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AIBU?

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Universal Credit won't be paid in months with 5 weeks. (WTF?) AIBU to think no one realises

999 replies

raisinsarenottheonlyfruit · 22/10/2017 01:41

If you get paid weekly, and there are 5 weeks in a month, in those months your pay will likely go over the Universal Credit limit and your UC will be stopped. You will have to go without that month and apply again.

WTF are they thinking?

Have they never heard of averages FFS? (That's how Tax Credits works). This is going to screw over so many people. It's ludricous.

The people claiming UC aren't any richer that month, they get the same amount of money as if it was paid in 12 monthly chunks.

This will happen to thousands of people every time there's a month with 5 weeks. (I guess they mean 5 Mondays?)

This is farcical.

There's 5 weeks in January, so if you get paid weekly that's you fucked for February.

April, July, October and December also have 5 Mondays.

This is utterly farcical and just plain callous.

OP posts:
HelenaDove · 22/10/2017 17:45

Range read what i posted at 16.17

raisinsarenottheonlyfruit · 22/10/2017 17:55

GlitterGlue - they ARE saying you need to reapply after 5 week months if you get paid weekly. From the government's own document on this:

When you have 5 weekly earnings payments within an assessment period, your income may be too high to qualify for Universal Credit in that month.

If this happens you will be notified that your income is too high and you will no longer get Universal Credit.

You can re-apply the following month as you should only get 4 wage payments in your assessment period then.

You don't get hit be the 6 week wait if you apply again within 6 months but you do still have to apply. Presumably if there are backlogs or issues your claim coukd be delayed though.

OP posts:
HelenaDove · 22/10/2017 18:02

What employer is going to be happy with their staff keep taking time off or having to make calls in work time to keep sorting it out? Employers are finally waking up to the knock on effect it will have on them.

As Wolfes appearance on QT proves.

ivykaty44 · 22/10/2017 18:10

It will be private LL that have a shock
When a large proportion don’t get rent in December, January and February

PencilsInSpace · 22/10/2017 18:12

The reclaim process doesn't sound that bad, TBH:

  1. Claiming Universal Credit within 6 months of your previous claim ending

The way to claim Universal Credit within 6 months of your previous claim ending depends on whether or not you manage your claim using a Universal Credit online account.

You will have a Universal Credit online account if you claimed and registered with the Universal Credit full service.

You won’t have a Universal Credit online account if you claimed and registered with the Universal Credit live service.

Your work coach can tell you whether you have an online account if you are not sure.

If you qualify for Universal Credit again, you will continue to keep the same monthly assessment period as you had in your previous claim.

You will not have to wait 7 days for your assessment period to start.

Speak to your work coach if there is a gap in your Universal Credit payments and you need help to budget and manage your money more effectively.

9.1 If you have a Universal Credit online account

You will need to claim Universal Credit online again. When you log in, the claim will show your circumstances on the date you last got Universal Credit.

You just need to confirm that the details in your account are correct to claim again.

9.2 If you do not have a Universal Credit online account

You do not need to do anything. You will start to receive your Universal Credit again.
-------
Of course how things are supposed to work and how they actually do are often not the same thing with UC.

HelenaDove · 22/10/2017 18:18

ivy its a private landlord on the lbc phone in ive linked upthread. Its a heartbreaking call.

KathArtic · 22/10/2017 18:21

The run up to Christmas is going to be hard for many more people this year with the roll out of universal credit increasing- someone suggested schools doing a mufti day and instead of bringing in £1, each child could bring something to donate to local food bank.

Hmm, so it is still going to cost a £, if not more. If those children are the ones struggling why not just a dress up day with no donation?

icecreamcrackers · 22/10/2017 18:22

As far as I understood anyone with 3 or more children wouldn't be penalised when the tax credit rules changed, however I have since read that after November 2018 universal credits won't pay for more than two children on any claim existing children or not unless you already have a claim in place on universal credit which of course you can't do because they won't let you.

