The DWP has confirmed that people applying for Universal Credit can get an extra month's payment if they experience delays with their claim.
The backpay is available from the Department for Work and Pensions for those newly applying for Universal Credit if there are specific issues that cause a hold-up in their application. The fresh guidance has been issued as more people are being transferred to Universal Credit from older benefits that are being phased out.
People on tax credits were told to make the switch before the end of March and, since then, those on Housing Benefit and Income Support have been sent letters asking them to transition to Universal Credit. In July, it's the turn of people receiving income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) with Child Tax Credits.
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Others who are on income-based Jobseeker's Allowance or who get income-related ESA either on its own or with Housing Benefit are expected to make the changeover in September, reports BirminghamLive. People have three months to submit a new claim for Universal Credit before their existing benefits are terminated.
To bridge the gap between old and new payments, there's a two-week run-on for people who receive income-based Jobseeker's JSA, income-related ESA, Income Support, or Housing Benefit. This means they keep getting these benefits for two weeks after applying for Universal Credit to help tide them over during the five-week wait for their first UC payment.
Others who struggle with the application process or have been hit by issues in making the transition may be eligible for an extra month of Universal Credit, the DWP says. In a new update issued on backdating claims for Universal Credit, officials said: "You may be able to backdate your claim if you or your partner were delayed in making a claim through no fault of your own. Claims can be backdated for up to one calendar month from the date of your claim."
Reasons backdating may be accepted include if you have a disability or health problems, including mental health issues, that stopped you from claiming earlier, or that the online Universal Credit application system was down and you claimed as soon as it was working again. Other justifications for Universal Credit backpay include that you were getting a different benefit before and were not told it was going to stop, or if you started a joint claim with a partner but are now separated and claiming as a single person.
A backpayment could also be due if someone at the DWP gave you incorrect information that delayed your claim. You may be asked to provide evidence to support a backdating request.
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