Hi, Just a quick question regarding UC. A relative recently found himself out of work recently, thankfully only briefly, and he was told to apply for UC. During his claim term, 3 weeks, he needed to have a tooth out, which is no problem as on UC you can get free dental treatment. However, he got a letter from NHS Dental Services stating that they have no record of him being on Income Based JSA at the time of the treatment and they want written proof that he was. There is a 5 page questionaire to fill in and nowhere at all does it mention UC, is this just a sign that the computer systems have not been updated to take this new benefit into account ? In the past this would be no problem, but he has got nothing to prove it as his claim was all done online at the Job Center with an 'advisor' and the only documents he got were leaflets about the Rules and Regulations about claiming UC. Anyway that is not the point I wanted to enquire about. I have just been reading that UC does not replace Contribution Based JSA, which he would surely have been entitled to in the first place having worked full time since leaving school 9 years ago. Was he misadvised or am I missing something obvious ? Can anyone clarify the situation please. Pete.

http://www.housing.org.uk/policy/welfare-reform/universal-credit/direct-payments-to-tenants At present the claimant came opt for the HB to be paid direct to the Landlord. With the changes in October 2013 this will no longer be an option as HB will be paid direct to the claimant. It is then the claimants responsibility to pay the landlord the rent due. Rent is a priority payment

i keep on getting mithered to tick the access box on universal web site,so the adviser can see what i am doing,but i always refuse saying i like to keep my privacy. but what if i tick the box before i go to sign on.so the adviser can view it that day, then untick it when i get home,so the cant send me unwanted jobs ,would this be allowed,

Good Evening All! Apologies for the duplicated thread - my original one is in the "General Debt" forum but due to mentioning several queries, was advised on posting in the relevant sub-forums. I have 2 catalogue accounts with Lowell Portfolio - one for Great Universal and one for Littlewoods. 1) Lowell re: Great Universal - Paying back a small amount each month. This one is for a catalogue debt going back 6+ years and is one of the defaults on my account (due to a divorce at the time). It is small (£300) and I'm nearly ready to offer a full and final settlement (I've already tried the full amount in return for removing the default, but they refused - so I told them they can keep getting their £5/month). HOWEVER, looking through some of the statements I've found several charges before the catalogue passed it to "NDR" and then over to Lowell. I've seen some posts on here in regards to "CCA" and "SAR" - can I do anything with this debt in regards to these that may wipe the rest of - or maybe the charges situation? 2) Lowell re: Littlewoods - Another one paying back a small amount each month. Again, 6+ years old and again due to the divorce it has a default on my credit file. I have found 12 statements from them (4 months of non-payment before they sold it to Lowell despite me trying to contact Littlewoods to sort it out - see below) - with plenty of charges on. This debt is £1,400 and a fair percentage is "missed payments", "late payments", "non payments", "default" etc. Can these be claimed back? In both cases, I was actually advised by the telephone operator to let it go in to default and the debt collection company can help me better - I did... although I doubt they would ever admit it, they actually advised me to default. Can I argue the default at all? Will the CCA/SAR things help? Refund of charges will certainly help reduce the debts. In reality, at the amount I'm paying, it is going to take nearly 20 years to clear the above debts. So surely it is fairly pointless to Lowell? Any help would be appreciated. NCCA

Anonymous source from someone working on UC implementation. Here http://storify.com/latentexistence/anonymous-source-universal-credit-it-reset-started?utm_content=storify-pingback&utm_source=t.co&utm_medium=sfy.co-twitter&utm_campaign=&awesm=sfy.co_sB5U

just been reading this has anyone else heard this is going to be happening as its the first ive heard of it This report looks at the likely impact of these changes on severely disabled adults who live on their own (or with a partner who is also disabled or just with dependent children) and don’t have a carer. All severely disabled adults face extra costs However those who live on their own also have additional costs not faced by those with a partner. In the current system this group are eligible for the Severe Disability Premium (SDP), currently worth about £58 a week, but under Universal Credit there will be no additional help with the extra costs that this group face as a result of having no-one to assist them. source http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:pquyFSEaEKMJ:www.citizensadvice.org.uk/holes_in_the_safety_net_sdp_report.pdf+&cd=4&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk&client=firefox-a

Apologies if this has been mentioned before.I've casually discovered the new UC website, still under construction. Many pages are missing, it still looks like a work in progress: http://about.universalcredit.service.gov.uk/kms/SitePages/home.htm Interesting is also the page about Universal Jobmatch: http://about.universalcredit.service.gov.uk/kms/Pages/Looking_for_work_-_Universal_Jobmatch.htm Have fun!

