Already on PIP, made a Universal Credit application

truth
truth Online Community Member Posts: 9 Connected
in Benefits and income
Hi. 

I am currently receiving PIP. I separated from my abusive husband (also my carer ) over a year ago, I have a young child & I recently made a claim for Universal Credit. 

I have been getting a lot of help from family but I don’t have a social worker since I moved to a new area a year ago as I have had a lot to deal with after my separation & just been burying my head in the sand. I have no knowledge of the benefit system and I would really appreciate any kind of advice. 

I have a question too. I haven’t even received my first UC payment yet but I’ve had one tel appointment with my work coach, then the next one she cancelled & rescheduled it for a face to face appointment at the job centre. But as I had Covid she cancelled it & changed it to a tel appointment. But she’s said that I would need to start going into the job centre for my next appointments. How can I go to the job centre every 2 weeks? I suffer from anxiety as well as several physical health conditions (I mentioned these on my UC application form) and rarely go anywhere. the thought of walking into a job centre every 2 weeks has been hunting me & I physically won’t be able to do it. Could you please let me know what the rule is for someone like me? What are my rights? As I’m scared of not attending & getting sanctioned. Thank you  

Comments

  • calcotti
    calcotti Online Community Member Posts: 10,001 Championing
    edited March 2022
    If you have a health condition that limits your ability to work you need to report this to UC and support it with a Fit Note from your GP. After 29 days you should then be sent a Work Capability Assessment questionnaire to complete and return. You will the be assessed to see whether the DWP think you are Fit for Work, have Limited Capability for Work (LCW) or Limited Capability for Work and Work Related Activity (LCWRA). If you are found to have LCWRA you become entitled to extra money.

    In the meantime you should attend appointments or you may be sanctioned. By default claimants are treated as jobseekers but once you have provided a Fit Note your work coach can turn off any requirements - but it is at their discretion.

    The age of your child can also affect the requirements.

    Your first UC payment is due one month and one week after the date you claimed. You can request an advance but this is a loan that you will have to repay by deduction from future payments.
  • truth
    truth Online Community Member Posts: 9 Connected
    calcotti said:
    If you have a health condition that limits your ability to work you need to report this to UC and support it with a Fit Note from your GP. After 29 days you should then be sent a Work Capability Assessment questionnaire to complete and return. You will the be assessed to see whether the DWP think you are Fit for Work, have Limited Capability for Work (LCW) or Limited Capability for Work and Work Related Activity (LCWRA). If you are found to have LCWRA you become entitled to extra money.

    In the meantime you should attend appointments or you may be sanctioned. By default claimants are treated as jobseekers but once you have provided a Fit Note your work coach can turn off any requirements - but it is at their discretion.

    The age of your child can also affect the requirements.

    Your first UC payment is due one month and one week after the date you claimed. You can request an advance but this is a loan that you will have to repay by deduction from future payments.
    Thank you for the info.  I have asked my GP for a fit note & they provided this for 1 month and not stating any of my many health conditions as I only registered with them a week ago & the Dr didn’t bother reading my medical records after I specifically asked them to… I submitted this onto my journal (only asked to put the dates in). Should I ask my work coach to send me a Work Capability Assessment Questionnaire or will this be sent to me automatically ? And is this the UC50 form? 
  • calcotti
    calcotti Online Community Member Posts: 10,001 Championing
    Yes it is the UC50 form. It should be actioned for issue after 29 days but you may have to chase it. You will need to get another Fit Note when the existing one runs out - it’s very important to have continuous Fit Notes.
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing
    The fit notes do not need to state any of your existing conditions.
  • asif1974
    asif1974 Online Community Member Posts: 5 Listener
    i think u need to be on income support 

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing
    asif1974 said:
    i think u need to be on income support 


    This isn't correct. New claims for Income Support are no longer possible because Universal Credit has replaced it.
  • calcotti
    calcotti Online Community Member Posts: 10,001 Championing
    No new claim for Income Support has been possible since 2018.

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