Left in the lurch by Universal Credit

[SuchAnEmotionalMess]

Just venting here. Name changed, too. It reflects how I feel right now.
Today I should have had my UC payment. It’s not here. No messages from UC. I’ve done everything the same: reported my income on time.
The only difference is I started an OU course which I’m not eligible for any maintenance loan from, just the tuition fee loan which is paid straight to the OU. It’s not been processed (6 weeks in) yet so I have no information to pass on to UC. I’ve kept them informed, had confirmation UC will not be affected, everything sounded OK. No one has ever said “oh, by the way, your payments will stop” And now…no payment. Bills due. Wages are two weeks away. I wish I had never applied to further my education and life chances. This is a disaster. I have nobody to beg from. I can’t speak to anyone from SFE or UC because they don’t work Sundays. So for the next 12 hours I’m a sobbing mess. This is such a first world problem and I feel rubbish for not coping but it’s just ONE MORE THING. I can’t cope with this as well. I’m going to have to quit my course if this is going to happen every loan renewal. The stress is unbelievable. All I wanted to do was be able to be a better mum for my girl, for her to be proud of me, for her to see that education is a path to better things for us. And now I’m crying cos I can’t pay my bills. I work hard, I manage to get by. But this pain of stress is hurting so bad right now.
AIBU on myself?

Has anyone told OP it’s a Sunday yet?

You’ll have to wait until tomorrow to phone OP, do you have anything in writing to say your UC won’t be affected?

In the meantime, if you’re really struggling google food banks in your area and what sort of referral you may need. You can also use apps like 2good2go and Olio for cheap food.

@Icanbetherubberband thank you for letting me know it can be a quick fix! Fingers crossed. There’s nothing in my to-do list; income declared as usual in the usual assessment period; everything’s crossed and ticked! I’ve resolved to stop catastrophising, remind myself it is pay day in two weeks anyway, put back a couple of bills by a week where possible, and hope that gives UC enough time to let me know what they’re doing. I’ll also get on the phone to SFE to find out where they’re up to. Again, everything’s done on that front my side.

Thanks all for helping me through this horrid morning! I feel more able to tackle it and feel hopeful, too, that perhaps I should stick with the studies but perhaps plan for hiccups like this a little better.

If you have no statement, you have a payment blocker on your account.

Call them tomorrow and they will be able to tell youbwhat the blocker is, and they should be able to get it removed with you on the phone, this will then generate the statement and your payment will be released. If you stress to them how urgent it is, they can put it through same day.

You’ll have to wait until tomorrow to phone OP

Has anyone told OP she'll have to contact them tomorrow yet?

SuchAnEmotionalMess Has a statement been generated? Go onto your journal I think click on Payment or statement and check when the last statement is for.

When you speak to them make sure to specify that you need an urgent payment as otherwise your bills will bounce, otherwise if they give you a normal payment it can take a few days to reach you. When I had an immediate payment after an issue like this, it was in my account an hour later

I am so relieved to hear this should be a quick fix. Thank you all.

Hello everyone
We've had a number of reports from people concerned about this thread so, as we usually do in these circs, we're putting our heads round the door with some important reminders.

Right now we can't see any evidence to indicate that the OP isn't above board – if we did, we'd remove the thread straight away. But the truth is that, sadly, we at MNHQ can't know with 100% certainty that any poster is genuine, no matter who they are or how long they have been here. As frustrating as it is, we're not able to vouch for anyone here.

So we always ask users to remember that not everyone on the internet is who they say they are – and remind folk not to give more to another poster, either financially (in cash or gifts) or emotionally (in time or care and support) than they'd be prepared to lose if things went wrong. We strongly advise against parting with any cash or giving away your personal details, and if you receive a PM which makes you uneasy - report it to us and we’ll take a look.

Sorry to hijack your thread briefly there, OP – we really hope you get it all sorted soon.

MNHQ

Thanks @MNHQ. Genuine poster, honest. Have had some helpful, calming advice to see me through today and to avoid a sleepless night!

Have the Feb-start courses not already started? I don't think you can enrol without payment in place first. You might have to wait until next registration date.

@BadNomad I started on the 28/1 officially, so did the paperwork for SFE and OU in the first couple of weeks of January. Waiting on SFE to finish processing, which is taking an age, but should have some news from them around now, according to their website. They’ve had a few calls from me and one from the OU but nothing’s speeding it up. OU are getting twitchy and now, too, UC. And me! 😄. I hope this bit gets easier as I think I have to reapply in March for the October modules. Can’t go through this every few months!

Im sorry you are having such a stressful time OP, im a UC advisor, in terms of UC - this should not be affected by you starting a distance learning course as long as it doesn’t affect your commitments to receive UC (for example if you are expected to look for work for 35 hours a week you will still be expected to keep to this) I don’t know your exact situation of course but it sounds like a payment block which can be easily lifted by calling the UC helpline, call as soon as the lines open on Monday, I’m sure it’s nothing major, I hope this puts your mind at rest, let’s us know how you get on OP

Also the tuition fee loan should not affect your UC at all as this loan is paid straight to the University, it’s the maintenance loans that affect UC as maintenance loans are treated as income

@Notaderrysgirl thank you so much for the assurance! I was having a second wobble earlier 😭 and trying really hard to remind myself of the advice I’ve had here.

I’ve stuck to all my commitments, yes; I work but I’m also a full time carer for my daughter so don’t technically have to work. But I do, and report my income each month all the same. I’ve kept UC informed and had plenty of (written) assurance that all is good in terms of the tuition fee loan not affecting anything. Keeping a lid on my rising panic is hard but yours and others calm advice has really helped. 🙂

@SuchAnEmotionalMess I’m glad this thread has helped you OP, for what it’s worth I think it’s amazing that you want to further your education, you will probably find that when you call tomorrow it will be a really simple explanation as to why you don’t yet have a statement, not that it helps right now of course. I’m a big worrier myself and prone to panicking when unexpected things crop up so I do sympathise.