Benefit capped can I challenge the amount?

Anhedonia2
Anhedonia2 Community Member Posts: 306 Empowering

I've been benefit capped by UC and they have deducted £2139.61 from my award

What's left isn't even enough to pay my rent and I knew this month would be worse because I'm off work for my surgery but I didn't think UC would be so much worse.

I don't understand what's happened or why they have taken so much.

Can I challenge a benefit cap amount? I don't understand how it works or what options I have here

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Comments

  • yellowpineapple84
    yellowpineapple84 Scope Member Posts: 334 Empowering

    Hi, this is terrible I’m so sorry this has happened :( I’m not sure how the cap works but I know others on here will be able to give a helpful reply. I just wanted to send warmth and support to you for your UC help and for your surgery after reading this. It is a lot that has been deducted and hopefully you can challenge that as that is too much money to go missing in a month. Hope you’re okay, can really understand the stress financially though from my own experiences

    I think I’ve seen you in the World Cup chats, hope you can enjoy the game this evening :) I’m looking forward to the Colombia game

  • Anhedonia2
    Anhedonia2 Community Member Posts: 306 Empowering

    Thank you @yellowpineapple84, I've enjoyed our chats in the world cup threads! I'm looking forward to Colombia tonight too, I think it'll be my first game of theirs I've seen this world cup.

    I've really not wanted to like the whole thing (because of the US political situation etc) but there have been lots of excellent matches so far! I was massively underwhelmed with Spain vs Portugal though.

    Thank you for the reply, it's been such a stressful time anyway, I've had to be so cautious knowing I wouldn't be earning from work but I didn't think that would mean my UC went down so much as well.

    Just in time for the kids being off school for the summer holidays too 😖

  • Anhedonia2
    Anhedonia2 Community Member Posts: 306 Empowering

    Thank you @SheffieldMan1976. I'm not sure if I'm able to challenge it or on what grounds, I'm trying to work out if it's correct so I have all the information before trying to challenge.

  • yellowpineapple84
    yellowpineapple84 Scope Member Posts: 334 Empowering

    @Anhedonia2 I really hope you can challenge it and win, totally get what you’re saying about waiting to see what information you get first before challenging. It’s a lot of money to go, it’s really unfair and shouldn’t happen and as you say you have a family and the summer holidays I can believe are an expensive time when there’s no school 😕 I really really hope you can challenge this and that you’re treated kindly by them, you don’t deserve to have this put on you 🙏🏼

    I’ve enjoyed our World Cup chats too. You inspired me to get a pizza the other night! I think it was you who mentioned about a pizza and some days later I got one too! If you can see any of the short 10min highlights of the Colombia games then I really encourage because you’ll see them raining shots on the opposing goal like it’s nobody’s business! One game they drew 0-0 and nobody understands how that happened as they could have won by 7 or 8 that night 😳 They had a 1-0 win too and again they could have had 5 or 6. The scorelines have made it look boring but it really hasn’t been, alongside Japan they’ve been my favourite team to watch!

    I agree with what you say about that and have also tried to ignore the politics and just enjoy the games and there have been some really entertaining games ☺️

  • Kimi87
    Kimi87 Community Member Posts: 9,066 Championing

    I'd recommend contacting a local welfare rights organisation who can check everything is correct, offer some advice on reducing your outgoings and assistance managing any debts you might have etc.

    https://advicefinder.turn2us.org.uk/

  • Anhedonia2
    Anhedonia2 Community Member Posts: 306 Empowering

    You can't beat pizza and football! ☺️

    I caught the first half of the Colombia game last night and then must have drifted off as I woke up as they started penalties, which I thought was great timing! I've always found Japan good to watch, I'm glad I'm not alone there.

    Not sure what I'll do with myself tonight with no football on! 😄 I've made a tofu salad for dinner but dreaming of pizza again now

  • Anhedonia2
    Anhedonia2 Community Member Posts: 306 Empowering

    Thank you @Kimi87. I've contacted a few places today and will update if I hear anything. I fortunately don't have any debts but I've had to put the remainder of my rent on a credit card this month, which I'm fortunate I'm able to do but worried if this cap continues. I anticipated 6 weeks off work but it's looking more likely it'll be closer to 8.

  • yellowpineapple84
    yellowpineapple84 Scope Member Posts: 334 Empowering

    Hello, I hope you’re okay today and today has been kind to you? ☺️
    Pizza and football is a great combo! What do you like on your pizza? I like cheese and tomato base with pepperoni, salami, ham and freshly chopped tomatoes :) I also sometimes like to have nduja and rocket

    I was sad Colombia lost last night. They didn’t play with the same vibrancy as their earlier games too which was a shame, I think Switzerland contained them quite well. Of the teams left I’m not really excited anymore 😕

    Your tofu salad sounded very nice, I haven’t had that before. And I’m at a loss what to do tonight too 😂

  • Ross1975
    Ross1975 Community Member Posts: 1,617 Championing

    Me too. I couldn't get excited about football any more than I could F-5 Stone Cold Steve Austin.

