Thursday, January 31, 2019

How to claim universal credit

January 31, 2019 credit No comments :

How to claim universal credit

Apply for Universal Credit

There are 4 steps to getting Universal Credit. You’ll need to:

gather everything you’ll need to apply
set up an online account
use your account to start a claim
arrange an interview at the Jobcentre within 7 days of starting your claim

It’s worth checking you’ve been through all 4 steps - otherwise you might not get your Universal Credit payment.

If you live with your partner, you’ll usually need to apply together - called a ‘joint claim’.

If you have problems using the internet

You can only claim Universal Credit online - there’s no paper form.
If you aren’t confident using the internet, ask your local council about help getting online.

You might be able to apply by phone or in person instead of online.

You’ll need to tell the DWP why you can’t apply online, for example if you have problems reading or writing.

Contact the Universal Credit helpline if you need to apply by phone or in person. Someone else can call for you.

Universal Credit helpline (full service)Telephone: 0800 328 5644
Textphone: 0800 328 1344
Telephone (Welsh language): 0800 012 1888
Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm

Calls to these numbers are free. It’s best to call from the phone number you gave the DWP when you set up your Universal Credit account. You'll have a shorter wait and be put through to the same person who handled previous calls you've made.

The application can take up to 40 minutes on the phone.

If you don’t have internet access

You can use the internet free of charge at:

Applying at the right time

Usually it’s best to apply for Universal Credit as soon as you can. That way you’ll get your first payment sooner.

If you’ve lost your job, it can be worth waiting until you get your final payment from work. If you apply before then, your last payment will reduce your first Universal Credit payment.

It can still be better to apply for Universal Credit straight away if you’d have to wait a long time for your last payment or if you don’t expect to be paid very much. Contact your nearest Citizens Advice if you’re not sure when to apply.

1. Gather everything you’ll need to apply

Getting all your details together in advance will save you time and make it easier to apply. If you’re making a joint claim, your partner will need their details too.

One of the later steps is going to a Universal Credit interview. You’ll need to take the same details to that, so it’s worth keeping everything to hand.

You’ll need details of your:

National Insurance number
housing
income and savings
childcare situation
other benefits, if you get any

Your National Insurance number

You can find your National Insurance number on a payslip or letter from HM Revenue and Customs - call the National Insurance helpline if you can’t find it.

HM Revenue and Customs National Insurance Helpline for employees and individuals
Tel: 0300 200 3500 (Monday to Friday from 8.00am to 5.00pm)
Textphone: 0300 200 3519

If you don’t have one, apply for a National Insurance number on GOV.UK.

Your housing situation

You’ll need to know:

your postcode
the type of accommodation you have - for example private rental, council tenancy or housing association tenancy
how much rent you pay
any service charges you pay
your landlord’s address and phone number

All these details should be on your rent agreement - if you don’t have one, ask your landlord for a copy or for a letter with details of your agreement.

If you own your home you’ll need to know:

your postcode
your monthly mortgage or home loan payments
any service charges you pay

Your income and savings

You’ll need details of:

your bank, building society, credit union or Post Office card account - if you don’t have one, you'll need to open an account or use the Payment Exception Service
how much you earn from work, such as recent payslips, or accounts or receipts if you’re self-employed
any income that’s not from work - for example from a pension or insurance plan
any savings and other capital you have - for example shares or property you don’t live in

Your family

You’ll need to know:

how much you pay for childcare (if you want to claim for childcare costs)
child benefit reference numbers

You can find child benefit reference numbers on letters to you about child benefit. The reference numbers start with 'CHB' and are made up of 8 numbers and 2 letters - like this: ‘CHB12345678 AB’.

Phone the Child Benefit Office on 0300 200 3100 (textphone 0300 200 3103) if you need help.

Other benefits you’re getting

You’ll need details of any other benefits you’re getting, including how much you get.

You should also tell the DWP if you or your partner are getting any of the benefits Universal Credit is replacing. Otherwise you could get the wrong benefit payments and will have to pay them back to the DWP.

