Universal Credit Advice

[SandyBeach1996]

Hi All,
Am asking for a family friend.
2 months ago she travelled abroad to visit her sick dad and UC told her she can be abroad for up to 1 month paid as long as she keeps job seeking. Of course, she did and they uploaded all the trackers etc. Within the month, her dad died and UC told her she can take one month paid bereavement and as a result she moved her flight.
At the airport the flight was cancelled due to some covid reasons and all the flights for the rest of the week . She has rebooked to return this friday.
She shared this information with UC and there were 3 different decisions made on the same day. The first decision (by decision maker) said UC will not pay until she s back and has to contact them by 10th March. The second ('an agent') said her payment has been stopped and claim closed. the third (X from Belfast) which said she has to pay UC back the last 2 payments and has now been overpaid!

My questions

1. Is there a basis to argue against this to get this so called overpayments written off as she was entitled to that time off.
2. Does she need to reapply for UC and will it be problematic that this claim was closed?

thanks in advance!!

I see, the journal s been completely blocked, she says she cant write any messages or anything only see past messages.
There s 3 letters as detailed above, all without a decision maker s address so she doesn't get where to send off the mandatory reconsideration.

Ok.. DWP here. No a DM decision maker - is NOT the final say. It's the first say. If she does not agree with the decision then she needs to first ask for a 'mandatory reconsideration' .. if that outcome is unsatisfactory then she needs to make an appeal to the independent social security appeals tribunal. There is no cost for this. She needs to present her evidence. Some welfare rights organisations will help if you can find one but it's really not difficult. Just say what you wrote here - backing it up with evidence.
Evidence of the initial problem that caused her to lea e the country.
Death certificate.
Evidence of the cancelled flights and absence of alternative flights.

If all that fails she may still be able to take it further to a social security commissioners decision. It shouldn't come to that.

@pollygartertidywife

Ok.. DWP here. No a DM decision maker - is NOT the final say. It's the first say. If she does not agree with the decision then she needs to first ask for a 'mandatory reconsideration' .. if that outcome is unsatisfactory then she needs to make an appeal to the independent social security appeals tribunal. There is no cost for this. She needs to present her evidence. Some welfare rights organisations will help if you can find one but it's really not difficult. Just say what you wrote here - backing it up with evidence. Evidence of the initial problem that caused her to lea e the country. Death certificate. Evidence of the cancelled flights and absence of alternative flights.

If all that fails she may still be able to take it further to a social security commissioners decision. It shouldn't come to that.

Thank you for the reassuring reply. She has asked for Mandatory Reconsideration but has not heard back since, they have paid her this month but when she logs on she says she cant access anything on the journal. She has provided all the evidence, death certificates, screenshots of the initial decision maker etc. Hopefully that is enough although not sure how long she s supposed to wait for a reply.