Universal Credit now calling applicants who can’t get through on phones to book appointments – how to get a ring back
UNIVERSAL Credit applicants will now be called back by their local jobcentre if they can't get through on the phone.
Jobcentres are monitoring where you've applied online and then called to make an appointment but not got through.
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They'll now use your online journal to let you know when they'll call back to save applicants waiting for hours on the phone.
Workers who’ve been laid off due to coronavirus and the self-employed who can no longer run their businesses in lockdown have been advised to check if they qualify for Universal Credit.
Some 880,000 applied for the benefit in the past fortnight - up from around 100,000 in a normal two-week period.
It comes as chancellor Rishi Sunak upped the amount you can get under the benefit by £1,000 a year, as well as removing the minimum income floor for the self-employed.
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But it’s meant huge delays trying to sign up for the benefit both online and over the phone.
DWP is drafting in around 10,000 existing staff to meet increased demand, as well as recruiting 1,500 extra people.
It’s also put benefit reviews and assessments on hold for three months so staff can instead focus on processing new applications.
Most people have to apply to the new welfare system via the website, starting by setting up an online account.
Once you’ve done this you’ll need to be interviewed by a work coach over the phone in order to complete your application.
And it's this stage you'll now have your phone call returned for.
To help speed up the online part of applications, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has also revealed when the quietest times are.
More on coronavirus
Brits are currently banned from visiting any jobcentre in a bid to stop the spread of coronavirus.
See our guide on How to claim Universal Credit for more information on the application process if you’re self-employed or have lost your job.
Just under 3million people were on Universal Credit before the coronavirus crisis erupted in late February.