Can I ask for a phone appointment for universal credit?

[Lucybeary]

I've sent in a fit note, I do work, self employed, but I have lots of difficulties going out and travelling and wonder if I can ask them to consider my appointment to be by phone?

I've been sent an appointment.

I'm also wondering if I can request the appointment date is changed as I actually have a tenancy inspection on the same date and time and it's been cancelled a few times due to my health (but you know how it is, the landlord may think I'm messing him around if I don't follow through this time)

Before I ask I just thought I'd see what others here think. Thanks

Of course you should ask. Just ring them up and explain. They'll definitely change it if you've a housing related appointment that day. They may still try and make you go in, but if you give health reasons why phone is better then hopefully they'll be ok with it. If anything you can ask. But they certainly can change the date if it's clashing with housing/medical appointment.

As yet no reply, been told they will see what they can do but no confirmation that I do not have to attend that appointment and / or I can do it remotely.

I have another appointment booked before that one also, and no idea if I should cancel it (I don't want to as we had to rearrange a few times already on it)

Wondering what I should do..

Well there was never any communication so I messaged them to say I will have to assume that I am not attending that appointment.

As it was I went down with covid so everything had to be cancelled.

I then have a 'failure to attend' on my records, but at least they rescheduled the appointment.

I have asked again if it can be done remotely and again no answers coming, so I have had to repeat these questions. No answer about that came back just a recommendation that I attend. I have explained that I am unwell and this will affect my health, it also means I'll have to cancel work next week etc., but the reply is that it's recommended I attend.

A straightfoward yes we can arrange it remotely or no, we can not due to such and such reasons would be better. I can drag myself there for a very good reason, but it will mean so much else will be rearranged or cancelled due to the effect it will have on my health.

I've no idea if I should just tell them I'll be available for a remote appointment when they are ready as I've not been given any reason why this cannot happen, so unless I am, I am assuming that it can be arranged.

Are you just writing on your journal? Try again under payments

thanks, I don't want to annoy them, it's likely to go to a different person that way?

I've had covid, I'm just getting over it, I already have health problems and this has just made it worse. I can drag myself there but I'll likely just crash after and it will wreck the week and all other work that needs to be done. But of course I will do it if they cannot do it any other way, it's just hard to understand why questions are not answered directly.

You need to ring them I think. Just assuming they don't need you to turn up because they haven't replied to your journal message is likely to lead to them sanctioning you. You need to ring and speak to someone

What’s the appointment for?

Some can be done as telephone appointments but I believe ID appointments, self employed checks etc have to be in person.

thanks, I just couldn't understand how all other queries were answered so quickly but the minute you ask something that is out of the rigid structure, no answer. I still imagine someone could have answered.

They can do this, but are very reluctant to unless it's absolutely necessary. It's to do with ID I think.

They did me a phone appointment - but I am literally bed bound and cannot get up. I need assistance to get onto a bedpan even. I think, if you are working, then they will assume that you could get to an appointment, it's simply a preference for you.

For me, it's just absolutely impossible to travel 10 miles to a JobCentre which was what they initially wanted me to do. Even then, it was difficult to persuade them (despite the medical evidence) that I just cannot get up, dress and travel under any circumstances.

It's for self employment.

I can provide all documentation remotely. If I have to go in I will but it is going to knock me for six at the moment. I just can't see why they cannot answer the question directly.

Thanks Hatty65

I'm able to get up and go but I'm likely to be faint, nauseous, have IBS problems and be totally wiped out by the end of the day, at the moment this will be made worse by covid which I'm not infectious now but I'm still testing positive and still feeling weak.

In view of your situation I feel bad saying this, but my issue is really why can they not answer a question. When someone doesn't answer a question I get suspicious.

They do have a legal duty to make reasonable adjustments, but this is the DWP and they will behave illegally.

If you are able to go, it’s advisable that you do, because otherwise the likelihood is that they will sanction you. Even though you shouldn’t have to, and legally they can’t require you to.

(Welfare rights lawyer)

Thanks, I'm going to go, but I really just needed a conversation with them about how necessary to do it in person.

I'm not difficult, if someone explained why it must be done in person even if that's going to take it out of me, I'd accept.

But I don't see that there is any good explanation, or surely they'd have answered my question.

They might see that it's a preference only for doing it remotely. Oh how I wish that were the case. Getting away from the desk, a ride on a train, fresh air, a chance to look in the shops after, but I'd 'prefer' to stay at my desk and work. I don't think I would if I were well I'd see it as an excuse to get out for a while.

I might as well add another question here while I'm at it.

