Universal Credit - Our Biographical Interview

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Beachcomber
Beachcomber Online Community Member Posts: 1 Listener
edited July 4 in Universal Credit (UC)

Hi

I hope this puts others' minds at rest.

My adult daughter had the letter requiring her to transfer from ESA Support Group to Universal Credit.

My daughter has Downs' Syndrome and autism and is non verbal. The online form for transfer to UC was straightforward enough - apart from the ID requirements. My daughter has a birth certificate and NI number but none of the other required ID.

Having dealt with DWP before I was very concerned that we would be up against the big bureaucracy and have her benefits stopped due to lack of ID.

I recorded on the form that we don't have ID and was given an appointment for a Biographical Interview phonecall.

I was dreading it.

Happily, there was nothing to worry about.

I received a call from a friendly lady at our local job centre. I was asked simple questions to verify our ID (pretty much what I put on the UC online form) -

Address, daughter's date of birth, bank account for payments - this is my account as my daughter can't manage a bank account. For the bank account for UC it's far easier if you use the same one as for ESA payments (as DWP already have this recorded).

The payment process was explained, transfer confirmed and we were asked if we needed an interim advance during changeover.

All I need to do now is for me to call at the job centre today with my driving licence and evidence of my bank account. Showing the account on the phone app or printed bank statement is fine if you don't have a plastic card.

The phonecall was only 10 minutes - with the caller completing the form from info already held on ESA records or our answers today.

So absolutely nothing to worry about. Hope this helps others.

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