LCWRA DUAL CLAIM WITH ESA

WinterGirl4

Do I have to stay on UC or can I close my claim? I'm only asking because I was awarded LCWRA last December 2022 - and my New-Style ESA is a dual claim with my UC so I only got LCWRA because I was put in a support group with ESA and UC mirrored the decision.

I'm asking also because when I go on as a joint claim with my wife soon we'll be entilted to £0 as her ESA support group deducted at £561 per month and so is mine, and also 2 advance paymens deducted at £120 between us. We both get LCWRA and PIP so I know you can only have 1 carers element paid and one LCWRA on a joint claim.

- We're only entitled to:

Joint claim/couple both over 25 - £578.82

1 x LCWRA - £390.06

1 x Carers Element - £185.86

= £1,054.74

By the time they've deducted the 2 ESA's we're left with £0 so I think it's pointless keeping it open? but don't want to close the claim if it'll mess up our LCWRA/ESA support group. As I know if things changed, and we left UC and claimed again if we're both still getting ESA SUPPORT GROUP we will automatically be entitled to LCWRA.

Hope this makes sense.

poppy123456

WinterGirl4 said:

- We're only entitled to:

Joint claim/couple both over 25 - £578.82

1 x LCWRA - £390.06

1 x Carers Element - £185.86

= £1,054.74

Your total amount here is incorrect, it should be £1,154.74. Are you claiming for help with any rent and they are paying your landlord directly? 

The reason i ask is because you mentioned that you have a deduction of £120 for advance payments as well as 2 ESA amounts. This doesn't make sense because by the time 2 ESA Support Group amounts are deducted there's only £32.74 left. Therefore there isn't enough UC entitlement to deduct £120 for the advance payments.

I need to make 100% sure you've given me all the information before i can advise further.

WinterGirl4

poppy123456 said:

WinterGirl4 said:

- We're only entitled to:

Joint claim/couple both over 25 - £578.82

1 x LCWRA - £390.06

1 x Carers Element - £185.86

= £1,054.74

Your total amount here is incorrect, it should be £1,154.74. Are you claiming for help with any rent and they are paying your landlord directly? 

The reason i ask is because you mentioned that you have a deduction of £120 for advance payments as well as 2 ESA amounts. This doesn't make sense because by the time 2 ESA Support Group amounts are deducted there's only £32.74 left. Therefore there isn't enough UC entitlement to deduct £120 for the advance payments.

I need to make 100% sure you've given me all the information before i can advise further.

Yes, sorry I calculated it wrong, my wife's £90 advance repayments are on hold till December, I'm still paying £25pm from my single claim advance back.

I don't get help with rent as we're currently homeless since mid August. 

poppy123456

Thanks. As you're still paying the advance payment back then you should keep the claim open. Not only that you may still be entitled to the cost of living payments because the reason your UC is reduced to zero is because you're repaying a loan.

WinterGirl4

@poppy123456 Thank you, my payment on my single claim last month was £185 so I'm still entitled to the COL payment anyways, I'm going to phone Debt Management on Monday and set up a payment plan to pay the remaining amount so I can close my claim.

Jimm_Scope

Hi @WinterGirl4, welcome to the online community! Sorry to hear about your situation 

I hope poppy helped clear things up for you a little. I know the benefits system can be so opaque, I'm still finding new strange things about it nearly everyday.

Can I ask if you and your wife are getting any support for the homelessness? 

poppy123456

I'm somewhat confused why you would like to end your UC claim. Although it's being reduced to zero because of the debt, you're still entitled to a small amount but it's being paid for the debt instead of being paid to you. 

Setting up a payment plan would leave you financially worse off because you would need to pay that debt from your ESA money. At least while the UC is still open a small amount is being paid towards that debt so it's a win win situation.

There's another CoL payment to made in early 2024 too, so if you end the claim then there would be no entitlement to that payment.

WinterGirl4

Jimm_Scope said:

Hi @WinterGirl4, welcome to the online community! Sorry to hear about your situation 

I hope poppy helped clear things up for you a little. I know the benefits system can be so opaque, I'm still finding new strange things about it nearly everyday.

Can I ask if you and your wife are getting any support for the homelessness? 

Hello; thank you for the welcome. 

Yes we’re both under the homeless team with the local council. 

Just awaiting a house now. 

WinterGirl4

poppy123456 said:

I'm somewhat confused why you would like to end your UC claim. Although it's being reduced to zero because of the debt, you're still entitled to a small amount but it's being paid for the debt instead of being paid to you. 

Setting up a payment plan would leave you financially worse off because you would need to pay that debt from your ESA money. At least while the UC is still open a small amount is being paid towards that debt so it's a win win situation.

There's another CoL payment to made in early 2024 too, so if you end the claim then there would be no entitlement to that payment.

Hmm, true. Think I’ll keep it open then, I’ve got £110 left to pay on it. Thank you, you’ve made more sense than I have haha! 🫶🏼

poppy123456

You're welcome. Sometimes it does help to have a little advice from another person, especially when it comes to income and expenses, including debt.

Good luck with the house and i hope you're not waiting too long!

Jimm_Scope

WinterGirl4 said:

Jimm_Scope said:

Hi @WinterGirl4, welcome to the online community! Sorry to hear about your situation 

I hope poppy helped clear things up for you a little. I know the benefits system can be so opaque, I'm still finding new strange things about it nearly everyday.

Can I ask if you and your wife are getting any support for the homelessness? 

Hello; thank you for the welcome. 

Yes we’re both under the homeless team with the local council. 

Just awaiting a house now. 

Okay, I'm glad to hear you're being supported. I'm also glad you got your answer on the UC question!

I do like your profile picture by the way, very cute avocado.

WinterGirl4

Jimm_Scope said:

WinterGirl4 said:

Jimm_Scope said:

Hi @WinterGirl4, welcome to the online community! Sorry to hear about your situation 

I hope poppy helped clear things up for you a little. I know the benefits system can be so opaque, I'm still finding new strange things about it nearly everyday.

Can I ask if you and your wife are getting any support for the homelessness? 

Hello; thank you for the welcome. 

Yes we’re both under the homeless team with the local council. 

Just awaiting a house now. 

Okay, I'm glad to hear you're being supported. I'm also glad you got your answer on the UC question!

I do like your profile picture by the way, very cute avocado.

Haha thank you! ☺️