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Original poster

Universal credit

43 replies

becca1984 · 02/01/2019 22:13

I was working 35 hours a week and have taken on a second job on a bank worker basis so reported this change to tax credits who informed me my claim would stop and I have to make a claim for universal credit. I’ve applied for universal credit and have an appointment tomorrow with a work coach, I have no idea why as I have 2 jobs could anyone shed any light on this please. I’ve been told to take forms of id with me hoping this is a one off appointment as juggling 2 jobs and being a single mum of one I don’t have a lot of spare time as it is. Thanks for any help.

OP posts:
FortunesFave · 02/01/2019 22:32

What claim were you making that they said had to stop?

Original poster
becca1984 · 02/01/2019 22:36

Working and child tax credits but they said anyone making changes now needs to move over to universal credit instead.

OP posts:
Babyroobs · 02/01/2019 23:08

You've been wrongly advised. I can't see how increasing your income and working hour means you have to switch to UC, you are not making a new claim for one of the benefits that Uc replaces. It would just be a case of updating your existing tax credits claim. proceed very carefully as once you make a UC claim there is no going back to tax credits.

Original poster
becca1984 · 03/01/2019 18:24

Just to update for anyone else in same situation I was given the right information for the area I live currently any changes to tax credits will trigger a switch to universal credit. The appointment at job centre took 3 mins all they needed was to Confirm my identity using my passport and issued me with a PIN number to access the online site as I work no need for any follow ups.

OP posts:
Babyroobs · 03/01/2019 20:09

Who said you were given the right information ?Just out of interest ! ?

RhubarbTea · 04/01/2019 22:22

Yes that doesn't seem correct - I think you might have been spun a line unless they have changed their policy? If so I'm up shit creek.

Babyroobs · 04/01/2019 22:33

Job centre often give incorrect advice, they are often poorly trained. Best to seek advice from CAB or similar.

PingPongBat · 04/01/2019 22:38

Babyroobs is right, you shouldn't have to claim UC. You just need to report the change in circumstances so they can adjust your tax credit claim.

I work in CAB and we come across wrong advice like this about UC from job centre and the UC helpline all the time Angry

ivykaty44 · 06/01/2019 07:56

It’s to late now as op has made a claim therefore her tax credits will stop.

Ian suspicious about the advice give 😬

Original poster
becca1984 · 06/01/2019 10:23

Hi all the advice was origany from tax credits when they stopped my claim and sent me a letter informing me to put in a claim for uc and then confirmed by my housing officer who is local authority as I’m in council housing. Hope this helps

OP posts:
CosmicCanary · 06/01/2019 10:31

That advice is correct.
Tax credits are being phased out and all benefits will be paid under the UC heading in the end.
Only PIP, AA, PC and CB will be paid separately as far as I know.

Any new TC claimants or those whose change is circumstances will affect their award are now directed to UC. This is only if UC is live in your area.

If you are on TC you can use turn2us which will tell you what your award could be if you transfer to UC.

MrsSquiggler · 06/01/2019 11:19

I am also a CAB adviser and agree with the posters saying that you appear to have been wrongly advised.

Not every change will trigger a move to UC. (See this page: www.entitledto.co.uk/help/changes_that_trigger_Universal_Credit)
The fact that the Job Centre etc often advise otherwise is extremely frustrating because once you have put in a claim for UC, you can't go back to legacy benefits (tax credits). It is likely you are now worse off on UC. You can work out if you will be worse off and if so, by how much, using the benefit calculator on the entitledto website.

It sounds as if your tax credits claim was stopped forcing you to reclaim and that could be why you've been told to claim UC. What exactly does the letter from tax credits give as a reason for stopping your claim? I'd have wanted to investigate why your tax credits claim was stopped and to challenge that decision. There's not much point in doing that now though as you've already claimed UC.

If I were you I'd take the letter you received from tax credits along to CAB and ask them to investigate what has gone wrong. If it does turn out you received the wrong advice, I would urge you to consider submitting a formal complaint to the agencies which wrongly advised you - especially if this advice has led to you being worse off.

MrsSquiggler · 06/01/2019 11:19

Correct link

www.entitledto.co.uk/help/changes_that_trigger_Universal_Credit

Original poster
becca1984 · 06/01/2019 12:52

Thanks I already used the calculator and it turns out I’ll be £6.14 a week better off on uc so I must be one of the lucky ones.

OP posts:
Original poster
becca1984 · 06/01/2019 12:55

Also notice from your link I should have been given a choice but I wasn’t which is obviously wrong but wonder if it’s because they knew I would be better off on uc?

OP posts:
MrsSquiggler · 06/01/2019 21:15

That's great news!

I doubt very much tax credits advised you to apply for UC because they had worked out that you'd be better off doing so (but maybe I'm just cynical!)

I'd be interested to know what the letter from tax credits gave as the reason they were closing your claim.

Babyroobs · 06/01/2019 21:35

Some people are slightly better off on UC, I guess you will no for definite once you get your first payment !.I am as cynical as you MrsSquiggler !

AdviceNeeded3282 · 06/01/2019 22:17

I am much worse off on UC - is there any way you can switch back to tax credits at all?!

Babyroobs · 06/01/2019 22:20

Unfortunately there is no way to go back to tax credits once you are on UC. Everyone will be on it eventually.

thebaronetofcockburn · 06/01/2019 22:24

This is the sneaky way they are fucking people over and putting them on UC.

Original poster
becca1984 · 06/01/2019 22:32

The letter just said basically due to changes in your circumstances your entitlement has ended. I’m also wondering if it’s because my second job is variable hours and from what I have read there’s less chance of uc overpaying me so I’m free to work 5 hours a week or 35

OP posts:
Babyroobs · 06/01/2019 22:43

Uc is better in some ways for people with variable earnings as it is based on earnings during the monthly assessment period rather than worked out over the year like tax credit are. the more you earn in your assessment period the less Uc you get that month so overpayments shouldn't happen.

RhubarbTea · 06/01/2019 23:18

That's really dodgy that you had your TC claim ended by them and were then invited to reapply for UC. Just because a change of job/hours. That shouldn't be happening! Perhaps as you say the fact that it is variable hours was a factor. Can anyone shed light on why this might have led to the OPs TC claim ending? I am worried about taking on more work in case I get shunted on to UC, I am currently self employed so it would be a disaster for me and DC.

thebaronetofcockburn · 07/01/2019 00:08

Can anyone shed light on why this might have led to the OPs TC claim ending?

It's a loophole this fuckwitted shower of shit of a government has been using to sling people on UC without paying them any transitional payment. ANY 'change in circumstance' including moving house and it's onto UC for you - working more hours, UC, lose your DLA or PIP, UC.

It's to force more people onto UC.

Haven't heard of a single person who's doing better on UC. Not one.

MyDcAreMarvel · 07/01/2019 00:11

Glad you are better off , but you were lied to op.

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