UC Review - Am I over £6k?

ConfusedAboutIt

Hi Everyone; 

I’ve got a universal credit review coming up and wondering if anyone’s been in the same boat of going over 6k on the last day of your AP? 

I get paid on the 15th of every month and my AP is the 22nd - my rent doesn’t come out until the 12th so for a week or so it looked like I was over £6k. I was paid £3k from work in this AP too so will it be disregarded and my capital will be £3k. 

Would love to know what you’ve gone through just to give me some peace of mind while I wait for the phone call!

thank you 

ConfusedAboutIt

Rent comes out on the 1st, not the 12th 

sgthammer

I get paid on the 15th of every month and my AP is the 22nd

That doesn't sound right. Normally your assessment period would end a few days before you get paid, not a week after or three weeks before.

Your earnings from work will indeed be disregarded as capital for this AP; the bad news is they'll be assessed as income (less any work allowance you might have for caring or disability) and taxed at 55%. Your council tax benefit might also be reduced separately.

ConfusedAboutIt

Sorry, I haven’t explained myself properly. 

I get paid from work on the 15th and UC payment is the 29th! 

ConfusedAboutIt

I have got a spreadsheet that I keep which totals up how much money is in mine and my partners accounts on the 22nd minus what we’re both paid from work in that AP! This way I know we’re way under 6k! 

Just hoping the reviewer is calculating it in the same way! 

sgthammer

Ah okay, I misunderstood the timing.

Your rent comes out every month, so being over the threshold for a while during each AP won't matter as it's clear where the excess is draining off to.

ConfusedAboutIt

Thank you! I just want this over and done with now, uploaded my docs about 10 days ago and I know there’s a backlog so just anxiously waiting!! 

Spoonie_Turtle

Do be aware there is a chance that the review team may not do it properly and may initially take your totals instead of separating out income and capital.  BUT the  important thing is you knowing what your actual capital was on the last day of each assessment period, so that if they do come back with an incorrect result you know to challenge it and show them where they're wrong.

It also means if you know for sure, there's nothing to worry about, because even if they do get it wrong you can prove that you haven't been over the threshold.

ConfusedAboutIt

Spoonie_Turtle said:

Do be aware there is a chance that the review team may not do it properly and may initially take your totals instead of separating out income and capital.  BUT the  important thing is you knowing what your actual capital was on the last day of each assessment period, so that if they do come back with an incorrect result you know to challenge it and show them where they're wrong.

It also means if you know for sure, there's nothing to worry about, because even if they do get it wrong you can prove that you haven't been over the threshold.

Thank you for this!! 

Me being a control freak and having a spreadsheet to manage my life will definitely come in handy here so if they do miscalculate I’ll be able to give them the right figures and hopefully be able to fix it!