How long are UC applications taking now?

[poloarpanda123]

So, I've held off until now but reluctantly have decided to move over to UC (from wtc). I just haven't been able to work having the kids at home and today hearing that they won't be back before September (Wales) pushed me to the limit. First time I've cried in years.
I've been self employed working from home for the past year and work has dried up plus I can't do much anyway as I'm trying to home school 3 of them. I don't get any other benefits so I just had to do it.

Anyway, could anyone share their experiences so far. I know lots of people have applied recently. Are they taking the usual 5 weeks of longer?
Also will my tax credits stop straight away?

Many thanks xx

I got an appointment days after I applied. And yes, there was still the usual month to wait for your payment

Applied end of March had 1st payment today (although was offered advance at the time of applying) tax credits do stop straight away I'm afraid. Are you entitled to the self employed support payment? This can be claimed from next week and supposed to have payment within 6 days. Could you wait until you've had this before changing to UC to help out whilst your claim is processed

I'm not concerned. I've been self employed for under a year so nothing for me! :( x

Mummy, was the appt online or by phone?

about 11 months concerned. I'm paid to teach online from abroad (USA company)
so I don't really know where I'd stand anyway if it was over a year.

Really quick and easy. No appt required for us.

DWP are doing amazing considering intake. Advance available within 4 days once ID verified.

That's good to hear Cornish. :). I may look at the advance. Maybe, I should have waited until my next TC (in 11 days) and done it then?

Sorry my typos - phone texting

Applications take 5 weeks until first payment. When you submit the application it will advise you that UC will contact you either by a message on your account or by phone. If you don't hear anything after a few days, chase up with a phone call. Any appointments that may be required are over the phone as the Jobcentre is closed . When you make a claim for UC, tax credits and housing benefit will stop as UC replaces them

The day you apply for UC your tax credits will stop. Are you actually going to be better off on UC ( we were by £300 a month as housing costs included) and should have applied ages ago but was hesitate despite DH being UC processor and me having extensive welfare advice background. It was the interview at JC we didn’t want to do!

Have a look at betteroffcalculator.co.uk and use the help to claim service to see what the impact of your self employment will be.

We also knew that because we had to report change of childcare costs our tax credits would cease and even in the 4 wk run on period for these we would still be better off on UC so claimed.

We were also eligible for an advance of £1000 even though our actual entitlement will only be £320. We took it and viewed it as an interest free loan. The repayments of about £87 will still leave us with enough to live on over next 12 months.

So far we have managed to set that advance to one side and may only need to draw on a bit of it.

So if your Tax credits payment is due on 18th and you claim from 19th your claim will go from that date if you submit all info needed.

Your assessment period becomes 19th to 18th of each month. Anything that happens in that period affects the payment you will receive on 25th if each month.

If you have any self employed invoices paid then work on getting them in ASAP before that assessment period ends. The help to claim service and the self employed guidance on gov.uk can help. I understand that the minimum income floor for self employed has had chances made to response to the pandemic but that isn’t my area of interest so I have largely ignored the updates. Make sure you investigate this.

I applied the 18th of March. Had appointment phone call on the 19th and payment was made on the 24th of April.

Not sure if available in England but I’m in NI and advisor told me I could apply for a discretionary fund grant to see me through to my first payment. It is a grant so not repayable. Advisor gave me a number to call. Was on for quite a while trying to get through but did eventually and then you explain your situation, why you need the grant and answer questions about your finances (like if you have savings, what outgoings you have, dependants etc) and then they make a decision whether you are eligible and if so how much they will give you. Again, I’m in NI so maybe different but worth asking if you need it OP. You can still take an advance on your UC if you need it after taking the grant but your advance is a loan and repayable. You can’t take an advance and then a grant. So if you are eligible and think you’ll need it- take the grant first. Call waiting times are long. So be prepared for that.

England the advance is like you said a loan. You can apply online once ID verified. You do not need to call ( please don’t call unless critical as they are overwhelmed and it’s stopping them from processing work)

@poloarpanda123 Just read your Post, I'm in Wales too; hope you don't mind me asking, where did you hear about the schools not reopening until September? I haven't heard anything as of yet!
& also regarding UC. Was all very straightforward online, and gave option of Advanced Payment to carry through until Application is awarded!

If you are planning on returning to self employment you need to know how this affects you on UC. You need to read up on the minimum income floor. This has been suspended at the moment due to covoid so wont affect you and wont affect you for the first 12 months of self employment but after that it will apply to you.

If you have any self employed invoices paid then work on getting them in ASAP before that assessment period ends.

Sorry I meant starts not end.

Hi OP, as you are self employed it would be a good idea to contact Citizens Advice to ask if they can do a better off calculation for you and explain the minimum income floor. As today is a bank holiday it won't be open until Monday. If you would like to decide before then, you could use one of the online benefit calculators (Entitledto or Turn2us) or tell us a bit more info and one of the benefit advisers on here should be able to help. The relevant info we would need is:

• Do you rent and if so, are you a private, HA or council tenant and how much is your rent?
• What was your net profit from self employment in 2019-20?
• How old are your children?
• Do you have any savings above £6k?
• Do you and/or any of your children claim any disability benefits?
• Do you hope/plan to go back to your usual self employment when possible?

Sorry, I totally forgot about this thread (going crazy). Thank you all for your helpful replies.
Well, I managed to get the advance and also I've now got another job (employed/contracted) but I can only do about 10 hrs a week atm as my kids (school age) are at home.
I've written this up in my journal. Hopefully it will be easier being employed and having payments straight into my bank account with NI/tax deductions.