Below is some of the common issues people experience with Universal Credit and what can be done about it. If you need help with any of this, please contact us.
Absent tenants
When one of the tenants listed on the tenancy is now absent from the home, and the remaining tenant is claiming Universal Credit in their own name only or with a different partner, this can sometimes cause problems.
Universal Credit will automatically assume the absent tenant is paying half the rent, and only award the claimant benefit towards the other half of the rent. However, there is legislation which allows Universal Credit to treat the remaining tenant as entitled to help with the whole rent.
You can enter a journal note on your account, choosing the option to say it is ‘about a payment’, to tell Universal Credit the situation. Explain when the absent tenant left the property and whether they are making any payments towards the rent, explain also how you will not be able to afford the rent without the DWP agreeing it would be reasonable to find you liable for the whole rent.
If Universal Credit still refuse to cover the whole rent in your award, please contact us for further advice.
Mixed age couples
A mixed age couple is a couple where one has reached their retirement age, but the other has not. Such couples have to make new claims for Universal Credit rather than retirement age benefits until both members of the couple have reached their retirement age. Some couples in this situation may still be claiming pension age benefits which can stay in place unless something changes to cause those benefits to end.
If you are approaching becoming a mixed-age couple and currently claim benefits not including Universal Credit it is important to get advice. It may be prudent to claim Universal Credit before you reach your retirement age to ensure you retain the highest entitlement possible. Please contact us for advice.
Variable earnings
Universal Credit is a benefit designed to include help for low paid workers.
Universal Credit works on a monthly assessment period, where any wages earned during that monthly period are counted for that month in deciding what Universal Credit is paid.
For people who have stable monthly earnings, this works well as the payments stay the same.
However, if you are paid weekly, fortnightly or four-weekly, or in any case your earnings vary, then your Universal Credit award can also be different every single month. This can make budgeting difficult.
You may need to carefully plan when you pay what bills with which payment to ensure you stay ahead. It may help to use an online budgeting tool, such as Citizen Advice’s budgeting tool. If you need one-to-one help with this please contact us and ask to speak to a money advisor.
Work Capability Assessments
The Work Capability Assessment is the process the DWP use to work out whether they think someone is capable of work, and whether they qualify for the extra ‘Limited Capability for Work-Related Activity’ element on their claim. The same process also applies to Employment and Support Allowance claims.
To start the process, you need to provide fit notes from your doctor for at least one month; this is a document that states you are unable to work due to a medical condition.
You should continue to provide fit notes until a final decision is made on this process. While this is going on your work coach may continue to expect you to look for work, but they should be willing to change this based on your fit notes.
After providing fit notes for one month you should receive a booklet to fill in called a ‘Limited Capability for Work questionnaire’. If you do not receive this within two months of first providing a fit note, then something may have gone wrong. You should contact Universal Credit to chase this.
Once you have sent back your questionnaire you may be asked to attend an assessment or have one over the phone. After this, Universal Credit will decide whether they think you can work and whether you qualify for the extra element. It is common for people to disagree with this decision. If you disagree with the decision you have the right to request a mandatory reconsideration – you should explain why you disagree and provide any supporting evidence. If they still refuse to change the decision, you can apply to the HM Courts & Tribunals for an independent appeal to be heard.
Our dedicated Welfare Benefits Advisors can support you with any step of this process. If you need help, please contact us and our customer contact advisors will arrange for a Welfare Benefits Advisor to contact you to discuss. We can help write to Universal Credit or the HM Courts & Tribunals Service and can even represent you at appeal hearings.