Universal Credit - First Assessment

[UniversalHadIt]

Hi all

Just had a nasty shock after the first assessment period- been assessed at £0. I suspect they’ve omitted the childcare element from their calculations (which was the whole reason for my application)- can anyone tell me if childcare should appear on the statement if it’s been taken into account?

My statement just includes stuff about the basic element, basic childcare element and rent... no mention of childcare.

If it’s right, I’m up shit creek.... Praying they’ve just missed off the actual important bit...

Thanks!

Sorry basic child entitlement* there’s nothing about childcare at all.

Yes it should be on there. We just had our first statement with childcare included and they calculated it wrong- from what I've read that happens a lot 😔

Yes it should be there as long as you reported any childcare you paid for in your assessment period. The payment for that childcare should be reflected in the payment seven days after the last day of the assessment period. childcare is paid as another element of Uc but the whole award is still reduced by wages.

Okay- thanks so much.

They’ve been really hard work about the childcare from start to finish - first the receipt for the payment + the invoice wasn’t enough evidence, so they needed a letter from the nursery THEN the letter deviated from the payment date by one day (ie the nursery made a typo on the payment date) so it all had to be resubmitted from the start again...

I did re-submit everything within the assessment period that they asked for, and didn’t hear anything back, so assumed all was fine.,. Now thinking I should have called to double check.

This months fees now due, which I needed the UC payment from last month for- fingers crossed they can sort it out.

What a palaver!

@UniversalHadIt

Okay- thanks so much.

They’ve been really hard work about the childcare from start to finish - first the receipt for the payment + the invoice wasn’t enough evidence, so they needed a letter from the nursery THEN the letter deviated from the payment date by one day (ie the nursery made a typo on the payment date) so it all had to be resubmitted from the start again...

I did re-submit everything within the assessment period that they asked for, and didn’t hear anything back, so assumed all was fine.,. Now thinking I should have called to double check.

This months fees now due, which I needed the UC payment from last month for- fingers crossed they can sort it out.

What a palaver!

If it was all re-submitted by the end of the assessment period it should all be easily sorted.

Thanks @Babyroobs - can I ask- are you speaking as a claimant or an assessor?

If you’re an assessor- can I ask - I’ve done both benefits checkers suggested by DWP (turn2us and entitledto)- I know they’re estimates etc. not actuals so no my gospel - but both suggest I’m eligible for around £100pw (Very slight disparity between the two). How (un)likely would it be that I was then in actuality NOT eligible at all?

Just trying to work out if I’ve fucked up massively somehow 😩

If you’re a claimant- apologies 🙃

If you want to check there's a really good Facebook group called universal credit essentials

@UniversalHadIt

Thanks *@Babyroobs* - can I ask- are you speaking as a claimant or an assessor?

If you’re an assessor- can I ask - I’ve done both benefits checkers suggested by DWP (turn2us and entitledto)- I know they’re estimates etc. not actuals so no my gospel - but both suggest I’m eligible for around £100pw (Very slight disparity between the two). How (un)likely would it be that I was then in actuality NOT eligible at all?

Just trying to work out if I’ve fucked up massively somehow 😩

If you’re a claimant- apologies 🙃

I'm a benefits adviser but don't actually deal with people who claim childcare much so I'm not an expert but childcare element is calculated at 85% of the childcare you pay in your assessment period as long as it is below the maximum amount you can claim. So if you are a couple over 25 , your couples element will be £594.04, child element if the child was born after April 2017 will be £235.85, your rent element if private renting will be based on your local housing allowance for your area. then childcare is 85% of what you pay in your assessment period. All these elements make your total UC. Then you take your earnings in your assessment period, minus £292 work allowance then multiply by 0.63. This amount is deducted from your total UC ( the total of your elements). Whatever is remaining you should be paid. If your childcare element is not listed on your statement then you need to ring them tomorrow.

The thresholds are £646 per month for one child and £1108 for two children.

Contact the Citizens Advice "Help to Claim" service tomorrow, they can confirm your entitlement and help you sort it.
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/universal-credit/claiming/helptoclaim/

If you want to check there's a really good Facebook group called universal credit essentials

I agree with this. They're all so helpful and know the system inside out- sometimes it seems they know more than some of the people actually employed by UC!

Thanks all- have called UC today and they’ve escalated the claim to my case manager. Apparently they’ll call today or tomorrow.

Have triple checked on benefits checkers and using the formula suggested upthread and on the citizens advice page and definitely should be engulfed to some help with the childcare fees. How much varies between checkers by a few pounds, but it’s roughly £85 per week I think - or 3/4s of what I pay after 30 hours free- so not chicken feed. (Crossing fingers I’m not being a huge dunce and getting it really wrong somewhere).

I’m also moving house (and childcare providers) next month..... bracing myself now for UC impact!

I’ll let you know how it all falls out...

Hi all

This is turning into something of a palaver...

The Universal Credit assessor has told me that I cannot claim childcare costs for the month of September, because my claim began in October.

I began my first assessment period on the date I paid the costs for September- i.e. the invoice was covering the 1-30th September, was raised on the 20th September, and paid on the 7th October.

On 7th October I paid the invoice and began my UC assessment period 1. I had assumed that the UC assessment was about the childcare costs, not about the dates within which the childcare was delivered....

Now in a pickle because October invoice was raised on 20th October and is now due- but unsure whether this will be allowed in the new assessment period...

All very confusing and am waiting for a call from the assessor but not holding out much hope...

Childcare is always a month in arrears I found that out the hard way when I paid September's fees in August but didn't get them back in October. The first month is always in arrears.

Hi @pebbledashery - the weird thing is, I pay a month in arrears (ie I paid for September in October) anyway- knowing that UC works that way- I was surprised to see that they then ALSO work a month in arrears- what an absolute scandal. How are parents supposed to manage?!

@UniversalHadIt yep it's absolutely awful it really is. That first month was tough but after that you'll get it back every month. It's just the 2 month wait.

@UniversalHadIt

Hi *@pebbledashery* - the weird thing is, I pay a month in arrears (ie I paid for September in October) anyway- knowing that UC works that way- I was surprised to see that they then ALSO work a month in arrears- what an absolute scandal. How are parents supposed to manage?!

Is it a new job you have just started ? Perhaps speak to your work coach about the flexible fund and if there is any help with upfront childcare costs from that fund. I know people can get some help but not sure if it makes a difference if you have already paid it out rather than asking before paying if you see what I mean. Worth a try though to see if any help ?

@Babyroobs

Thanks for the heads up :) I’ll speak to my work coach.

No not a new job, but my hours have increased AND the nursery increased their fees quite considerably (They called it a “fee restructure, but basically it meant between the two things costs went up from around 250/300 to 500/550 pcm)- used to claim tax credits but was ineligible when 30 free hours started. Then when hours and costs went up, became eligible again but decided a UC claim would be better as pays up to 85% of childcare...

THAT was a silly mistake- should have stuck with tax credits