Hi, Quick question to all of you who have had the wonderful experience of being bullied to register on this website I've got some points that need clearing up. I went into JSA today and saw a different advisor, normally they don't mention anything about my job search or universal job match. Today I was told by a different advisor randomly I need to broaden my job search to apply for any jobs as I've been on JSA a while including any jobs I can find like cleaning etc. Now I'm not trying to be an ass here and pretend I'm too good for anything however the jobs I'm applying for are what I have experience in sales/admin etc. so I'm not about to just randomly apply for a job firstly I have no experience in and I don't even want to do... I'm under the impression you only have to apply for jobs listed on your jobseekers agreement and apply x times a week. I was then told oh you have to sign up for universal job match too and tick the boxes to give us access to your account (now I'm aware you DON'T have to give them access to your account) but of course she makes no mention of this. Seems the DWP are starting to play dirty tactics not telling you things are not mandatory. Am I wrong here? The letter even says "it is PREFERABLE if you give us access to your UJ account" I don't see mandatory anywhere... basically all I've been doing is using a job journal as normal writing company name I applied for and position and it's been fine with my other advisor. So how have you guys handled this? I have good social acuity so I usually just talk my way out of situations and bull**** they feed me and I'm too aware to fall for their crapp, ingeus tried the same thing making me sign a data protection waiver. I feel bad for people who are less clued up and fall for these underhanded tactics... Generally UJ isn't really that big of a deal in the grand scheme of things, however in my life having a basic understanding of legal rights I NEVER EVER sign anything or agree to anything I don't need too and to be honest it's a very good rule of thumb. Even if whatever it is I'm signing may be harmless. Edit: Also just noticed the massive UJ thread, stupid me not keeping an eye out, however my questions are pretty specific so it'd be good to get some tailored responses. Thanks

hi guys, me and my partner both work and have 2 young children, i earn 234 pw before tax and my partner 149. we have tried the universal credit calculator and it estimates us as being 35 pound a week better off, is this calculator accurate? it also says we are entitled to housing support but we arent entitled to housing benefit, is this a new benefit as part of universal credit or is it wrong

Just wondering what all of you are thinking about UC? From the start I have not believe one bit of **** talking by the government claiming UC was to "make things simpler, to save money, to make the process more streamlined and pay job seekers monthly like a real job" I believe those are all just outrights lies and there is more to this system than they are letting on, such as bringing in part time workers under JSA sanction regimes and trying to put them onto workfare. Also post any links to useful information about UC.

These Universal Credit Guides are from this link: https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit-toolkit-for-partner-organisations

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/apr/26/universal-credit-pilot-launch

If a debt has been written off by a DCA, do they have to stop reporting it as an active default to CRA's? A bit of background.... .Lowells bought an old Shop Direct catologue debt back in 2008. I sent them a CA request, they defaulted on this request so I put the account in dispute. I received a letter from them in July 2010 stating that they were closing the account due to the fact the CA was no longer available...... Fast forward to this afternoon, and I was going through some old paperwork following our house move and I came across another letter from Lowells dated Aug 2010 stating and I quote....".. ...as a gesture of goodwill and strictly without any admission of liability, we have decided to close the account and write of any outstanding balance...." From where I see it, that's written evidence that they have written off the debt, the debt ceased to exist as of the date of that letter so thus they should not be still reporting it to the CRA's.. ..or have I interpreted it incorrectly.. .Any thoughts and guidance would be very much appreciated

The government has rowed back on its ‘digital-by-default’ stance on universal credit, which expects the vast majority of benefit applicants to make and update claims online. Source http://www.lgcplus.com/topics/benefits/universal-credits-digital-by-default-ditched/5057200.article?blocktitle=Most-popular&contentID=-1

I remember reading somewhere that if you work for less than 35 hours a week, you're still expected to job hunt. What happens to disabled who can work; but can't work full time to their disabilities? In theory, I could probably work 16 hours a week; but because it would have to be when I can, it's not going to happen.

