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Original poster

How reliable is the 'entitled to' website?

28 replies

joliejoleen · 24/08/2018 11:26

Just that, really. Has anyone ever used it and not received the amount calculated by the website?
I have just been on the phone to Universal Credit people, enquiring about my first payment and the woman on the phone told me 'it won't be much because your earnings are high.' I said to her that yes but my rent is high too. I am now really worried. The website says I should get approx. £890 a month in Universal Credit. I earn £1800, my rent is £1250. I'm a single parent and have two kids (10 and 3). I work full time. Could the calculation be wrong?

OP posts:
Havingahorridtime · 24/08/2018 13:45

I have found the turntous website to be more accurate. Do you have any childcare costs? £890 a month UC does seem a lot if you don’t have any childcare costs even with your rent costs. Isn’t there an upper limit on what they pay towards rent or does that only apply to unemployed people?

StrugglingMumma · 24/08/2018 13:47

If your on Facebook, there is a closed page called Universal Credit Essentails. The admin are very good with helping people with calculations, advice etc. You can just message an admin if your not keen on posting on the page. They have helped many people with calculations and appeals etc. Good luck

Bombardier25966 · 24/08/2018 13:49

Are you in a private rental? If so you need to check the LHA rate for your area. You may not be entitled to help with the full rent.

Original poster
joliejoleen · 24/08/2018 14:06

Thank you for your replies.
The LHA allowance in my area is £246 a week and I am aware it doesn't cover my rent fully.
I have no childcare costs at the moment but will have in a few weeks. My UC entitlement goes up to £1250 when I put childcare costs in...

OP posts:
tissuesosoft · 24/08/2018 14:11

The benefit cap and work allowance will apply to the calculations too

Original poster
joliejoleen · 24/08/2018 15:07

Wouldn't that already be included in the benefit calculation on the website?

OP posts:
tissuesosoft · 24/08/2018 15:51

Sometimes- but I’ve seen instances when the work allowance isn’t calculated

Mama2017 · 24/08/2018 17:26

Without the childcare costs it is correct.

LHA is about £1066 monthly.

So for your full allowance it is about £1892 monthly - single person over 25 + 2 children + LHA.

So your calculation is:
[(1800-198)x0.63] = 1009.26
1892-1009.26 = 882.74

So you'd get £882.74 so probs a few pounds out on some figures in the calculation but roughly correct.

Original poster
joliejoleen · 24/08/2018 17:31

Thanks so much, Mama! You've put my mind at ease. Now if they could just hurry up...my first payment was supposed to be on Tuesday!

OP posts:
tissuesosoft · 24/08/2018 17:56

Is there anything in the ‘to do’ list on your universal credit account that could be stopping payment?

Original poster
joliejoleen · 24/08/2018 18:01

No, nothing. I have called them and they keep saying that my application is with the decision maker... I had an appointment on Tuesday to hand in some additional evidence and was told that since the payment was due on Tuesday, my application would be dealt with quickly. Any idea how long it usually takes for them to make a decision?

OP posts:
Babyroobs · 24/08/2018 18:21

Is that LHA for a two bedroom property as I think that is all that you would be allowed with kids of those ages.

Original poster
joliejoleen · 24/08/2018 18:43

Yes, it's a two bed flat.

OP posts:
Mama2017 · 24/08/2018 18:53

No problem OP.

Just keep on at them calling daily and if you get nowhere put it through as a complaint about universal credit. That's what I had to do as every time I called they would state something different and we were getting nowhere. Finally a month and half later the issue is resolved but it is really frustrating. They will process a same day payment once it's all confirmed for you but sometimes you just have to chase as the response has been received but just no one has picked it up and processed it. Also put in a message in your journal daily chasing so there is a trail of no responses if you need to go down the complaints route as I realised the phone advisors don't always update your journal.

Original poster
joliejoleen · 24/08/2018 18:56

Thanks, Mama!!! How do you know all this???

OP posts:
Original poster
joliejoleen · 24/08/2018 19:20

Also, the woman that I spoke to on the phone said to me that I should just tell my landlord to wait for this month's rent. As if it were that easy... my rent is due tomorrow, I got paid today... £45 has already been taken out for bank charges, £50 for registration fees for nursery... If I pay my rent and some essential bills today, I will have £200 left until I don't know when...ugh... help

OP posts:
Babyroobs · 24/08/2018 20:04

Have you applied for an advance - this is designed to help you cover your rent.

Mama2017 · 24/08/2018 20:06

Having worked in social housing makes the whole system easier to understand and calculate.

But in regards to rent - have you applied for the advance on your first payment? This will help cover you and you pay it back in instalments monthly from your UC award. You can apply for it either at or after your commitment interview. How reasonable is your landlord - perhaps suggest you pay 3 weeks rent and then you will make up the rest in the next week once you've sorted the advance payment?

tissuesosoft · 24/08/2018 20:08

What part of your application is with the decision maker?

Original poster
joliejoleen · 24/08/2018 20:31

I was not able to apply for an advance payment because I had to first provide evidence for habitual residence test (never heard of it before). I am from the EU but have lived in the UK for 15 years now. And I was not told I had to provide this evidence until I enquired about the advance payment! And to make it even worse, it was evidence I had already provided... I had to wait two weeks for an appointment, which was on the day that my first payment was due. And by then an advance payment was not possible anymore 😭
So I think the decision maker is now deciding whether I can claim UC. I claimed housing benefit and tax credits before ( I have been a single parent for over a year now) so I thought it would be fairly straightforward...
I contacted the landlord and asked whether I could pay £1000 today and £1500 in September and he said yes, so at least that's £250 more to tie me over until I finally get a payment from UC.

OP posts:
Original poster
joliejoleen · 24/08/2018 20:32

Which one is the commitment interview? I know I had to accept 'my commitments' online...

OP posts:
Babyroobs · 24/08/2018 20:41

The habitual residency test is holding a lot of claims up and can take weeks to sort out. that will be the reason why it is taking so long.

Original poster
joliejoleen · 24/08/2018 20:59

Oh no, don't tell me that 😳

OP posts:
Original poster
joliejoleen · 28/08/2018 19:22

The payment has gone through today! £843! I am so relieved!!!

OP posts:
Mama2017 · 28/08/2018 19:57

Glad you've got it sorted! It's such a relief once it's done!

But make sure you check your payment due each month a week before it's due to be paid so you can contact them if they mess it up - they make ALOT of mistakes and it's no fun chasing monthly to sort it out 🙈

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