Universal Credit Claim

[tiredmum2468]

Our circumstances have changed and we are now eligible apparently (reduction in hours and one of us taking a new job on less money owing to being made redundant).

Have been trying to apply online and upload various documents and stuff it seems very long winded compared to the previous tax credits systems.

Can anyone advise how long it takes and once all the documents are uploaded timeframes etc???

I'm so stressed it's like they deliberately make it difficult to put people off applying!

It's one calendar month and seven day until you get your first payment from UC. It's a bit of a faff to set up but once it's set up it's so much simpler overall as all benefits rolled into one.

Your first payment will be due in approx 5 weeks. If you made the claim today your Assessment Period (AP) would be 1/3 -31/3 and first payment due 7/4. Any wages paid to yourself and or partner during the AP will affect the payment on the 7/4. Depending on your circumstances you may get a Work Allowance which means that some of your income is ignored and the balance deducted at a rate of 0.63 for every pound. You will need to regularly check your To Do's for any actions that you need to take as the verification processes are starting to come back in and if renting you will need to upload proof of housing costs. Some ID verification is automatic but if not you will get a phone call.

Once you have filled in the claim you make a face to face meeting at local centre (not sure if this is happening at the moment). This is normally within 10 days but doesn’t affect your first payment as the timescale for payment is from you submit claim online.

You can normally do the ID verification online.

After you have proved I’d online or by phone you can ask for an advance. It is a loan to cover the five weeks before first payment. It is recovered from future payments or if your circumstances change so you are not eligible you would have to arrange repayment.