Universal credit issue

[jaggyjaggy]

Can anyone help please.

Split up from my husband recently, its amicable and neither of us can afford to move out (believe me that is preferable!) we have two kids, 3 and 7. We both work but we have always claimed a UC top up.

So after finally deciding to split we notified UC and our old claim turned into my husbands own single claim and I had to make a fresh single claim of my own. We put a child on each of our claims as this seemed fairest way, as I tend to do most stuff for the 3yo and he does more for the 7yo.

We sent all evidence UC asked for, tenancy agreement showing we pay half rent each etc. Was supposed to receive a payment on 14th april for around £1350 (rent is covered, childcare, standard allowance, child allowance) but instead received £950. Ex has said he received nothing.

We have tried calling, leaving messages but no one will help they just say “under review please wait”

Then last week received a notification to say my claim has been put on hold but no mention of why or what I need to do or any details. Since then all my messages have been ignored.

Yesterday I called to escalate this and was told it would be referred to a case manager who would be in touch before 6pm today (friday) nothing as yet.

Am I being unreasonable here? I refuse to believe this is an unusual situation with housing crisis that we need to stay in the same property for a few months.

I am extremely stressed out and I am running low on food and I haven’t even paid my rent yet which is due on Monday!

Any help much appreciated.

Forgot to say, its been weeks! 7th April was when I notified them of the split.

Really you should have waited until you have physically separated before upsetting the apple cart. Anyone could start to claim separately while living in the same house.

I'd probably focus on one of you moving out.

But you wouldn't be due a payment yet for a new claim? It would be 5 weeks after the claim was started so roughly 12th May your first payment is due.

Sounds like you may not be due what you think you are if you are still living in the same house; in practical terms no incoming or outgoing expenditure has changed has it? So surely no more credit due? Apologies if I have misunderstood.

7th April is also not very long in terms of a UC claim, and you have received a good lump in that time.

If you're doing a new claim it can take upto 5 weeks. But the whole thing with the case manager must mean they need to investigate the circumstances a bit more. I assume because they need to maybe check that you've genuinely separated? Not quite sure how but they could visit and ask to see your seperate rooms, see finances have now been fully split etc. or just ask a few questions.

I'm sorry for you as it's horrible feeling like you're being scrutinised. Can you write in your journal your concerns and get someone to call you? Or call the helpline again?

Yes but usually with a new claim you are eligible for an advance to keep you on your feet while you wait. I have not been able to access this.

That's all well and good in theory but we are looking at at least 3 months together here until we are able to move. Find me a landlord or letting agent that will rent to a single mother claiming UC without a deposit? 🧐

Yes but you aren’t a usual situation and the full amount is never guaranteed yet you say you got £950, I'm assuming that's the advance that they deemed appropriate while it goes to a decision maker.

No the £950 covers standard allowance and two children, not even rent costs or childcare costs I reported. I am about £500 down and expected just to wait while they can't even give me a response?

Yes, you are. The advance is never guaranteed, and this is clearly what has been agreed while a decision maker takes a look. 7th April isn’t long ago at all, you need to sit tight.

I’m not surprised that they want to take a closer look because 2 adults both living in the same home who are both putting in claims, will flag for extra checks to ensure everything is correct and above board.

As others have said if you made a new claim on 7/4 then your first payment isn't due until may. The £950 is an advance and may not be the full amount youre entitled to as your claim has not yet been processed. I seem to recall they don't include any childcare costs in advances. Are you both receiving child benefit for one child each? Of has that not been split yet, as that could delay it as well. If you're both claiming for one child then the housing allowance will be based on a two bedroom home.they will also be considering whether you are truly separated, as no it's not usual for two people to both claim benefits when still living together after separating. Usually one parent would claim for both children and the other partner would live on their wages.

Yes but I didn't receive a payment for march either! For the last month of my joint claim!

I truly understand and appreciate they need to look into this "unusual" situation but they are giving me radio silence and I am stressed out! I'm trying to navigate divorce, getting a new house and raising a ND child and no one is replying to me!
Its very well to say sit tight, but I have bills bouncing and rent looming!

You sound horribly entitled here. Of course they need to investigate such a claim, if you aren’t prepared to jump through the necessary hoops, maybe look to increase your income in other ways that don’t involve the bureaucracy of the welfare state….

Wow.

What was your March payment due? If your change happened during your assessment period then the £950 may be the March payment up to the date of the change, so a part month.

I can't understand why you've put yourselves in this position. If it's amicable ypu should have just sat tight and saved until you had the money to split properly.

Ypu really can't expect UC to jump to fund your choice without a really, really thorough investigation.

Yes that's what it is I think. The march payment was due on 14th April and arrived on time minus housing and childcare costs - the £950. The next payment is due on 14th may but I haven't received the right amount from march which is why I am stressing.
Its the equivalent to having been paid £500 of your employment wages and expected just to sit tight and hope they decide to give it to you at some point.

I didn't chose to claim UC. Check your privilege.

Honestly no one tells you how to navigate this stuff? We thought we should be honest and that we couldn't go wrong then?

Without being told though - if me and DH split we'd have to save up so one or both of us could rent or buy somewhere and we could sell the house. There'd literally be no other option to.

I genuinely don't understand why you've done it this way.

Are you working part time? I'm struggling to understand how two working adults are having to claim UC in order to survive.

Your name says it all but let me explain it to you.

Ex DH wages - £1350
My wages (self employed) - £850
Childcare costs - £175
Rent - £850

UC entitlement, between £1050-1300 monthly (depending on my wages as they fluctuate)

You are not down. You need unfortunately to get your head around the fact that that isn't your payment, it's your ex's. You only put your claim in on the 7th and it's gone to a decision maker. You may get an advance but you'll have to wait and see. The joint claim you previously had is now your exes and doesn't concern you. The fact you are chasing it up does suggest that you haven't separated financially which would make your claim invalid.

Are you subject to the minimum income floor now that you're a single claim?

Is the £850 rent just your half, has the landlord split it so you have two tenancies or have you just halved the amount on your original tenancy agreement? If the latter, both tenants are liable jointly for the entire amount, not half each so this may be where UC are looking.

Sorry this is the figures for our old joint claim as a couple as the above poster asked how a couple working needed UC to live.