Universal Credit as a Teen Mum

[Vinvin08]

Hi all,
I recently applied for universal credit to claim for my LO but wasn't able to provide any of the ID it asks for (payslips, driver's license, etc) as I am 17 and do not work. I'm expecting a phone call in 2-3 days about it and am worried about what they will ask for as I don't have many documents - Only my birth certificate and NI number really.

Does anybody know what will they will ask for over the phone and If I will have to go to an in-person interview? Any help's appreciated. Thanks all

They are calling to give you an appointment at the job centre. You can then take the ID there when you go for the appointment.

Have you got a bank account? Your bank card/letters from the bank are also a form of ID. Make sure they have the correct address for you at the bank. Also, any letters from the hospital/doctors surgery may help.

Have you been getting the healthy start vouchers to use for milk/fruit & veg? If not, make sure you get those too.

Also check if there is a baby bank near you, as they often have clothes in the next size up/things you may need in the future eg high chair.

I know it costs money so may not be possible but could you apply for a provisional driving license to use as id?

Oh I see, that makes sense - I do have a bank account, would just bringing one or the other be fine? I should be able to find letters from my surgery addressed to my LO.. Is there anything else I should bring just in case or should those two be fine?

Make sure you apply for this too.

https://www.gov.uk/sure-start-maternity-grant

Sadly I can't as my LO is nearly 1, but thank you anyway :)

Take as much ID as you can, better to have more than you need than delay your first payment.

If you need to, you can ask to have your Universal Credit split payments.

So you can have payments more often, fortnightly or weekly. If you want to do this, ask to do this straight away. This may be the better option, whilst you get used to managing your money.

If you get housing costs, you can also request them to be paid directly.

Oh no what a shame. So infuriating that what is there isn’t promoted. Make sure you go in there and get everything you deserve. In 10 years you’ll be paying a tonne of tax. In other counties helping young families is supportive. Here it can be a bit of a battle.

Also check out local food banks. They are actually lovely and really help balance the books.

You can study whilst having a young(ish) child (I did with a 2 year old and it was a struggle! you might want to wait until a little later) and get childcare. Take this time to enjoy your baby and think about your next step.

Best of wishes.

Sorry for such a late response, they got back to me in the journal saying I have a proof of identity interview Monday. It lists what you can bring and I don't have a lot of what they do accept. What I do have is:

Birth certificate
Debit card
NI insurance letter

I also have letters from Santander from when my account was being opened and the letter that my debit card was in, would either of those be accepted? I don't have any bank statements as the bank account was opened recently for the sake of getting universal credit. It also has debit card in one list as (if not already provided) and I submitted the details when applying last night, so would it only be accepted as one thing? Sorry for so many questions and thank you for the help

Go to your bank and ask them to print you a statement with your address if you don't get paper statements. You will need two letters dated within the last 3 months I think. Preferably bills but if you don't have them then you do t have them. What about phone contract? Can you print a recent bill from that? Do you get child maintenance? Bring a letter from them (if you don't get it then apply!)

I lost my driving license when I had to prove my identity for UC. I took bank statement, and utility bills and a letter from HMRC as I'm self employed.

Do you live with parents? If not then take your tenancy agreement.

Basically all official type post you have received in the last 3 months with your birth certificate and the bank statement and NI card. If that's not enough then they have to have a way around it as you cannot be the only non bill paying mum without driving license who needs to claim

Your bank can print a statement if you go into the local branch. Even if if there's nothing the account. They can stamp it for you to say it's genuine.

They can do a biographical check to verify your ID if you don't have the required documents. They will ask questions about previous addresses you have lived at and if you are receiving other benefits.

I'd definitely suggest applying for a provisional driving license (obviously won't help you right now). It's a really handy form of ID and useful for getting access to things like the Government Gateway. Even if you don't plan on learning to drive yet.

You might be able to print off a bank statement online (or pop into the branch and ask if they can print one for you). I'd definitely recommend getting paper statements sent to you for one bank account as they're useful for ID.

Okay, noted on the bank. My phone contract is paid by my dad so K don't think I'd be able to use that as it's in his name. I don't get child maintenance and I'm not sure if I'd be eligible for it but I'll have a look. Sadly anything official is in my dad's name as he is who I live with and anything is in his name including my DS' child benefit at the minute.. I'll bring what I do have and see what happens. Thank you :-)

I don't think my dad would be willing to pay for it unfortunately

Just bring what you have, and see what they say. As long as you take as much as you can. They will be able to advise if you haven't got enough. What about a letter from your health visitor?

Yeah it seems like that's the way to go, as someone else said hopefully they'll be able to ask me some questions if what I have isn't enough.. I'll definitely have a look for any letters from HV.

Mini update:
I went to the Job Centre today and everything went fine, I took my birth certificate, my son's birth certificate, NI number and debit card.. I bought doctor's notes etc just in case but they accepted what I bought which was a relief. The woman told me that I'd find out what I will be paid each month on the 28th then receive the money at the start of next month which is exciting.

One thing I am worried about though is it it will affect my dad's money at all, as he claims UC himself for me and my sister - I asked about this and the woman I had the interview with said it would not affect his payment but I'm still worried just in case, as he is a single parent and carer for sister and me and DS are currently financially dependent on him.

I think you need to have a chat with your dad really. If he is claiming for you, then you can't also claim for yourself. It may be that he is claiming for you and the baby.

I'm not sure how it works if you are under 18 and have a baby whilst living at home. You can use the chat on citizens advice, they are usually very good at answering these questions.

No nhs card/gp letter
Child benefit letter
Hsve you ee r worked, even part time, so p45/p60

I agree with pp, if your dad is claiming UC to include you, your sister and son then you can't make a separate claim. As pp said have a chat with your dad because you may need to have the child benefit transferred into your name.

He'll have any money he receives for you and the baby taken off, as you'll be receiving it instead, so you'll need to pay your share - but you'll have the ability to make decisions for yourself instead of asking him for money and he'll still receive UC for your sister and himself.

It's a first step in becoming independent, as you'll have your own bank account and finances - so you would be able to pay for your own passport or provisional driving licence, buy your own and baby's own clothes, only pay a share of the bills instead of being solely responsible for them. I'm assuming that you have Child Benefit in your own name? If not, get that transferred over, as it's important to have as long a history of eligibility as possible for future pensions (I know that seems a million years away right now, but it's best to start thinking now of your whole life and not just the next few weeks or months.

Once you're 18, you can start having bills in your own name (such as your phone) and that'll put you in a better position when you're ready to move out on your own, as you'll have proof of ID and be able to pass credit checks due to having a good, checkable, paying history.

Totally forgot to check this thread whoops! But to answer pp, me and my dad had a chat and discussed the best way forward. I am receiving child benefit for DS in my name but it's currently going into my dad's account, so we will get that swapped into my account as soon as possible. He'll also take me off of his UC claim as to not affect the money that he gets for me. To whoever asked I do not have a p60/p45 as I have not had a job. As long as this is all sorted before they decide what I will get per month (28th) it should all be fine right?

Yesm it will be fine. They will try to encourage you to claim money from the babys dad most likely as well. He should be paying something. Is he older?

Okay, that's a relief! He's only recently found a job so he won't be making any money yet, he is the same age as me.