PLEASE for advice for Uc - changing phone number

toni1992

Hi, I'm hoping for some advice with our Universal Credit claim. We need to update my partner's contact number but can't receive text codes to the new number yet. We're expecting a call from our work coach but haven't been given a time, this is a joint claim I'm his carer and we're both feeling very anxious about the possibility of having to go in person it just seems like such a huge amount of hassle for what should be a simple update to a phone number. Our deadline is the 16th and it's causing us both a lot of stress. Could you please advise: can contact details be updated over the phone without needing a text code sent? What happens if we miss the call? And is in-person attendance mandatory for this kind of update? When called 1st person said needs to be in person to see him getting the code 2nd person sent messsge to work coach if can be done on the phone is this normal this amount of hassle to simply update a number? If so what happens ? Or worst case if we can't get this sim to work for codes its causing so much distress. Might seem nothing but things like this really affect us both to even get out we did mention this.

Thankyou very much.

Rachel_Scope

Hi @toni1992 and welcome to the community. I believe that you would need to go in person to change the number as you will need to show them ID. I am not sure if they are able to do it over the phone if going in person would be difficult for you.

Is it a new sim card that you're using? Has it been properly activated?

OverlyAnxious

Once again, Universal Credit is discriminatory against people who can't get to a Job Centre. Exactly the type of people who rely on Universal Credit!

I am fully aware that I can't ever change my mobile number or bank account because both of those require an 'in-person' visit to verify.

ChrisR777

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1149083#Comment_1149083

I see what you're getting at, it isn't easy for me to get to a job centre either, but what's the alternative? They can't come to us, we need to go to them.

OverlyAnxious

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1149108#Comment_1149108

I haven't been able to travel in any vehicle for more than 5 years because of my conditions. It is completely impossible for me to get to a Job Centre.

ChrisR777

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1149109#Comment_1149109

I'm sure their are always exceptional circumstances, and I wouldn't be surprised if visits are made to certain individuals who physically can't leave their houses. Can you not get a wheelchair taxi? That's what I do when I have to go anywhere a train can't take me.

toni1992

Thankyou so much for your replies. I'm not to sure how to reply individually but thankyou. We've been told different things one said in person for Id this is litterly just to change a mobile number. Then 2nd person said she wrote a note to work coach to do on phone. He did the security questions etc but yeah I won't know until tomorrow, but praying its not in person. Id get for new claim etc but just to update a mobile number its caused so much unnecessary stress and anxiety.

toni1992

Oh forgot to mention phone and sim are now working and I've said in journal the number so praying that's it but won't know until the morning.

Rachel_Scope

Great to hear that the phone and sim are working @toni1992. So are you able to receive the codes now?

Fingers crossed you don't need to go to the jobcentre. Will you let us know?

toni1992

Yeah with o2 apparently you need to top up 1st. I can't get the code cause its being sent to an old number so just needing it to be updated and I just hope that can be done through journal or a call 🙏 I will do thankyou very much 💛

OverlyAnxious

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1149113#Comment_1149113

I can't travel because of severe vertigo. I would still be driving if it wasn't for that. Completely debilitating but also invisible to any outsiders.