Universal Credit Stop Start

Um4

Under Managed Migration from Working Tax Credit, I was asked to make a claim for Universal Credit, which I did in December 2023.  I received my first UC payment in January 2024.

At a subsequent appointment, I was told to report a change of circumstances that I was self-employed, because I was a company director.  I refused and my claim was closed.

In July 2025 I went to the First Tier Tribunal.  DWP didn’t have any evidence that I was required to say I was self-employed, but argued that the computer wouldn’t work if I didn’t.  The judge was quite succinct that "The computer not working was not my fault and DWP needed to fix it".  He ordered that the claim be reopened.

UC wrote to say were considering an appeal to the Upper Tribunal, which they didn’t do.  Eventually, on 2 December 2025 the claim was reopened, then closed again because I am now over State Pension age.

What should I do to receive the missing payments or Transitional Relief for 2024?  Any help gratefully received.  Please ask if anything is unclear.  Thanks

TimeLord1

Write to your local MP with the tribunal outcome and ask them to look into it.

huckster

If they did reopen claim they will set you report income and expenses to do actions for every assessment period, where you would have to declare the income and expenses for the business you were a director of.

As you refused to report yourself as self employed, they will register you as self employed on the claim to create the report income and expenses to do actions..

If you refused to complete the report income and expenses to do actions, the claim will get closed again.

I cannot see Universal Credit just issuing payments without considering some income information for your self employment.

If the company you were a director of made no net trading profit each month or your role as director meant that you had no control of business and would not be eligible to any profit from the business, you could supply this evidence.

Link below to information that may be relevant

Self-employment and Universal Credit - GOV.UK https://share.google/cDLcS4QzvGWIyPpx1

042.Companies_and_directors-gainful_self-employment_V6.0.pdf https://share.google/fodPKO6ohhTDqBDZ1

Advice for Decision makers link below regarding self employment 

adm_h4.pdf https://share.google/kcjLdS8xadlKNJK5i

Grumpy_chap

Um4 said:

Under Managed Migration from Working Tax Credit, I was asked to make a claim for Universal Credit, which I did in December 2023.  I received my first UC payment in January 2024.

At a subsequent appointment, I was told to report a change of circumstances that I was self-employed, because I was a company director.  I refused and my claim was closed.

In July 2025 I went to the First Tier Tribunal.  DWP didn’t have any evidence that I was required to say I was self-employed, but argued that the computer wouldn’t work if I didn’t.  The judge was quite succinct that "The computer not working was not my fault and DWP needed to fix it".  He ordered that the claim be reopened.

UC wrote to say were considering an appeal to the Upper Tribunal, which they didn’t do.  Eventually, on 2 December 2025 the claim was reopened, then closed again because I am now over State Pension age.

What should I do to receive the missing payments or Transitional Relief for 2024?  Any help gratefully received.  Please ask if anything is unclear.  Thanks

In the case of Director's, the processes for UC "pierce through the veil" of the Ltd Co. and look at the underlying income and allowable expenses for the business, not just the declared salary that the Director is drawing from the Ltd Co.

I assume that this is a Ltd Co. of which you are the Shareholder and Director.