Is anyone on MN a Universal Credit work coach?

[PollyEsther]

Not an attempt to start abusing people, I just have two specific questions that neither citizens advice nor the UC helpline could answer! I was advised to go to a job centre but our closest is ages away and I've honestly never been to one.

We currently claim tax credits, but these have been reduced due to an overpayment and it's causing us to really struggle. I'm considering moving over to UC before we are migrated as we are entitled to more UC than TC.

However, I will be teacher training in September and in receipt of student loan. I'm aware that this will be regarded as income and our entitlement affected accordingly but it is still higher than tax credits.

My questions are: in this circumstance, would I be expected to look for work? Training involves full time placements as well as full time education. I am also carer for my DS who is in receipt of DLA, though being in education means I am no longer eligible for Carer's Allowance. This means I will literally be unable to work until training is finished next year, but obviously if you do not meet your claimant committment you are sanctioned. I won't be able to claim if I would have a work committment.

Further, if we change over now, will we still receive the £650 payment that has been offered to those on UC/TC? This isn't a deal breaker but would be good to know.

Many Thanks if anyone can answer these for me!

Sorry I didn't mean to sound twatty, just that we struggle to access this sort of support at times because it isn't available locally. We used to have outreach in the village, but that went during the pandemic and the nearest outreach now is only 4 hours a week. We absolutely still need them, as despite the 'affluence,' there is a lot of (not so) hidden poverty also. It's so 'blue' as an area that it's assumed people don't need this sort of support/advice I think, as where it does remain are the really quite deprived areas locally.

No, we don't live in a city, we are rural. There are CAB offices near-ish, but most seem to still only be accepting phone calls. I'm going to try and call one tomorrow and see if I can get an appointment. I appreciate your advice and help, thank you @AnotherEmma.

You're welcome, and I didn't think you sounded twatty at all! I just wanted to challenge the implication that affluent areas don't have Citizens Advices because they do. You are right, though, that very few offices are offering F2F advice (post covid) and any F2F on offer is very limited. However, you don't need F2F. A good benefits specialist can talk it all through with you on the phone, get you to email/post any documents if necessary, and then call or email you back with their answer. That's what I'd do.

you will also get a carers element as part of your UC

According to this decision maker’s guide you can’t get the carer element whilst in full time education. My bold.

“Conditions of entitlement to CA

F6013 The conditions for entitlement to CA are that

1. the claimant is engaged in caring for a severely disabled person for any day (see DMG 60033 - 60042). A severely disabled person is a person to whom one of the benefits listed in DMG 60033 is payable and
2. the claimant is regularly and substantially engaged in caring for that person for at least 35 hours a week (see DMG 60035 - 60042) and
3. the claimant is not gainfully employed (see DMG 60051 - 60052) - but see the Note below for the UC carer element and
4. the claimant is aged 16 or over (see DMG 60058) and
5. the claimant is not in FTE (see DMG 60068 - 60081) and
6. the claimant satisfies prescribed conditions of residence or presence in GB (see DMG Chapter 07 Part 2) and
7. no one else is already entitled to CA for that severely disabled person.

Note: The condition in 3. does not need to be satisfied for a claimant to qualify for the UC carer element. A UC claimant will qualify for the carer element if the conditions in 1. and 2. and 4. to 7. are satisfied. UC DMs therefore do not need to consider the amount of the claimant’s earnings when considering entitlement to the carer element (but see F6014).”

Thank you

Another one who likes reading benefit books here. Something to check when you do contact us whether you can get carer element. You don’t need to be claiming Carers Allowance but it looks like you do need to eligible apart from earnings. ADM is guidance for Universal Credit 6011 and 6013

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1015113/admf6.pdf#page3

I was referring to 6013 5 that if you are classed as a full time student you wouldn’t get Carers Allowance and then affects carer element.

@Indiaorigin I can accept not getting a carer element, we already don't get one so it's not going to be missed, if that makes sense?

But I would appreciate the caring aspect meaning I wouldn't have to look for work in the summer holidays, as DS truly cannot access childcare. It will be fine once I am qualified and can be around for all holidays, even if I am doing a lot of work at home, he will be safe!

I stand corrected. Yes, you are quite right, no Carer's Allowance/Element if you are in full time education. Completely slipped my mind when answering yesterday (I blame peri that seems to be happening more and more these days. Grrr!).

Partner may qualify though if they meet the other criteria.

Thank you @WelfareRights

I spent a long time talking to the Help to Claim line this morning and they advised the same about my husband possibly qualifying. Myself also, but only over the summer break.

I can’t thank you all enough, I feel much less scared of it than I did yesterday. I’ll be applying later this week, to try and make sure we don’t end up with difficult assessment period problems as DH is paid on last Friday of the month rather than last working day, so the date moves.

for everyone, for being so kind!