Closing a universal credit claim

Butterfliess

Can anyone advice to go about closing a universal credit account?
It’s a joint claim so both would need to close.

poppy123456

You can leave a message on your journal or ring the helpline. Is there any reason why you want to cancel the claim? There will be no further payments if you do this.

Sue_Alumni

Hi good morning @Butterfliess,

First, I would check that cancelling your joint UC claim is the right thing to do as although you may have had a change of circumstances  whilst this may reduce your UC,  it may not mean you are no longer eligible.  UC is a passport to other benefits and cancelling UC would cancel these as well.  I would suggest you do the following:-

Check your benefit entitlement using a user-friendly online calculator such as the ones at Turn2Us or https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/90479/Policy

You don’t need to give a reason to cancel your UC.  If you still want to cancel your UC claim you can call the UC helpline on 0800 328 5644 and they should be able to tell you whether you are still eligible for UC.  Alternatively, you should report the change of circumstances in your online journal.  Obviously, if you think you are no longer eligible for benefit you should do this as soon as possible to keep any overpayment of benefit to a minimum.   

As a final note just so you know  I am going to move this discussion to the UC category on the forum

poppy123456

Sue_Scope said:

UC helpline on 0800 328 5644 and they should be able to tell you whether you are still eligible for UC.

I'm sorry but i disagree with that. The UC helpline are not benefit advisors and shouldn't be relied upon for any benefits advice. They have very little knowledge because they mostly read from a screen. It has been known for them to give some appaling advice many times.

Butterfliess

@poppy123456

Thank you for your reply. Yes we need to close our account as my partner starts a new job as self employed in a week and will no longer require UC.

I claim Contribution based ESA will this be stopped if we close our UC account? I’m aware these are different benefits and have been told I can still claim my ESA regardless of UC.

Thank you 😊 

Butterfliess

@Sue_Scope

Thank you for your reply, yes we have checked and we no longer would qualify for UC. 

You said UC is a passport to other benefits what benefits would it effect when we close our claim?

Thank You 😊 

poppy123456

Your partner starting work doesn't mean you'll no longer be entitled to any UC. UC entitlement is based on earnings received during your assessment period.

Your partner can just report a change of circumstances and tell them they are starting work. Being self employed they will need to report earnings and expenses on their journal on the last day of your assessment period.

Your New style ESA will not be affected. UC isn't a passport to other benefits but it means you could be entitled to free prescriptions/dental and eye tests etc.

calcotti

Butterfliess said: I claim Contribution based ESA will this be stopped if we close our UC account? I’m aware these are different benefits and have been told I can still claim my ESA regardless of UC.

That's correct, new style/contribution based ESA would continue even if you close the UC claim.

Butterfliess said:

..we need to close our account as my partner starts a new job as self employed in a week 

With your wife starting self employment how this affects your UC entitlement will depend on how much she earns each month. Being self employed, of itself, is no reason to close the claim.

Be aware that if you close the claim it will, I think, stop from the start of the UC assessment period in which you cancel the claim. That means you will get no UC for the period in which you make the request. 

Butterfliess

Not sure my it’s posted on my old profile that I couldn’t find the password for? Is there anyway and admin can delete the comment 

calcotti

MorningStar said:

Thank you everyone for your response. As far as we was originally told my partner couldn’t go self employed and continue our UC claim. 

That's nonsense. See government advice on how UC works for the self employed
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-and-self-employment-quick-guide

Butterfliess

@calcotti

thank you, it’s definitely something we are looking into now.

Ross_Alumni

Butterfliess said:

Not sure my it’s posted on my old profile that I couldn’t find the password for? Is there anyway and admin can delete the comment 

Sure, I have removed as requested  

Butterfliess

@Ross_Scope

Your a star ⭐️ Thank you very much ☺️

Ross_Alumni

Butterfliess said:

@Ross_Scope

Your a star ⭐️ Thank you very much ☺️

That's very kind of you, it's no problem at all Hope you have a lovely day.