What do you have to do on the benefit?
“It’s hard finding time to fill in the journal every day and a nightmare making sure I am doing enough. Scared I’ll get sanctioned if I’m not ”
“I had to bring my poorly child into the office to prove I had a son – he was just out of hospital. ‘So you really do have a son,’ they said, when I brought him in.”
“I volunteer 16 hours a week but I still have to prove I have looked for employment the other 20 hours and prove that I have done everything possible to find work even if it is nothing to do with the jobs I’m training for.”
People on Universal Credit have to manage their claim using an online journal system, where they can keep in touch with their adviser and let them know about their work search activities. Depending on circumstances, there will often be additional requirements to attend meetings, take courses or seek work as a condition of getting Universal Credit. If people don’t keep to these conditions, they can be sanctioned: which means payments of Universal Credit are reduced. The threat of sanctions can cause people a lot of worry, anxiety and fear.
Time
"So much time is spent managing your claim: hours trying to get through to the helpline; days doing what is expected of you as part of the claim; and all the time trying to manage on a low income."
Theres helpful top tips and advice on making maintaining your claim go as smoothly as possible in our Universal Credit Guide.