What are UC/DWP job centre officials like?

[Shittest2026sofar]

I've got an appointment with the DWP next month. To say I'm bricking it is an understatement.

I have no idea what to expect and the warnings of failing to comply with them results in criminal prosecution is getting to me. I have declared everything truthfully but I'm still worried.

I've been asked to fill in a form A64A but they haven't supplied it. I have asked for them to supply a link, failing that I'll pop into the JC before the appointment to pick one up. I know it is to do with owning property, which I'm due to move back into. I have told them this.

I've had such a shit start to this year I'm just really worried about what they are going to say. I wasn't expecting to ever have to claim UC again. I didn't need to see an agent in the past so have no benchmark. Are experiences generally ok with DWP?

Is the form for property you own but don’t live in. UC have rules about this. It might be that they decide you aren’t eligible if you have another source of income.

england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/benefits/can_you_get_universal_credit_if_you_own_a_property

What a strange question. There are thousands of them. Some will be nice, some wont. Same as M and S staff

I understand your worry due to scare stories about UC in the press but in reality the job centre process claims in person with ID etc it’s totally normal. Do not worry unnecessarily if engaging with officials makes you anxious take someone with you to the appointment as you say you have been honest so don’t overthink it.

Do you own a property you don’t live in? That’s what the form is for. That property will be classed as capital.

@Lovingbooks thank you for the information. None of those really cover my situation. I own a property which is currently tenanted. A section 21 notice has been served as I need to move out of my current residence and back to my house. I can evidence all of this. My capital in the property is well over £16k.

Maybe I should have waited until I had moved but I'll need the money almost immediately so I wanted to make sure I gave it plenty of time to get everything organised. I've been honest with them about my property and what date I'll be moving. Maybe I should have researched a bit more but the UC helpdesk said I could do my application and just inform the journal.

@Sidebeforeself was that necessary?

Why? What’s wrong with my comment? It’s impossible to say what anyone will be like.

I'm with @Sidebeforeself , you will get some nice helpful staff and some not so nice. It just depends on the day

You won’t be entitled to Uc if the equity in the property is more than 16k and if you have tenants then it doesn’t sound like the property will disregarded. You’ll have to wait until you are living in the property to claim UC

@Sidebeforeself "what a strange question". Why is it strange to ask if the DWP are generally ok to deal with?

I've never experienced going to the job centre with evidence printed out to have an interview which has criminal prosecution implications attached to it. For me it is nerve wracking. The building is securely locked with a security guard. That doesn't add to my feelings of ease. It makes me feel like a criminal.

My life collapsed two weeks ago and I'm trying my best to manage and carry on and I just wanted to know what to expect. Maybe I should have phrased it like that.

@Burningbud1981 I was hoping the claim would start from the date I move, I was applying in anticipation of moving. Not to receive anything prior.

I agree with this. Mine is absolutely vile to the point she is being breaking the governments disability laws. I never used to suffer with panic attacks but as soon as I see her name in my journal I start. I hope she rots in hell.

The very first one I saw was lovely. Same centre.

You’ve applied to early. Uc will just close your claim. You need to apply once you are living in the property

As PP said, you can't apply in advance, unfortunately. You need to apply on the date you want to claim from.

Also "niceness" of the staff is unrelated to whether you will be awarded UC and/or how much it will be. That is down to regulations and standard calculations.

You really do get a range of staff, some are nicer than others. Many are stressed, overworked, underpaid and on UC themselves...

The ones I've met and interacted with have been nice (including the person who did my PIP assessment), but I've heard some absolute horror stories and have to generally wonder about the mindset of someone who takes the job.

I should have explained better. Your UC claim starts from the date you apply. UC will check your circumstances and eligibility within the 1st assessment period which is a month from when you first applied. If you are not eligible- which you won’t - they will close your claim. They won’t suspend it untill you are you will need to reapply. Apply once you are living in the property as a home you are living in isn’t counted as an asset. However if you’ve only just served a section 21 you’ve got a long road ahead. Unless you have nice tenants who will leave at the end of the notice period

Could you not use the income froM the property to fund your own rental? Are you working?

@WinterBlues26 I'm so sorry to hear that! Can you make a complaint? You shouldn't have to suffer such anxiety.

@Burningbud1981 thank you for the explanation. I'm a bit annoyed because I rang them first and he just told me to put the claim in. I wish he had said wait. I'll go to the meeting, but it sounds pretty pointless if they close the claim and I need to reopen in March. I'm almost certain the tenants will leave on time. But you never know.

@EvangelineTheNightStar yes I work part time as I have a disabled child to care for and he would struggle to move twice. Also I don't want to rent. It wouldn't be cost effective. My current rent covers the mortgage and tax bill, nothing else.

It is possible if you own a property to have the value temporarily disregarded under certain conditions. It may be a good idea to contact an advice organisation such as Citizens Advice or Welfare Rights who should be able to check whether the rules would allow you to have the value of your property disregarded.

@user1468867181 they may disregard the property value not the income from rent I think?
are you also selling the property you’re moving from @Shittest2026sofar ?
def get welfare rights advice

You've explained that you own a home with more than £16k in equity but don't live in it.

Normally that would exclude you from getting UC. However the Universal Credit Regulations allow some disregards. One of those is where you are taking steps to obtain possession of a second property so that you can live in it. That seems to cover you with s.21 notice etc.

The form you mention is one DWP use so as to get a record of the property and its value. It'll confirm the type of property, value and amount of mortgage etc.

I cannot find a copy to download partly becuase there's a completely different form with the same reference used by the court service. However there's a very similar version used by councils where similar issues arise with legacy Housing Benefit etc:

https://assets.ctfassets.net/ii3xdrqc6nfw/hSZbOIdfsdibZYul480Lj/5e99c67d08726b6ec2495ba0a7fe5b6f/Second_property_form.pdf

Your situation is pretty straightforward and you've probably had a valuation of it. DWP usually accept that. In complex cases, where the market value is in doubt, say property that's been neglected, they may involve the Government's Valuation Service.

As long as you're keeping your eye on the ball with the S.21 process you should be fine.

That was the case in legacy benefits like Income Support. In UC unearned income only counts if it's listed in the regs otherwise it's treated as capital.

Rental income is not listed

@EvangelineTheNightStar no I have no financial interest in the property I currently reside in (thankfully!). So I can leave once my tenants move out and I move back in.

@Burningbud1981 I also could only find the court form. I'll have a look at the link you've sent me to see what it says. I've had my property informally valued as I needed to consider CGT too for the period it was rented out. Thankfully(!?) it hasn't increased in value since I purchased the property so there is no CGT element to consider.

I can evidence the section 21 and I can evidence all the reasons why I am being put in this position.

@Shittest2026sofar

What you mention in 09:14 post should be OK.

Your situation is pretty straightforward and one DWP will see on a regular basis.

TBH their biggest problem isn't getting a disregard in place but rather not keeping on top of it and reviewing.