Please can someone simplify all this for me in a way that I will actually understand? UNIVERSAL CREDIT:- If i get Income Support (on grounds of being carer for my disabled son and daughter), I get child tax credits, and also housing benefit, will all the money be added up and just paid as one lump sum each week but to the same value? BEDROOM TAX:- If I am in a private rented accommodation, does this apply to me? Some people say yes and some keep telling me no, its for social housing only?? Also, not in my title, but a few questions. CHILD SUPPORT:- Will my CSA be affected? DISABILITY ALLOWANCE:- Am i right in thinking it is changing to PIPs for over 16s, and will remain as DLA for children? CHILD BENEFIT:- Any changes I should know? CARERS ALLOWANCE:- Any changes I should know?

http://www.phhsl.co.uk/uploads/7/1/5/0/7150053/universal_credit_-_a_summary_of_key_changes_and_implications_for_housing_.pdf

I am in receipt of JSA but very much looking for work so when the old JobCentre Plus website was replaced by Universal Jobmatch, I created an account on its launch day (taking care to opt out of any e-mail notifications) because it seemed to be impossible to apply for a job I found on there without doing so. That didn't help because as many people will have experienced, the site was unusable for the first few days. I Googled to see if anybody else was having problems and read plenty of stories saying that the company running it, Monster, had a particularly bad reputation for privacy and data protection - so I went back to the UJ site and cancelled my account. However, I began to get e-mail notifications on a regular basis so I used the provided e-mail address to inform them that I should not be getting notifications. At my next signing, I was asked if I had registered and I said that I had but cancelled my account for the reasons given. The advisor seemed quite adamant that I was going to have to register eventually but I was so insistent that a supervisor came over and clarified that it wasn't a current requirement. I continue to get e-mails from the UJ site. At my last signing there was some trouble about my job search evidence over the Christmas period and then I was asked again (by the same advisor) if I had signed up. I said that I had but tried to explain what had happened again but before I had finished they asked for my e-mail address. I thought, what the hell, let's see what happens when they enter it on their computer. Their system said that yes, there was an account and that I had not given permission for them to access it. When I got home, I tried to log in to the account but it said there was an error with my login - I had stored the password within a plugin for my browser so I knew it was right but clicked the link for forgotten password anyway. I entered my e-mail address and it said that there is no account with that address. So, I e-mailed them again to complain about the situation which only goes to confirm that they are not really fit to run such an operation. But in summary: I created an account selecting not to receive notifications. I closed the account I continue to get notifications According to a Job Centre advisor's computer, the account still exists I cannot log into the account and according to the password reminder function, the account does not exist I continue to get notifications Assuming that there will come a time that I have to allow advisors access to my account, what am I supposed to do?

Just looking for some of your thought's of what you think of when Universal Credit comes into force, I have heard that people on benefits will get they money monthly instead of fortnight. how is this possible? how can people survive without any money for 5 weeks?

Hi everyone I am very new to this forum, so bare with me lol. My name is John and I train Jobcentre staff and help customers in Jobcentres around Merseyside with online services, mainly Universal Jobmatch. I am creating this new thread about UJ for people who have any questions, problems and need general advice about the site, ask me anything you want about UJ and I'll do my best to answer you as quick as possible. Please note I am not in charge of UJ, I cannot directly change anything on the site, but I can contact the people in charge of UJ and suggest ways of improving the site, so please try not to complain to me as I already know of all the issues with the site, but feel free to let me know of problems and if they have not already been brought up, I can do that. So ask away

I have entered full employment three weeks ago. My HB was fully suspended accordingly I expected no further news from the council. However I have received two further payments and a letter stating that my HB claim was reinstated. I called the council helpline and the operator said that when I filled the online "Change Of Circumstances" form I declared that my yearly income would be just over £2000. I have the printed copy of this claim and I am pretty sure this is a mistake of the council. I am pretty sure this will go down sooner or later as an overpayment and I would have to pay it back. What do you suggest me to do? Send the council all the information they want and wait for a recalculation or simply ask them to cease my claim?

Some useful information on universal credit, the bedroom tax, discretionary housing payments and a welfare reform calculator to work out if and how this affects you. http://www.jephson.org.uk/index.php/changes-to-benefits Please note that this guide has been produced by Jephson Housing Association for their tenants, so while the user friendly guide is helpful with general information, it only provides links to local authorities where Jephson are located for more specific detail, particularly regarding discretionary payments, which will be extremely limited.

Here is the latest news on the universal credit which comes into force next year ! http://johnnyvoid.wordpress.com/2012/12/04/is-lord-fraud-laying-a-debt-trap-for-benefit-claimants/

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/adviser/updates/universal-jobmatch/ This is due to be released soon!

ive read that it'll be payed monthy instead of fornightly, does this mean you get the same ammount of money you get every 2 weeks now but monthly?