Debbie is 55 years old, she lives alone in a two-bedroom house and has an assured tenancy with Galaxy Association. She was made unemployed on the 23rd of November and made a claim for Universal Credit.
Debbie Received her final salary on 24th November of £1500 and had no savings. The Universal credit award was scheduled to be paid by 23rd December and she was relying heavily on this support to get her through Christmas and into the New Year.
By the 23rd December, a statement was showing on her Universal Credit Portal, she was shocked to find that the award was zero!
Like many people, on leaving employment Debbie did not have enough national insurance contributions over the last two years, and therefore made a claim for Universal Credit.
Universal Credit calculates an award using qualifying income which the claimant received within the last calendar month. Debbie was paid £1500 on the 23rd of November, this was enough to pay her rent and essential bills for most of December. Under Universal Credit, she will not receive any income until the 23rd January, a full two months after being made unemployed.
Help in a Crisis
Universal Credit Advance Payment
You can’t ask for an advance online or by calling the helpline unless you’ve had your first Universal Credit interview. Once the DWP have agreed to an advance payment you should get the money in 3 working days. Tell the DWP if you need it sooner than this - they can pay you on the same day if you’d have no other money to live on.
Welfare Assistance Schemes
Since the localisation of emergency and community support, some local authorities across England have continued the provision of their schemes, but others are no longer available.
Your local authority can issue grants and loans to meet a crisis or to help you with independent living. Each local authority runs a different scheme https://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/what-we-do/policy-and-lobbying/local-welfare-assistance-schemes
Food Banks
Food banks offer hot meals and food packages for people in crisis. Sometime you will need to be referred by the jobcentre, advice agency or a local charity. https://www.trusselltrust.org/get-help/find-a-foodbank/
Debt Free Advice, Freephone helpline on 0808 164 2480 (Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm) or complete our online Initial Assessment Form https://debtfreeadvice.com/get-debt-advice
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