They have asked me if I've earned less than a certain amount in the last 12 months. I've ticked the box to say it's less but I've added a note that until I gather all my invoices together (they are late due to extra work and ill health, but the extra work has been temporary) I won't know and I will clarify this when I see them.

Usually I earn less than the amount they stated. usually I earn a fixed amount but there is the potential to earn more and due to greater client needs temporarily I did more, even though it cost me in terms of my own admin and organisation.

So now I'm concerned that while I usually earn less than what they asked, my earnings are likely to suggest I earn more for the last 6 months, but that is actually a blip and not likely to continue.

i will of course tell them all this but they seem to make decisions in a black and white way, I know up to a point they have to though.

@Lucybeary they normally ask you the question to establish if your business is profitable. If you are self-employed and your business is not profitable, then you can be expected to look for further work or to increase your earnings. If they do decide that it's not profitable, they will treat your income as if it is at the level of your minimum income floor (which is National Minimum/Living Wage x the number of hours they would expect you to work if you were employed). However, if they decide that you're eligible for a start-up period, they will use your actual earnings to calculate your Universal Credit if it's lower, for 12 months.

thanks, it might have gone over their amount that they asked about a few times over the last 6 months but it's temporary.

Just worried they'll take that as the usual amount now when it's temporary.

I'll be glad when the meeting is over. I'm grateful for the support we get, I'm just stressed atm.

You'll be submitting your earnings every month, so your payments will change according to your earnings, unless they are under the minimum income floor and there is no start-up period, in which case they will be applied at the MIF.

That helps, thanks

@Lucybeary Don't feel bad - your situation sounds horrid too, and I genuinely don't see why you should have to go in if that's the case.

can I ask another question. I have worked really hard in the last 6 months for a client that has had a lot of problems and lost other help she usually got.

Due to my own health I coped by neglecting my own things like invoices, and they are now late going out.

I have earned more but not actually brought it in yet. And the earning more will give a false impression to dwp as to my capabilities because I cannot keep that level up, and a lot has been neglected in doing it temporarily.

They have now asked if I earn below a certain amount and the truth is yes, usually I do, but the last 6 months have been a temporary raise due to coping with a very depressed client. I am now burnt out with it all and my hours and amounts earned will go back to their usual level and that actually is below what dwp were asking if I earned. So the last 6 months might penalise me in some way? (I don't know how but ..) Or will they take on board those earnings were temporary? I don't need them to pay me where I've earned more, but I don't want to be seen to be in a position that I'm not usually, not at the moment when I'm not well. The last 6 months has been hell and I only managed because I was really worried about this client and having to make sure she had support systems in place.

I have a sick note from the doctor that has signed me off for 3 months atm, and it's partly because of all of this in the first half of the year. I would love to earn a lot more and hope I do when I'm able to sustain it, but that's not just yet.

I think you're overthinking. You have a fit note for 3 months. Your earnings pre-date the fit note and you'll be invoicing with the date that the work was done. You'll be explaining your circumstances to the advisor.

Thanks, half my problem is I over think everything.

sorry to add yet another thing but I'm very late with my invoices so some of my payments haven't been received yet, this has been due to a lot of health problems in the last few months. I've held the work together but neglected these other things.

I don't know if I'll get these invoices done by monday to at least prove that this is money due, but there are other ways I can prove I have the work. So if I just take in my calculations of what has been earned and tell them the invoice is being done and why they are late, do you think that will be accepted? I mean, I can definitely provide all this evidence, just not sure I can by monday.

At the moment I'm still testing positive for covid as well, but it's been 2 weeks now so I assume I'm not infectious.

Lougle

the other problem about this is yesterday I was asked on my journal if I'd earned more than a certain amount per month in the last 12 months.

I put no, that I hadn't, because the amount was more than I 'usually' earn in a month.

But after doing that I realised that in the last 6 months I've taken on a lot of extra work and so my invoices are likely to show that on a number of occasions I've earned more than that amount each month, not by much, by a few pounds, but still.

So I sent a note and explained why I'd clicked the button to say I hadn't earned that much, but I'm still wondering now what decisions they are making based on that. And if me having earned more will affect things when in actual fact I usually don't it was just a problem at work that I was attempting to resolve by giving more than I'm usually able (and hence why my invoices are so late now as I couldn't cope with all that)

Sorry everyone, just one other question, as some of you might know.

I don't know whether to print all documents out or take some digitally, for example I've got images of invoices and bank statements and my accounts are on a digital platform, I don't mind them typing in my password to get those, there will never be anything private on there at least re dwp as far as I'm concerned that's their info anyway.

I'm just wondering if when I get there the person will tell me they are unable to print these things or they don't have an email I can send the info to, etc.

Does anyone know what's likely? thanks