Universal Credit Application - How much to enter on Application if Furloughed?

[mummytippy]

Hoping someone can please advise here... I've just been told today I have been furloughed at 80% of my weekly wage. I was told not to attend work last Tuesday after the Government advice given by Boris in his Lockdown speech on Monday 23rd March.

I am contracted to work 21 hours / 3 days (Part Time) per week which after being furloughed works out at 16.8 hours.

I've done a benefit calculation for Universal Credit...

On 21 hours the weekly amount of benefit is coming out at 141.95 per week.

On 16.8 hours the weekly amount of benefit is coming out at 167.57 per week.

A difference of 25.62 per week.

My question is... what do I put on the online form with regards to earnings? Do I put my contracted hours 21 (and DWP will know I'm furloughed) or enter what my new 'furloughed' hours (16.8) are?

I haven't received a payment from my employer since this came into force as I work a week in hand and obviously I do not want to give inaccurate information.

I did offer to work from home 2 weeks ago but was told by my employer 'It won't come to that'... In view of me showing initiative, being one of only 2 members of staff working part-time and because I'm a lone parent running a house on my own with my employer knowing I have to run 'a tight ship', I thought my employer would have actually paid the 20% to ensure my wage was met in full.

Any advice here would be greatly appreciated.

Universal credit go by what wage is sent to HMRC so it doesn't really matter what you put on your application

Do you mean what is sent to HMRC weekly by my employer or what will be on my P60 as we're week 52 now?

Uc is administered by DWP. Wages are reported to HMRC by your employer and your Uc will adjust according to what wages are reported in your monthly Uc assessment period. If you are paid weekly then your Uc will vary each month depending whether four or five pay days fall in your monthly assessment period. If it's a four week month you'll get more Uc as less wages reported and if it's a five week month you'll get less Uc as more wages are reported. hope that makes sense !

Your P60 is irrelevant to Uc really as it's a real time benefit and the amount you receive is based on your last assessment period and nothing else.

What you put in the application is irrelevant to the benefit you get, it will just decide if you need to have an appointment with a work coach or if you are earning enough for the initial set up of the claim. If you make your claim today for example, your first assessment period will be 1st April to 30th April. On 1st of May they will get a direct feed from HMRC on what you earnt in this period and that will decide your payment (which is normally 7 days after the assessment period). Same happens every month.

Thank you @Babyroobs and @flameprincess

So I've made my claim and have entered my flat week's pay, 21 hours.
I'm currently now waiting on Digidentity to verify my Passport as my Driving Licence was accepted but my Debit Card was not.
Not sure why but was not comfortable adding the CCV number off the back really anyway.

They're saying the current waiting time for verification is 3 days so I'm guessing my claim will start from when I can login with the details they'll supply me with which will hopefully be before the 6th April which is the deadline GOV.UK have given me for my application.

So... based on what you've said, if all goes as above... would my claim would run from when I applied (01/04) to 4 weeks on (30/04) ... or for example 06/04 (when I can login) - 30/04 and then monthly thereafter?

I'm currently in receipt of Child Benefit, Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit.

I did a calculation via my local Council with regard to Council Tax benefit but it indicated I'm not eligible at all for this. I'm not sure
if this is because I have a 3 bed-roomed house and there is only myself and my 13 yo ds living here?

I'm anticipating my wage tomorrow to be paid at 80%

My rent is due on the 10th of each month, and I'm currently not sure I'll have enough to cover this in full.

Any further advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance.

Your claim date will be from the first date you claimed so 1st April. I'm not too sure on the Council Tax side of things but normally if in receipt of UC you get a council tax reduction, perhaps look that up? I'm not sure how earnings affect this though.
To see what UC will pay for your rent, you need to check your LHA rate. You will get the amount for two bedrooms - check rates here lha-direct.voa.gov.uk/

Thanks @flameprincess

I checked the local housing rate as there was a link from the application. It is 103.00 per week where I live and my rent is 750.00 per month.

Yes, I was a bit surprised that it said I'm not eligible for any C Tax support other than the 25% reduction for being the sole adult/lone parent in my property. I might do the calculation again once I know what my wages are tomorrow.

I'm sincerely hoping that my employer is going to post my payslips as all I'll have is the net amount paid into my bank account and I know the council will want evidence via payslips etc.

Thanks again

Yeah the LHA rates are a joke when comparing to private rents. I am sure in one of the Gov announcements though they said they were going to raise these? Can't find anything online about it now! Also if you have a shortfall and it's not exactly like you can move house in the current climate - may be worth asking your council about their discretionary housing payments policy?

Yes @flameprincess There is a substantial shortfall aside from the fact I have an extra bedroom.

I heard that too about the increase and I wrote it down... it was something along the lines of ''30% of market rate in your local area'' but I can't recall which minister it was

I haven't told my landlord of my financial situation yet, I wanted to have my 'ducks in a row' first... my rent is due a week on Friday

So I am absolutely lost for words!

I have just had my local Job Centre phone me to verify my UC account
and help by advising me there's an advance available immediately!

I explained I was waiting for Digidentity to verify my Passport and the Job Centre employee said it was taking too long so they're ringing round to everyone.

I don't usually answer calls to unknown numbers but I'm so glad i did!