Anyone else having technical issues with Universal Credit online application?

[SmileyClare]

Is anyone else stressed out trying to apply online? We have no option to apply for this until we hear anything back from HMRC about money we might receive in June.. both self employed and up shit creek with no money.

I'm having difficulties verifying identity online. Using a company called Digidentity which the UC website directed me to. It's supposed to send confirmation codes to my mobile but been waiting 3 hours and no codes

The online support / help is not functioning.

Feel like giving up and sobbing. UC was going to be our lifeline.

What was last years income?

Mine was £24k

Do you have savings?

Sorry daft questions as in completely different situation

I’m a single parent not earning
Your husband still earning and you still are employed (but no earning until September?), so silly for me to ask.

Thanks though for update

@Bringringbring12

50k gross was my income for last year (mad hours - minimum 11 per day, 2 days off) and no holidays. My husband started working in November. And we bought a house and fixed it - we have some savings to last 2 months.

I'm not working - my next project was cancelled 1 week before start (so no contract). Potentially project will resume in September, however the whole industry is now put on hold, so I can't find any job in my field.

I have applied to Tesco for immediate start 3 weeks ago - not a peep from them.

As a single parent and not working you can apply for both UC and new JSA (if you have worked 2-3 year before and have paid NI). Also you can claim for Council Tax reduction (if you have not done so).

Maybe I have misunderstood that agent, she probably meant that even with one income (my husband's) we were over threshold?.. Anywho, the application was already canceled

Yes I think your last post correct

They’d never not give you benefits because of last year’s income if this year - your income was below the threshold.

Good luck

call back for ID check

Can I just ask , anyone whose done this process, what IF do you need? We may have to apply but neither of us have passports or driving licenses

Out of curiosity may I ask why you do not have ID?
Just leave entry in journal stating that ID could not have been verified (for Digidentity you need passport or/and driving licence I think). They (UC agents) will call you back and will ask to provide your National Insurance number, DOB, address and ask several questions about your work (including how much you have earned gross, net, what deductions have been made on specific dates). At least that is how HMRC was checking my identity over the phone when I requested tax recalculation.
Alternative forms of ID - original birth certificate, recent council tax bill, bank statements, credit card statements, utility bills, p45/60, your photo signed and verified by your employer/doctor, your work ID, student ID.

No passport or driving license I suppose just means never taken a foreign holiday and can’t drive.

We had to do the same. It's time consuming but stick at it. We had some money within 4 days.

@coverting Don't worry about not having a passport or driving licence they will be able to verify your Identity over the phone by asking questions. As it is all claims are being processed in this way because the Jobcentres are closed to the public.

HappyBuyer So sorry to hear your claim got refused after all that! I do think self employed have been given the shitty end of the stick with regards to any government help. Employees on the furlough scheme are given 80% wages whatever the income or savings, self employed are not.

I hope you can squeak by until we (self employed) hear from HMRC in June about any help. And thanks for your advice and kind words to me

A quick update regarding my own claim; I did get a call back (finally thank God) . My landlord was able to verify my identity by providing a copy of our tenancy agreement. It seems very little ID is required by UC, perhaps because of the pandemic

In regards to questions about ID if you don't have a passport or driving license- there is a list of acceptable ID on the UC claim form including rent card or tenancy agreement, bank statements, utility bills. You will not be able to use an online identity verification company though and will have to ask for UC to contact you.

We have been awarded just over £1000 a month beginning in May. After rent, we (family of 4) will have £100 a week to live on and pay all other bills/utilities so it's going to be very difficult. Basically just surviving on a bare minimum.
That said, it's something!

I would be happy to advise anyone else trying to navigate this process.
My advice would be to apply as soon as possible. A million new claims have been submitted since March so prepare for a long wait.

I applied at the end of March and will hopefully see some money from UC in the middle of May.

Out of curiosity may I ask why you do not have ID?

Don't drive and don't go on holiday / can't afford to, do forking out £80+ for a passport isn't top of the agenda.

I do wish there was some form of just identity card though. I will get round to getting one of the above as it is a bit of a nightmare having neither.

Coveting have you applied for UC online? It's possible to prove your identity in other ways over the phone.
You have to click on "I can't verify my identity online" on the form and then go to your Journal and select "add journal entry".
Leave a short message outlining your circumstances and requesting a phone appointment.

I hope that helps.

Thanks @smiley, I haven't got round to it yet, but hopefully it won't be too tricky

I like your optimism! I found it a long frustrating process waiting in very long online queues. We are also desperate to have some money coming in which made it stressful.

I'd advise getting all your figures together; rent, service charges, money coming in, previous wages and getting a claim in as soon as possible just because the whole system is moving so slowly. Good luck

try to verify through Post Office it does it quicker

SmileyClare you are right the ID verification process has changed because of the pandemic. if you need money before your pay date you might be able to get an advance. It's an upfront payment which is deducted from future UC payments. You can do those by logging on to your account

Thank you, could definitely do with an advance so will check that out. Landlord is not happy with our overdue rent.

Hi OP same boar and you can apply for UC and still get your grant as far as I’m aware.

This is what’ll happen: you’ll get a call from a local job enter to take details from you if you can’t verify online. Then once the restrictions are lifted you’ll go in and show them your documents. It’s that simple. It happened to me.

Then after that call happens you select ‘advance” if you want it and then it’ll be taken out bit by bit of your future payments.

@SmileyClare if you chose same day payment you'll get the money quicker but I'm not sure how the bank holiday will effect this. Maybe try tomorrow

In the income field that stipulates must be before any deductions ie gross... do you deduct personal pension payment?

Can you not also pause your rent for 3 months.
Landlords are being asked to take mortgage holidays if tenants have been affected by covid19.
This might help for a couple of months at least.

Yes I thought we would have to let our rent go into arrears if we had to but our landlord says he can apply for a court order for eviction after lockdown restrictions are lifted. I'm not sure where we stand but I've been losing sleep over this.

Once we have monthly UC payments I'm going to prioritise the rent payments and will just have to cope with what's left.

I also have bills overdue now; BT, water, car insurance etc. It's a nightmare.

Bringring income (gross) is before deductions of any kind I think. I found a lot of the questions very basic with no allowance for a mention of things like pension payments, debts being paid off, loans etc unfortunately. If your household income now is zero and you don't have savings, you will meet the criteria for a claim.