  • Anhedonia2
    Anhedonia2 Community Member Posts: 306 Empowering

    Cheese and tomato is good with me, or I like lots of different vegetables. I've made a vegetable pizza ready for tomorrow's football and it's mixed peppers, tomatoes, jalepeno, mushrooms, red onion and I'm considering adding a bit of sweetcorn too 😍 My daughter will be having a few of her friends over too so I've made a ham and pineapple, a pepperoni and a plain cheese one for them all to share. The original plan was a takeaway but it'll have to wait until I'm back at work!

    How have you been? I've had a lovely day out in the garden today.

  • Anhedonia2
    Anhedonia2 Community Member Posts: 306 Empowering

    Haha, yeah football isn't for everyone. It definitely pairs well with pizza though, and a nice cold drink.

    I'd like to see Brock try though! Do you follow any sport or anything else?

  • Ross1975
    Ross1975 Community Member Posts: 1,617 Championing
    edited July 10

    No. I don't think there is anything that I actually follow, sport or otherwise. I do enjoy watching rallying if it's on TV, I think that is the only sport I enjoy watching. There's sports that I enjoy playing, whether it's in real real life or in video games, but for some reason I just find them so boring to watch on TV.

  • yellowpineapple84
    yellowpineapple84 Scope Member Posts: 334 Empowering

    @Anhedonia2 Hello :) Wow you made the pizzas? This is really awesome you’ve done that 😍 I really like peppers too and like peppers on pizza. Have you ever tried rocket on a pizza? And you’ve made three extra pizzas for your daughter and her friends, this is really kind. I don’t think my mum would ever do this for me 😂

    I’m still sending warmth and positive vibes for your UC help, I hope you can recoup what was unfairly taken

    I’m struggling in the temps and struggling in the day with my breathing. My heart struggles. I got a sun hat today though which I’m absurdly pleased about. I’ve never had a sun hat, I really like it. How are you feeling today? I’m glad you got to enjoy your garden and enjoyed preparing your pizzas, I hope you’re okay tonight and hope you can really enjoy the game tomorrow with your daughter :)

  • Anhedonia2
    Anhedonia2 Community Member Posts: 306 Empowering

    I'm the same with most sports, I think football I got into as I remember watching the big tournaments with my dad and it was the athmosphere and stuff and feeling part of something that hooked me. Football, wrestling and sometimes UFC are the only sports I could watch. The others, even stuff like the olympics, I find very boring and hard to get invested in.

    I never understood the appeal of tennis or cricket but I could play them myself.

  • Anhedonia2
    Anhedonia2 Community Member Posts: 306 Empowering

    Aw, what kind of sun hat is it? I'm picturing a giant oversized white one and now I really want a sun hat too. I was feeling quite unwell with the heat the other day, nauseous and everything, but it's settled a bit. Do you have difficulties with your heart and breathing generally or just when it's this hot?

    I hope you are feeling good today and it's a little bit cooler for you. Will you be watching tonight? 😊

  • yellowpineapple84
    yellowpineapple84 Scope Member Posts: 334 Empowering

    @Anhedonia2 Heya :) My sun hat is like a khaki green colour, I think that is the accurate colour and it is like you say quite big with the wide brim going all the way round to protect my head. I think you should get one too then we can both have new sun hats :)

    I’m sorry you felt unwell the other day and glad to read that feels a little more comfortable now. How are you feeling today? Are you looking forward to your awesome pizzas and the game tonight?

    Heart is one of the things I struggle with and then I guess the heat exacerbates that problem but I’m okay and thanks for asking ☺️ Since moving down here a few years ago I seem to struggle in the summer temps here compared to where I’m from. When I moved I didn’t have many health problems, I was just a young guy at the start of my 20s with my life ahead of me and found myself navigating problems I never would have predicted. But it’s okay, I try to enjoy life still and sometimes I’m well enough that I can volunteer which I really enjoy ☺️

    I hope you really enjoy your pizzas and the game tonight with your daughter and that you’re feeling okay today? :)

  • Anhedonia2
    Anhedonia2 Community Member Posts: 306 Empowering

    Hey @yellowpineapple84, I have ordered one today, I'll share a picture of it tomorrow as I'm heading off to watch the game.

    I hope you've had a lovely day, what are you doing for dinner? Our pizzas are in the oven right now and I'm hungrrrry.

  • yellowpineapple84
    yellowpineapple84 Scope Member Posts: 334 Empowering

    @Anhedonia2 Hello :) That’s so cool you have! I can take a photo of mine also and share tomorrow too :)

    It’s been okay today, I managed to find plenty of shade which helped. For dinner I made stuffed peppers which is one of my favourite things to prepare :) I hope you’ve had a lovely day too? And I hope you really enjoy your pizzas and the game tonight, I hope we can win :)

  • yellowpineapple84
    yellowpineapple84 Scope Member Posts: 334 Empowering

    @Anhedonia2 I hope you enjoyed the game last night and your pizzas :)

    Hope today was kind to you? I managed to venture out and go to a favourite secret garden I know, very peaceful and shaded. There was a good breeze today too and there were birds singing. I took a photo to share with you :)

    IMG_9522.jpeg
  • Anhedonia2
    Anhedonia2 Community Member Posts: 306 Empowering

    I can see why it's your favourite, it's beautiful! Is it far from you? Sorry I've not been responding, it's been a difficult few weeks if I'm honest, but trying to put on my big girl pants and push through anyway, lol.

    How are you? What do you usually have in your stuffed peppers? I made some with quinoa and veg recently but they were pretty bland.