Once you start getting Universal Credit it’s worth checking that your other benefit payments have stopped. If they haven’t, tell the DWP to make sure you don’t get an overpayment.

Universal Credit helpline (full service)Telephone: 0800 328 5644
Textphone: 0800 328 1344
Telephone (Welsh language): 0800 012 1888
Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm

If you or your partner are still getting Child Tax Credit or Working Tax Credit payments, you’ll need to tell HM Revenue and Customs rather than the DWP.

HM Revenue and Customs Tax Credits Payment Helpline
Tel: 0345 302 1429 (Monday to Friday from 8.00am to 8.00pm; Saturday from 8.00am to 4.00pm)

2. Set up your online account

You’ll need to apply for Universal Credit online on GOV.UK.

You’ll need an email address to apply. If you don’t have one, find out how to set up an email address on Which?

You don't have to apply in one go - you can save your progress and come back later. But it's worth finishing as soon as you can, as your claim can't start until you've finished the whole process.

If you’re making a joint claim

You and your partner will need to set up separate accounts.

When you set up your account you’ll be asked if you live with your partner. If you say yes you can get a ‘linking code’. When your partner sets up their account they can type in this linking code to join their account to yours.

You’ll both be able to log in to your accounts separately.

3. Use your account to start your claim

This is separate from setting up your account. It’s worth starting your claim as soon as you can, as it will mean you get your Universal Credit payment sooner.

Log in to your Universal Credit account using the details you got when you set the account up. If you can’t remember your details you can click on ‘Problems signing in?’ to ask the DWP to send them to your email address.

Once you’ve logged in, you’ll see a ‘to do’ list. You’ll need to go through the list answering questions about your situation. If you’re making a joint claim you’ll see your partner’s to do list as well. They’ll have to log into their account to answer some of the questions.

Confirming your identity

One of the items on your to-do list says ‘Verify your identity online’. This takes you to a government system called ‘Verify’ to confirm your identity.

Verify can be difficult to complete. If you’re having problems, go back to your Universal Credit account and click on ‘I can’t do this online’. You can then skip this step and confirm your identity at the Jobcentre instead.

4. Arrange an interview at the Jobcentre

You’ll need to arrange an interview at your local Jobcentre within 7 days of applying online. If you don’t arrange the interview in time you might have to start your application for Universal Credit again.

You should be given a phone number to call to arrange your interview after you apply online. You’ll need your National Insurance number when you make the call.

If you aren't given a phone number, call the Universal Credit helpline to arrange your interview.

Universal Credit helpline (full service)Telephone: 0800 328 5644
Textphone: 0800 328 1344
Telephone (Welsh language): 0800 012 1888
Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm

The person you speak to when you arrange your interview will tell you where your interview is and what documents to take with you.

After you’ve arranged the interview you’ll be able to find details about it in your online Universal Credit account.

If you can’t go to a Jobcentre interview

You should still call if an interview will be difficult for you because you’re ill or disabled. You can ask the Jobcentre to change things to make it easier for you - this is called a ‘reasonable adjustment’. For example, you can ask for a British Sign Language interpreter, or for your interview to be at a place you can get to easily.

If the Jobcentre refuse to make changes for your illness or disability, check if they’ve failed to make a reasonable adjustment. If they have, remind the Jobcentre that this could be discrimination. You can consider taking action about discrimination if they still won’t do anything.

Apply for Council Tax Reduction

Once you’ve applied for Universal Credit, check if you can get Council Tax Reduction. Most people who get Universal Credit can claim this too.

If you already get Council Tax Reduction, contact your council straight away to tell them you’ve applied for Universal Credit. Ask them to keep giving you Council Tax Reduction. Otherwise they might end your Council Tax Reduction when the DWP tell them you’re getting Universal Credit.

If your application is unsuccessful

The DWP will send you a letter if your application is unsuccessful. You can ask them to reconsider the decision if you think it’s wrong.
If you’re struggling to get by, check what other help and financial support you could get.

Thursday, January 31, 2019

How to claim universal credit