UC Back payment

[Macca44]

We have a daughter who has received higher rate DLA for approximately 3 years. In November 2023, we applied for UC and were awarded the relevant amount. Both myself and my wife work full time and we only receive a small amount, but it pays for my daughters riding lessons each week which makes a huge difference to her wellbeing. About 10 days ago we were contacted by UC and informed they may have underpaid us due to not taking account of the extra room we should have been awarded in line with my daughter’s disability. I had to complete a very quick tick box form and a week later we received a further communication saying we had been awarded an extra room and were entitled to backdating. I must admit if they hadn’t of contacted us, I’d never have known! From what I have read, we now have to wait for a further letter to confirm the amount to be backdated and when we should receive the funds. How long does it usually take from getting the first letter confirming it’s been approved to getting the second letter with the details of backdated money?

In the UC site there's a section for payments, it should tell you when your next one is due and how much. If not write in the journal asking exactly when and how much you'll be paid.

Thank you! I was really just wondering how long it takes from having the decision and back payments confirmed to receiving the 2nd letter stating how much and when it will be paid.

It really depends on the individual case. I wish I could tell you! Have they replied to your journal entry? Sometimes they're quick but sometimes take ages for no apparent reason! Hope it comes through soon x

There is no timeframe. Your case manager has to go through your statements and recalculate them first

It's all done manually, so they can't give a timescale.

No, not yet, but it’s only been a few days. I just have no idea of normal timeframes?

If they don't reply by tomorrow ring them. You might need to be on hold for ages but at least you'll know. Hopefully.

Thank you. I called today, lady I spoke to said it was with a case worker for calculations. She said if I hadn’t heard anything by Wednesday to call back and ask for it to be escalated. Said she will put a chaser on the file today. So we’ll just have to wait and see I suppose.

Benefits adviser here. Any backdated payment will be paid separately with a separate letter which should appear on your journal underlined in blue, and is not included in the monthly UC statement.

Thank you!

That's good to hear.

I don't think there is such a thing as a "normal timeframe" tbh.

I won two PIP appeals a few months ago, and it meant that the clients were both entitled to have full housing costs included in their UC rather than the shared accommodation rate, a difference of over £75pw in both cases.

One client got their arrears payment within 3 or 4 weeks, the other took over 3 months. Both had their UC claims dealt with at the same job centre, too.

My back payment was awarded, however the payment calculation was significantly less than expected. I immediately called UC and they confirmed in writing there was indeed a ‘computing/clerical issue’ that only backdated my payment to February 25, when in fact the DM’s decision was to award from start of my claim in October 23. It was passed to the ‘specialist computer team’ 2 weeks ago, but still no sign of payment. Any idea this usually takes? I completed the calculation in a matter of minutes but realise long work loads.

Its really difficult to put any time scale on this, unfortunately. I would advise persistent journal messages under "a payment" asking if the correct calculation has been done and when could payment be expected.

Thank you for your reply! I’m afraid my journal messages are falling on deaf ears. I think unless I want to start writing to MP’s etc, which I don’t actually think would have that great an effect, I’m just going to have to put it out my mind until it arrives. I suppose the hard bit was getting the mistake confirmed in writing, which in fairness they did very quickly. It’s just a really poor system with such limited communication. I wholly believe it must be as frustrating for the staff who have to put up with these processes. But as my far more relaxed wife tells me ‘it’s money in the bank, it’ll arrive when it arrives’ 🤣

You've definitely done the difficult part and it is unfortunately a wait and see but keep at the messages it won't hurt 👍

Have received first letter station special circumstances apply. Any ideas of wait times for second later? Anyone received their second later with amount?