Universal Credit wanting to review my claim-extension rewarded during lockdown and selling my own assets

[mummytiger]

i should let the CA claim continue?

Is there any benefit in doing that though, if they are just going the claw it back (backdated) and going forward from my uc standard allowance.

If i stop it, there is no money to claw back as an overpayment, right?

The only way it would be of use (if i have this correct) is that if my LCWRA award was re-assessed and taken away,

then i would have to have CA in order to be put in a group where i am not obligated to work due to my 'caring responsibilities' of 35+ hours per week. 

 

[dx100uk]

why dont you do as @unclebulgaria67 suggested and post you questions to your journal and then the advisors/assessors can read it.

they are not out to take money away but advise upon how to get the best for you and your child

dx

[tomtom256]

So you can either continue to claim CA and also claim the carers element of UC, however the CA will be deducted in full from your UC or you can cancel CA and still claim the carers element of UC. Either way you will be classed as a carer and have no work related commitments for UC.

In regards to PIP, just because you are caring for somebody, this does not mean your PIP claim will end or even be looked at, UC agents have no control over PIP and vice versa PIP has nothing to do with UC. There is also no definition of caring in law and many couples claim CA for one another and still claim PIP in their own right, without any issues, slighlty different to your scenario but is still relevant.

[mummytiger]

I get lcwra so didnt think CE applied to me, only CA.

So its adviseable to let the CA claim continue? 

When i reported the two changes (caring for someone and my childs DLA HRC award) in my uc review, i am now being asked 'when did my health change/became fit to work date'. If i am not effected then why am i being asked this?

[tomtom256]

Sorry missed the LCWRA bit, no you won't get the CE then. CA can open other doors for you such as free carer tickets on days out etc. But the choice is yours on whether you continue with it or not, personally I would.
Not sure why it's asking about your health, have you clicked the wrong change of circs tab? Neither the caring or DLA change should bring this question up.
Caring is just under caring and all it should ask is who do you care for, is it over 35 hours per week and do they receive a disbility benefit. The DLA change shuld be under children, which again shouldn't ask about your health as it is relevant.
Have the review team started a change for you at all?

[mummytiger]

Yes, that is the two changes i did. What do you mean a change? They havent said anything, just appeared in my 'to do list' i have no idea why.

 

Just before the health/fit for work date question appeared in my to do list then asked if i had any childcare costs.i said no.

Edited December 31, 2023 by mummytiger

[tomtom256]

If it appeared in your todo list, they must have started it for you, you should have the option to cancel the change, normally at the bottom of the page, just click on that and then send a journal advising there hasn't been any changes to your health.

[mummytiger]

Why would they have started that though? Thats whaj was confusing me.

Yes, i cancelled it and put the no change in a journal message, havent heard anything, maybe they are not in until mid week. 

[tomtom256]

A lot of the review teams are new and don't fully understand what they are doing, they basically follow a script/to-do that tells them what action to take.
It could just be an error on their part or an old change that had been started and has just sat there unnoticed.

[mummytiger]

I just remembered,

at the start of my review, i had to go through each section and check the information was still correct and up to date.

My health section was missing one illness that i was diagnosed with 5 years ago but failed to report it as a change, so added it.

Would this be why the 'what date did your health change' appear in my to do list? 

My lcwra expired during lockdown and is overdue (i believe its different to the review i am currently going through, as was told this review is to check if i am receiving the right benefits/amounts),

will the changes of the additional illness and the new caring responsibilities prompt a review of my lcwra?

I am still unsure whether to proceed with the CA or not and just keep my UC standard allowance in full and as i am in LWCRA at the moment, i am unable to work anyway. 

Do i need to inform PIP (whether i claim CA or not), that i care for my child? 

[unclebulgaria67]

No, the reporting of changes to health will not trigger a WCA  (LCWRA) reassessment. DWP are gradually processing reassessments and when yours is due, you will receive a letter in your UC journal.

In regard to PIP, becoming a carer is not listed as one of the changes that needs to be reported.

Personal Independence Payment (PIP): Change of circumstances - GOV.UK

WWW.GOV.UK

---

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) replaces Disability Living Allowance (DLA) - how and when to claim, rates, eligibility.

Change of circumstances

You must contact the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) enquiry line if:

• your personal details change, for example your name, address or doctor
• the help you need or your condition changes
• your condition has worsened and you’re not expected to live more than 12 months
• you go into hospital or a care home
• you plan to go abroad for more than 4 weeks
• you’re imprisoned or held in detention
• your immigration status has changed, if you’re not a British citizen

 

[mummytiger]

Do i have a choice whether to proceed with CA? I was told in my review to report i care for someone. If it doesnt make any financial difference then can i just say that in a journey message?

[unclebulgaria67]

It is best to report caring activity, as if for example you had a reassessment and LCWRA was removed, with only LCW awarded, you would then be put into a work preparation group, with Job Centre appointments being required. If you had reported caring activity which was verified on your claim, then if you had LCW only, with the caring noted, you would stay in no work related activities so no Job Centre appointments required.

You need to think into the future. Current Government are planning to make changes to UC work capability assessments, with the presumption being that most people are able to work or prepare for work. Yes there may be an election this year with a new Government, but I think any new Government will be wanting to increase number of people available for work.

