Refused UC as passed gateway then got work - and no CJSA either!

This just in, via a colleague.

Claimant has a lengthy record of work, loses job in June.

Claims UC and is NOT told of the existence of CJSA despite full NICs.

At the time of the claim, claimant was not working and was not ‘expecting’ to earn £338 or more in the next month.

Claimant then looked for work, got part-time work, earning over £338 in a month.

UC was refused on grounds of earnings being over £338 -  in spite of his still being entitled to UC (housing costs) even if working.

UC have taken a gateway condition and turned it in to an ongoing requirement. Their own guidance tells them not to do this. His getting work is a change of circumstances, not a breach of the gateway conditions.

This claimant should be a shining example for them, someone who went looking for work and got it - he’s now got a full time job. Instead UC have caused him unnecessary financial hardship.

How can they propose to expand this system when they are still getting it so wrong???

have you considered pursuing a compensation claim, for Maladministration, clearly someone messed up.

Yes indeed, we are pursuing a complaint. It worries me that fairly basic stuff is going wrong while UC continues to be rolled out regardless.