TaliZorahVasNormandy · 22/10/2017 18:23

I'm a single parent, working part time (DD is 10 so in a couple of years I can increase my hours. When she's mature enough to be home on her own before I come home from work) private renter. It feels me with dread having to go back to the JC again. Took me 2 years to find the job I have and I've never felt so much like scum on someones shoe. I didnt ask to a single mum on low income. I had no idea my ex would walk and give me no financial help.

I can only hope that when this shitshow comes to town, I'll be able to take on 2 extra days.

raisinsarenottheonlyfruit · 22/10/2017 18:24

FoofFighter I like the idea of a campaign - paying all the money to one person is going to massively impact women in abusive relationships for a start. That's something MN could campaign against IMO.

OP posts:
Slarti · 22/10/2017 18:25

advising them to prepare and holding drop in sessions so they could talk to staff and prevent any problems in paying rent.

Did they advise them to magic some money out of thin air?

PencilsInSpace · 22/10/2017 18:30

If you already have 3 DC on a CTC claim and manage not to have a change of circs that would trigger a UC claim, you should get transitional protection when the DWP migrate you (this will happen from 2019).

Ladycsparkles · 22/10/2017 18:31

Kathartic I'm talking a small donation it doesn't have to be anything big- lots of people would have tins in their cupboard that are in date and haven't been used.

Dress up day is even worse tbh if it involves actual dressing up instead of coming in their own clothes, lots of children don't have dressing up clothes or just don't like them.

I do take your point though

HarleyQuinnHair · 22/10/2017 18:37

I have a life long condition and am terrified that, eventually, I will be too sick to work, plus 2 dcs with disabilities Sad

ivykaty44 · 22/10/2017 18:42

Helenadove

I saw this interview on twitter

I just think there are a lot of private LL that have no idea what is going to hit them - if tenants stop paying how do they pay etc

This is when the public will start to realise how UC is going to affect them...

Added to which if the tenant is evicted likehood is the LL will get another tenant on UC and the same scenario could play out again

We may end up with moon light flits and LL left with Ctx to pay

I’m not really that sympathetic but the end result of LL getting their fingers burnt on mass maybe interesting - not sure what the outcome will be?

KathArtic · 22/10/2017 18:45

Ladycsparkles I don't really think children should have to bring a £, a donation or dress up. The majority work hard during the year, so a 'non uniform day' should be a reward not an opportunity to take more from parents(especially if it isn't a charity they support - or they have a particular charity the do support).

expatinscotland · 22/10/2017 18:46

The LL's will just not accept tenants who are in receipt of UC so the council's homeless bill will rise.

TaliZorahVasNormandy · 22/10/2017 18:49

A lot of LL's dont accept HB tenants. Mine wouldnt until my mum offered to stump up double the deposit. Not many can do that though.

NeedsAsockamnesty · 22/10/2017 18:49

helena

I’m coming into contact with lots of people who are not having their childcare paid correctly or at all and they are having to take time off from paid work to take their childcare proof of payment and what not in person to the dwp weekly after being told they cannot post or email it or add it to their journal electronically.

One of my friends is having to leave a job she’s held for 26 years and not work due to her childcare payments not being paid

HelenaDove · 22/10/2017 18:50

Needs that is exactly what i was getting at. The retail employers around here are going to hate it.

UC goes live in my area this week.

HelenaDove · 22/10/2017 18:55

"Added to which if the tenant is evicted likehood is the LL will get another tenant on UC and the same scenario could play out again"

Just what i was thinking.

MyDcAreMarvel · 22/10/2017 18:55

Oh jog on Kath, mufti days have always involved an optional donation. Usually a pound for a charity. Other than yourself I think you would be hard pressed to find s parent who doesn't agree with supporting foodbanks.

NeedsAsockamnesty · 22/10/2017 18:56

You can’t even just pop into a job centre and hand over evidence you need to have an appointment and that is at their convienance not the employers or claimants

MyDcAreMarvel · 22/10/2017 18:57

Ice cream no, claimants moved from tax credits to UC will continue to be able to claim for more than two dc.
The same will apply if they stop claiming and then reclaim UC within six months.

MyDcAreMarvel · 22/10/2017 18:59

Pencils no change of circumstances will trigger a UC claim if you have more than two dc.
You cannot claim UC with 3 or more dc from April 2017 until November 2018.

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