Tips to help Universal Credit applications run smoothly
We’re sharing tips on how people can best prepare for making a Universal Credit application so they can be paid on time.
This follows the release of a new report from national Citizens Advice which finds a third of people who were helped by the charity struggle to provide the evidence needed to finish off their Universal Credit application.
For many, the benefit is working well but a significant number are having difficulties with it. Since April 2018, Citizens Advice Shropshire has helped 179 people with a Universal Credit related problem.
Citizens Advice Shropshire has the following advice for anyone making a claim for Universal Credit:
- Provide evidence as soon as possible to make sure you’re paid in full and on time. If you need to apply for extra costs, like housing, you will need to show additional paperwork.
- Make sure you check you have completed all the stages of the claim. After making an initial online claim, you need to book a Jobcentre appointment. In total there are 10 stages which need to be completed, some of which are time sensitive. If you miss a deadline, you might have to start the process again.
- If you get stuck, ask for help. If you’re struggling to fill in the online application form or have problems providing the right paperwork, ask for help as soon as possible so your payment isn’t delayed.
National Citizens Advice research shows that people receiving their first full payment late stood a higher chance of getting into greater debt, or falling into it. When people didn’t receive their first Universal Credit payment on time, their chances of being in debt increased by a quarter (23%). They were also 60% more likely to borrow money from a lender to help tide them over.
Jackie Jeffrey, Chief Executive of Citizens Advice Shropshire, said:
“Making an application for Universal Credit can be complex, and there are many different stages to get through before crossing the finish line.
“This new research shows that providing the right paperwork for extra costs is one of the stages which causes the most headaches for people.
“The government should look at making it easier to provide evidence online and people should also be aware of what’s required of them so they receive their payment on time.”