointment, they are usually done over the phone these days.

*(or it might be the new version - WCA50 which has replaced both the UC50 and the ESA50 with the one form. The questions asked are the same though, so they are still using up the older ones).

Just created an account started my claim?

oh didn't know that. 

But suppose I should just get it over with no, what's point in waiting

Trying to think back to how I went on ESA, it was quite some time I was on it.  

I think I only had one sick note from my GP, and I was on ESA years (few assessments, work activity group) then they put me on Support Group. 

I wonder if any of his history will impact anything. 

 

Jaskon

Just to be clear, I started filling in some bits.  Claim doesn’t officially start until you actually submit it?

Robbie64

The claim only starts when you click Submit Claim on the Declaration page.

Newcad

Jaskon said:

Just to be clear, I started filling in some bits.  Claim doesn’t officially start until you actually submit it?

Robbie64 said:

The claim only starts when you click Submit Claim on the Declaration page

Well yes - but then again no.

That's because the word "claim" can mean different things when it comes to UC.

It can be a bit confusing because as well as your initial 'Claim' for UC the DWP also refer to an ongoing UC Award as being a 'claim'.

Other benefits just call it an 'award', but In UC they call it a 'claim' because technically each monthly Assessment Period is a different 'claim' to last month's, with possibly a different amount of wages paid, etc.

So there is: "Making a Claim for UC".
And there is also : "An ongoing UC claim".

You start to make your UC Claim by opening an account - you complete making your UC Claim by clicking the 'Submit' button.
If you are eligible for UC then your entitlement to payments of UC starts from when you click submit.

https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit/how-to-claim

You can apply for Universal Credit online. You need to create an account to make a claim. You must complete your claim within 28 days of creating your account or you will have to start again. Your claim starts on the date you submit it in your account.

Note that wording "You must complete your claim .." which tells you that you started making your UC Claim by creating an account.
You have to start something before you can complete it.

Then the line: "Your claim starts on the date you submit it in your account." is talking about the other meaning of claim, the ongoing UC.

(Is it worded like that to deliberately confuse people? Or are the DWP just cr#p at explaining things? From years of experience I'd say it's the second).