It is best to report that you are caring, as that may limit your ability to work or prepare for work.

[mummytiger]

When i did my change of circumstance, informing uc that my child receives DLA HRC (with a back date), I assumed they would calculate the backdate and process it but nothing to date.

Do i have to request it myself by putting a note in my journal under 'payments'.

I just assumed due to the holiday period it was delayed. 

[unclebulgaria67]

Yes send journal message

[mummytiger]

On 04/05/2023 at 07:12, tomtom256 said:

It wouldn't/shouldn't be treated as income, as you are selling personal items and not running it as a business.

You can sell as many personal items as you like.

Is there a certain amount that the DWP allow you to sell without it affecting benefits?  Is it anytime or per tax year?

It's selling outgrown old clothes to fund replacement clothes (only way i can afford to do it and save landfill too) and seems 'regular' and not a 'one-off', as children are growing constantly and need the next size up regularly.

I mean, i can list a majority of them as a 'one-off' (in matching sizing to show i am a private seller) but can appear 'regular' as they trickle with sales and take months. Just as i sell one batch size (taking many months), we are then outgrown the next size to sell. 

Also, i do not understand this new article, given i am on benefits, would it mean i can sell max 30 items (or £1700)? That isnt profit though for me.

Is it Jan 2024-Dec 2024 or Apr 23-Apr 24 before platforms report to HMRC? 

Selling online and paying taxes - information sheet - GOV.UK

WWW.GOV.UK

 

[unclebulgaria67]

If you bought and paid for items of clothing for your families needs, then as long as it is not a business, then of no interest to DWP or HMRC. For Universal Credit you must declare capital, savings and investment of £6000 or more. So if you sold personal items providing you cash of £6000 or more, you must declare this.

If you were involved in a business where you were purchasing items to resell them, then you would need to declare this to Universal Credit and if you earned £1000 or more in a tax year report this to HMRC.

[mummytiger]

Do you mean £6k or more throughout a tax year and totaling at the end the £6k+ or at anytime in that tax year that amount for one item as one payment? Does it matter to them that its 'regular' sales? 

[dx100uk]

if you ever had +£6K balance showing across all bank accounts when added up (that's called savings)

the £1000 is an annual figure whereby HMRC might get interested.

ive changed your earlier link to another website to the actual one from HMRC, that way you can read it from the horses mouth not some (IMHO) very weird interpretation.

[mummytiger]

The DM has decided to backdate the severely disabled child element and carer's allowance, however, i received my statement the next day and no adjustments had been made fully (no carer's allowance yet (still states standard allowance but the SDCE has been added going forward only. I have a few questions:

1. Does carer's allowance write to me separately and still have to make the decision if i qualify for CA? 

2. Its been 7 days, no back payment for the SDCE yet, would that be added to my next month statement (march) or paid separately imminently? (As i received this month statement (February) the following day after the DM made the decision, maybe too soon to re-calculate/make adjustments).

3. With the CA, what happens now?

As i would have been overpaid for the standard allowance but due the CA back payment, as they are the same amount, do they keep the CA BP to pay the SA overpayment or pay me the CA BP and tell me to pay back the SA overpayment (monthly), if so, how much would that be? (I would rather they just take the CA BP to pay the SA OP 

i dont have an OP marker on my account.

[tomtom256]

They tend to pass underpayments to debt management for any overpayments first. They should have let you know via your journal, check the letter they should have uploaded.
CA is totally seperate so you need to contact them as UC has no input with them.

[mummytiger]

The letter attached states:

"Changes to your Universal Credit entitlement will be shown in your monthly statement". 

If they are seperate,will i have to pay the overpayment back in instalements for the standard allowance? If so, how much per month? 

As the backdate for the disabled child have been agreed, do i have to request the backdate money or will it be paid seperately to my usual uc payments? (its been 7 days since the DM sent the letter).

There is no prompt to contact CA seperately in the journal or letter, do uc inform CA that the DM agreed to the backdate and CA will write to me automatically or do CA now do a seperate assessment to see if i qualify for CA?

[mummytiger]

I just re-read the journal message and it appears the DM has agreed to the back for severely disabled child element and carer's 'element' not allowance but i recieve LCWRA and assume i didnt qualify for carer's element and carer's 'allowance' was being considered and was equivelent the the standard allowance. This months statement still shows the standard allowance, no carer element. 

[mummytiger]

When i was going through the uc review, i had to complete two change of circumstance:

1.Report child dla award (to recieve the severely disabled child element)

2. Report my caring responsibilities (as i recieve lcwra, i assumed i would be considered for CA by uc in this reporting the change, as i do not qualify for CE) 

Then it was in the hands of the DM to backdate or not. 7 days ago they decided to allow it for SDC element and carer's element. 

Should i be applying for CA directly to CA? Will they backdate more than 3 months though? 

[unclebulgaria67]

If you get LCWRA, the Carers element on UC is not payable.

Carers Allowance benefit is separate to UC with own set of rules, so contact them. If you are paid Carers Allowance, whatever you receive is reported to UC as another benefit income and would be deducted from UC awards.