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Original poster

Have any self employed people received UC emergency payment yet?

19 replies

ihatethecold · 21/04/2020 10:04

My DS has been off work (building trade) for 4 weeks. he has had no money whatsoever, he cant pay his rent, child maintenance, Food, bills for 3 weeks.
He had an UC interview 7 days ago and they said they need to look into more background before he will get a emergency payment. His file has remained unchanged since then.
his Mh is so precarious, He has had a history of suicide attempts (2016)and I can hear him really struggling more and more everyday.
he is sounding so low.
I am paying for his food and D Debits that cant be stopped. This is also making him feel worse because he doesn't like asking for money.

He lives 65 miles away and I can't visit as i'm vulnerable.

Why is the wait so long. His MH will take him before covid does.

Any advice to help him get some of his own cash any sooner, or speed the UC up?

OP posts:

Original poster

ihatethecold · 21/04/2020 11:42

anyone?

OP posts:

LandOfAThousandJumpers · 21/04/2020 11:47

They should be offering loans while people are waiting - I put in a speculative application in March when I wasn’t sure how my work was going to be affected, and the advisor told me you could get a loan in the meantime if you needed financial help urgently.

He also said that they wouldn’t be doing all the usual checks as there were so many new applicants, so it would be a basic fasttracked process. Maybe it varies between LAs, but the loan should be available at least.

Hope things get sorted quickly for your DS.

crambosk · 21/04/2020 11:54

I'm pretty sure you can ask for an advance on your UC payment, which you can do online.

wrt to his MH, I would just reassure him that this is situation is temporary and he will be back on his feet soon. everyone's in similar boats and he shouldn't feel bad about accepting your help (if you're happy to do so) as this is not something that he could have foreseen in the slightest. wishing you well

MrsSquiggler · 21/04/2020 12:08

Has he been logging in to check his journal to see if they have requested any more information? Has he written in the journal asking for an urgent update on his application for an advance payment? They are supposed to deal with applications for advances quickly.

He could try applying for one of these grants www.turn2us.org.uk/MyTurn2us/Individuals/Application/Turn2us-Covid-19-Crisis-Fund

Original poster

ihatethecold · 21/04/2020 12:19

Thanks, he is checking it daily, His file says they are still doing checks, He said he needed an emergency loan last week.

I am happy to financially and emotionally support him. He knows this but he wants to have his own money. at nearly 30 he feels embarrassed to keep asking me.

I will look on the above link also and send it to him Thanks

OP posts:

BarbaraofSeville · 21/04/2020 13:46

No need for him to feel embarrassed. Many, many people have been totally floored financially by all this.

I know someone who applied and got an advance of 'a few hundred pounds' within a week. He just needs to keep an eye on his account to make sure he doesn't have to wait due to them 'checking things'. Have they been able to confirm his identity?

There are certain bank accounts and supermarkets that are doing 'carer cards' where you can give someone a card to spend money out of your bank account, up to about £200 - Starling and Asda spring to mind, although there are probably others. Will he feel better if you send him one of those, or even a gift card for whichever supermarket he uses most, so he can at least buy groceries?

How did he used to work in the building trade? Can he get work through agencies? DP is actually driving a machine on a building site via an agency at the moment, some sites are working, although this work is on a 'day to day basis' he's been there for a couple of weeks up to now.

Original poster

ihatethecold · 21/04/2020 15:01

He is a dry liner BarbaraofSeville.
I didn't know any sites were still open.

I will ask about confirming his identity. he did mention having issues with it at the beginning of this process weeks ago.

he feels guilty about the money because when he was mentally unwell he would manipulate me for money. He is still not great with his wages but he pays his own bills and looks after his kids.

I have no issue with giving him money at all, he's my son and I love him dearly.

OP posts:

8dayweek · 21/04/2020 19:27

I would say he needs to log in and check his account. If he had the interview (I assume over the phone) that should be it done and dusted? He should then be able to apply for an advance via his account.

Failing that I would also tell him to ensure he double checks that he has entered his name (including middle names) and date of birth correctly... and potentially everything else on his claim (for example, if his kids are not resident he can't claim for them).

lifeisgoodmostofthetime · 21/04/2020 19:50

He needs to write a message to his case manager through his journal. He may just have been forgotten about. The messages go straight through to the case manager and they usually reply quite quickly.

Babyroobs · 26/04/2020 21:06

If he has had his initial ID appointment then he should be able to apply for an advance payment through his journal. The only other reason I can see that would be stalling the claim is if he need to pass the habitual residency test ( unlikely if he is a Uk citizen) or there is something on his Uc 'to do' list that he hasn't actioned.

Original poster

ihatethecold · 26/04/2020 22:21

He has written on his journey asking for a loan.
He is a uk citizen and has always worked.
I obviously can’t log in and look to see if he’s missing something on there.
He can’t see what the hold up is.
He has been told the UC payment should arrive on the 7th may. Way too long to manage.

OP posts:

Athenajm80 · 26/04/2020 22:59

Tell him to ask specifically what they are looking into. I work with UC claims and the only reasons any of ours are delayed and/or can't get an advance are due to the habitual residency test or due to previous fraud. If he can't get a proper response via his journal, he can try to call 0800 328 5644 but the lines are very busy so it can take ages to get through.

If he gets a response and is confused then feel free to pm me. I can't go into his account but I can try to help as much as I can

Original poster

ihatethecold · 27/04/2020 08:17

Thanks. I appreciate the advice and offer of support.

OP posts:

Original poster

ihatethecold · 27/04/2020 08:19

His identity is verified through the post office.
He has also worked since he was 16 in the building trade (so 14 years) so no fraud has occurred.

OP posts:

userxx · 27/04/2020 08:28

Any news when the site will reopen? I know some are open now and more are opening this week?

Original poster

ihatethecold · 27/04/2020 09:03

Nothing yet.
He works for a dry lining company that are sub contracted to work on the sites.
It will be up to the company that he works for to say it’s safe to go back on site.

He is on a countrywide site and they haven’t announced anything as yet.

OP posts:

userxx · 27/04/2020 09:09

Op, is he owed any cis tax? Can he get his tax return submitted ASAP.

Original poster

ihatethecold · 27/04/2020 09:19

Yes. That’s a whole other story. 🥺

He is due £1800 which was due to arrive late last week. Unfortunately due to his error he gave the last 2 digits of his bank account the wrong way round so the payment has gone into someone else’s bank account.
Hmrc are helping him get this sorted but it takes a week or 2 he was told this morning.

He’s been under so much stress that he didn’t double check the details properly.
His dad died of cancer in January and then being out of work has really made his anxiety ramp up.

OP posts:

userxx · 27/04/2020 09:39

Oh no, it's easily done. Poor lad is having a really bad time of it isn't he 😞. Let's hope HMRC get it resolved as quickly as humanly possible.

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