NS ESA - Adding UC claim

KxMx

I had under £6k capital, attended in person to prove ID with a work coach who started talking about Fit Notes etc, I stated the rules and she consulted a more experienced colleague who confirmed what I said.

This was 2022 - pre mass migration from legacy benefits.

The work coach turned off everything she could but the system forced her to book another appointment.

That was subsequently cancelled after my ESA status went through.

Altior

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82070430#Comment_82070430

Thanks!

I guess I best prep myself with the relevant legislation after submitting the claim, just in case.

Altior

I have decided I think to go 'all in', and use up virtually all of my accessible capital to pay down debt, even though there are 0% deals still running for several months.

I do have another cashback deal going, £10K in a cash ISA which pays a £100 bonus on 31st July. Not a huge bonus but it was only a three month tie in. So once I can withdraw that, I will empty my pots and progress the application.

nannytone_2

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82070196#Comment_82070196

slightly over, but all they asked was for me to upload them

NedS

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82070674#Comment_82070674

Yeah, they probably shouldn't have done that, but people often do things they are not supposed to do. Bank statements are not supposed to be uploaded to the UC system, other that when requested by the UCR (Universal Credit Review) Team for the specific purpose of reviewing the claim.

Altior

As it allows 28 days I think, I started preparing my UC application. Just for info and anyone with similar circs, searching the thread.

Just the savings and investments section to complete from the to do list, then I will fire it off. I can't do that until 1st August at the earliest.

I might have another mini hurdle, if you could adam and eve it, my 10 year passport expires on 3rd August! I have a driving licence as well. I was hoping to be able to verify ID online, as per below. I'm not exactly clear on what the last bullet requires in practice, but I have no shortage of credit card statements!

Evidence for online verification

You can verify your identity online by providing some information that only you would know, for example information about your passport.

You can use any 2 of the following items to verify your identity online:

• valid UK passport
• UK driving licence
• recent Self Assessment returns
• credit references or records – for example, information about credit cards or phone contracts

born_again

I suspect the CRAs have got wind of my radical reduction in income. Consequently I have no current BT deals available

CRA have nothing to do with a lender not offering credit. It is information that lenders pick up via banking systems. Lenders never see the made up figure the CRA's publish.

Altior

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82075225#Comment_82075225

I'm not referring to the credit score. Obviously I know that is nonsense. Lenders do source information from CRAs though. It's pretty murky where income info is sourced from, I've seen various suggestions. But if you have an existing account with a credit card lender, and you are not requesting an increased credit limit, they must run some checks in regard to whether promotions are offered or not that involved external checks. Certainly not hard checks. I'm not stating that it's part of the credit report, but I think a service that CRAs offer lenders.

Ironically, one of my current account providers offered me an approved invite for a HNW account. Because of the amount of cash passing through my account, presumably. Mildly amusing, given my scenario. There's no upside to it though, enhanced savings rates that are still lower than open market ones.

I was definitely on the precipice anyway, as another credit card account kept asking me to verify my details in that app. But you could click out. Eventually they placed a deadline on it, the next time they stated that I would be locked out of the app if I didn't fill in the details. I had a current account with them as well, so switched that and never logged in to the app since. Don't want to risk desktop. So my only relationship with them now is a credit card, 0%, with a rather large balance. Nothing else has happened, that was a few months ago. But I don't anticipate any refreshed deals with that lender!

Robbie64

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82075078#Comment_82075078

From your final paragraph:

I might have another mini hurdle, if you could adam and eve it, my 10
year passport expires on 3rd August! I have a driving licence as well. I
was hoping to be able to verify ID online, as per below. I'm not
exactly clear on what the last bullet requires in practice, but I have
no shortage of credit card statements!

Evidence for online verification

You
can verify your identity online by providing some information that only
you would know, for example information about your passport.

You can use any 2 of the following items to verify your identity online:

• valid UK passport
• UK driving licence
• recent Self Assessment returns
• credit references or records – for example, information about credit cards or phone contracts

********************************************************************************

It's not credit card statements but instead is a couple of questions relating to financial and other products that you have with the information being sourced from your credit file.

When I was migrating from income related ESA to UC, I was asked two questions based on information sourced from Transunion, a Credit Reference Agency:

1. a question about when I last opened a personal current account. I was offered 4 potential answers and I had to pick the correct one.
2. a question about when I last opened a mail order account. Again, there were 4 possible answers and I had to pick the correct one.

I was only asked two questions. I don't know if this is the standard amount to be asked.

Altior

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82075341#Comment_82075341

Ah I see, thanks. Gosh I hate those, will be a challenge with my rather elaborate financial affairs!

Thanks for the heads up, at least I can do a bit of prep!