Universal credit and hospital visits

jane52

Hello

Have needed to go to hospital for various things recently e.g had a seizure so needed to get head injury checked out at hospital. Also been having bone pains for some months so referred for basic dexa scan, then referred for Xray on different day; more indepth dexa scan needed still. Have needed to visit neurologist on one day, neurologist organised mri scan which will be happening this Wednesday. All of these take up time to go to so take time out of my working day, so I will be working less than agreed hours with work coach at moment. Do I need to report this to work coach . How does above work when claiming working tax credit. Is room made for hospital visits for health issues/disabilty when claiming UC

Thank you

poppy123456

Just tell your work coach you have some hospital appointments. Did you report your health conditions and provide a fit note?

Your question about work tax credits is irrelevant because it's UC you're claiming now.

jane52

Thank you Poppy . DWP are aware of my health conditons but I have not provided a fit note as not been off work for a significant amount of time. Each is a day it takes up. Is a fit note something I need to organise

Thank you Jane

poppy123456

It doesn't matter that you haven't been off work for any length of time. As you're claiming a disability benefit then you can provide a fit note, which is a certificate of your fitness to work and doesn't have to say you're unable to work. You can't be referred for a work capability assessment without providing that fit note.

jane52

Thank you. So is that just contacting my g.p. and asking for a fit note re above. Never asked for a fit note before

poppy123456

Yes. I have advised you on another thread about this.

poppy123456

As you're self employed if you were found to be gainfully self employed you would have been given a 12 month start up period. During that person you shouldn't be expected to look for work or be available for other work. You should only be expected to attend appointments with a work coach every 3 months. Therefore I would expect your commitments to be very little.

jane52

I am indeed in the start up period and my work coach booked our next meeting for six months later. He also spoke of me working 35 hours a week, (is that correct?) which my medical issues and hospital visits at moment are not enabling me to do, plus July and August are quieter times in my profession, so working the hours by finishing training needed for reaccreditation in August

jane52

Some further questions re universal credit, hospital visits and epilepsy

1)Made job centre aware that unable to work some hours due to epilepsy and having lots of hospital appointments at moment. Asked by job centre if I wanted to come in sooner than December and discuss work commitments. Do I need a fit note for the meeting or do I just take some consultants letters with me. I am in group 4 "All work related requirements" wondering if need to be in group 3 "work preparation requirement" or something else. Is first thing to go and see them and review work commitments. Is bringing consultants letters etc enough. Will wait until I have received all results. I would like my hours reduced from the 35 hours verbally set by work coach as my epilepsy management currently is not enabling me to work that many hours. Is it g.p. letter for this, conversation with them, old neurology letters.

Also is it worth me seeing how many hours job centre have on their system as wanting me to work, as 35 hours was just something said verbally by work coach in first interview. When I have asked about number of hours from jobcentre I do not get an answer.

Thankyou

poppy123456

Something isn't right here. I remember that you're self employed. When you attended the gateway appointment for this were you found to be gainfully self employed?

If you were then you would have been given a 12 month start up period. This means that you wouldn't be expected to look for work, or be available for work, so you shouldn't be in the all work related activity group. You would only be expected to attend your local job centre every few months to talk about your self employed work. See link.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-and-self-employment-quick-guide/universal-credit-and-self-employment-quick-guide#start-up

What does your commitments say exactly? You can check that by logging into your journal.

Is there any reason why you haven't provided a fit note to start the work capability assessment process off? If found to have either LCW or LCWRA you would be entitled to the work allowance, which means some of the earnings you receive each month will be ignored before deductions apply.

If you claim for help with the rent it will be £404/month, if you don't it will be £673/month.

jane52

Hello Poppy

Attached is letter I received after my first meeting with Job Centre

I cannot see anything hear about the 35 hours the person interviewing me verbally mentioned. I receive more than I did on working tax credits currently. Five hundred and something pounds. I do not need help with rent. If I go the work capability route is that likely to to affect PIP. I hear DWP are using WCA re PIP assessments My ten years of Pip runs out in two years time, when I will be past pension age. I do not want to do anything to start Pip early as currently it will begin again when I am post pension age and I want to keep the mobility amount. Any advice re best route would be helpful

I have been invited back to job centre in December, six months after first interview. Is it safe for me to leave it that long despite having some health/disability issues at moment. I have made DWP aware of health issues that are currently occurring. They are asking me if I would like to come in before December. What would this be for?

Thankyou

poppy123456

I can see your full name on that PDF file you have posted here and personal information isn't allowed to protect yourself. You need to be very careful when posting things like that and make sure your personal information isn't showing.

Yes, as I thought, you have no commitments because you're in your start up period. You do not have to look for work or prepare to work either.

If you provide a fit note it will not affect your PIP. They are completely different.

I've given you a lot of advice here and have advised you a few times to provide a fit note because you will also have the work allowance if found to have either LCW or LCWRA. Whether you decide to go down that route is entirely up to you.

The appointment in December will be to see how your self employed work is going and what you're doing to increase your earnings.

Jimm_Scope

Hi @jane52, just letting you know I removed that letter because it had personal information. You are free to re-upload the document as long as all personal information is removed. It's for your own safety to protect your personal information!

jane52

Hello

I have another Universal Credit Query. Just submitted my next UC submission. Earned around £1,200 self employed this month but went into negative as had tax to pay, cost of my expenses and paid some money into pension as retiring in September next year. DWP now saying I need no earn a significant amount of money each month as if I am working 30 hours a week otherwise my payments will be affected. After expenses and future tax payments I am not sure I will earn that much, particularly as I am paid erratically. I am wondering if tax correct? I think they have applied a minimum income floor to me? Any guidance helpful. Thankyou. Jane

poppy123456

I can't advise about the tax, sorry. If you were found to be gainfully self employed you should be exempt from the MIF for 12 months.

Jimm_Scope

Hey @jane52, if you do need help with tax as self-employed we have an advice page on where you can get support for it: Getting help with tax if you're self-employed | Disability charity Scope UK