I need some advice.
 

I got a migration notice..
Meaning I need to apply for universal credit by 19 October.
I'm not sure if I should apply now or wait until October.
If it takes 5 weeks then maybe I should wait?

I don't know what you should do tbh.

I'll go and message Joey, and see what he thinks.

I'm thinking I'll wait until October. Because I have some extra money in November. So I won't struggle.
Deadline is 19 October anyway.
Plenty of time.

Well I've messaged Joey just to see what he thinks you should do.

Good luck Vanessa.:wavey:

Are you currently on tax credits?

I wouldn't leave it till the last minute as you don't want to be left without money if there any delays. I don't know how it works though....but I would do it sooner rather than later

But the housing benefit ends 2 weeks after I apply.

I’m sure they will back date to your new claim to the date your old one ended
I would contact housing benefit and your landlord to tell them what’s happening so you don’t get threatening letters saying why is your rent short or why has your benefits stopped

I would have enough money, but things would be a bit tight until I got universal credit.

Why do you want to wait apply asap ...you are going to have to apply some point don't put it off ...

Vanessa government agencies take ages to do things so dont wait, I sent my tax return in April still waiting for it to be looked at...

Vanessa I never advise on things financial and unfortunately the benefits/ credits / tax system is confusing even to the people who work in it.

However if it says apply by said date.
Then you do have to the day before to do so as long as the claim is in and registered with them by that date.

However delays can occur and since you've been told to apply by a particular date, then I would do it sooner rather than later.
To ensure the smoothest transition and get all sorted in time on other issues before that time.

If you had good reason for delaying the move, that would need to be discussed with them well before.

The UC benefit system can be a minefield so if I was to suggest anything I'd say do so sooner rather than later.
As a few weeks soon passes.
Good luck.

In fact really I'd echo what Cherie has said too.

This, absolutely.

It's supposed to be a seamless process but the honest answer is -- it isn't always, and people have been caught out. They'll backdate the money to the point of the application but it can take a fair bit longer than the time advertised to process the application... because it's a government function and thus full of inevitable inefficiency.

I don't mean to be a debbie downer but being brutally honest it doesn't really matter either way. Your "legacy" benefits end as soon as you apply, whether that's now or in a few months, it'll be the exact same process taking the exact same amount of time, unfortunately.

So the decision is fairly simple I guess.

If you have a good bit of money set aside now and you're worried about expenses later in the year (Christmas, winter bills, etc.) then apply now and get it out of the way ASAP.

If you'd be able to save up some extra as an "emergency pot" in the meantime and want that as a safety net, then wait as long as possible.

Otherwise like I said it makes no functional difference: As soon as they get your application your legacy benefits end, whether that's now or October, and your new ones backdate to the point of application. So you don't get more/less money either way, it's purely about considering when is most convenient. Or least inconvenient, I suppose... I don't imagine any of it is convenient.

Do it as soon as you can if it won’t affect you negatively if you do. I work in finance and sometimes things can take longer than forecast or you’ll need to supply more evidence etc which could delay it all. If you’ve no reason to delay it, then I wouldn’t (especially if a lot of people have the same deadline and leave it to the last minute).

Yes i agree with everyone else telling you to do it now, they are so slow processing and do everything possible to hold up claims and i hope i never have to deal with them again.

You work and pay your taxes. Tell them to fook off.

And do use those words.

Don’t abuse someone that’s only doing there job

Fook off, you absolute prick.

Back on the white stuff?
I actually can’t take you seriously because you talk utter bollox

You talk about being controlled but you post like a complete puppet so much so it’s not like someone has got their hand up your arse it’s more like a vet has got his whole arm up there