ESA + HB moving HA to a different area - when to apply for UC?

Portlanders

Hi,

We (My wife and I) are in the process of looking for a mutual exchange through Housing Associations (just done viewings and everything looks like we will be moving) 
I am on ESA income related support group and have PiP (both care and mobility) also claiming HB. Wife is also on PiP.

As i understand i will need to make a claim for UC as am unable to make a new housing benefit claim in the new area (will be a different council).

Does my wife need to make a seperate claim?

May i ask when will be the best time to do this so i don´t make myself out of pocket?

Does making a claim for UC automatically cease the ESA and HB, or do i inform them separately as a change of circumstances?

I´m guessing i do inform ESA and HB when we agree on a date for the mutual exchange, and at the same time make a claim for UC........ but what happens when i make the UC claim, will my proof of  ESA entitlement transfer to the new style ESA or will I have to start the process again with assessments, etc? 

I did use the calculator through entitled to, and on UC it says we will be aprox £5 a week worse off..... which isn´t bad, as the UC fear made us worry it would be more.

Any advice so very much appreciated

Thank you 

poppy123456

If your ESA includes SDP then I'd advise waiting until you've actually moved house before claiming UC and then your UC will include couples SDP transitional element.  If it doesn't then it's your decision when you decide to claim.

You will both need to start a claim then one of you will receive a linking code to join both claims together. 

When you do claim UC it will include the LCWRA element from the start of your claim. This will apply to the main claimant of your existing ESA claim. The partner will be treated as a job seeker when you claim UC. After your first UC payment the person that doesn't have LCWRA can claim carers element of UC for being a carer. They will then have no work commitments. 

If they claim carers element when you first claim UC then you will only be entitled to the single SDP transitional element, which could mean less money. (sorry I just don't have the brain power right now to work out the figures)

If any part of your ESA is contributions based this will continue as normal but be deducted in full from any UC entitlement. The Income Related part will continue for 2 weeks and then stop. ESA will receive notification that you've claimed UC once you submit the claim. 

Portlanders

Thank you so much.

Yes we have couples SDP on our ir ESA support group - and understand it is best to notify change of circumstance and claim UC on the day of the move, or will it make a difference if we claim the day before / after? Thinking time restraints on moving day. 

Can we not start a joint UC claim then, it has to be separate? 

Sorry... just googled this and read that we have to create an account each, 1st person gets a partner code, which the 2nd person has to enter...... it then says on creating an account you have 28 in days in which to make a claim. 

So we could create our accounts prior to move day, and make the UC claim on that day.

I just want to ensure that from notifying ESA of a change of address flows into the UC claim and there is no break in benefit. 

Portlanders

Apologies again, so to confirm we don´t have to notify ESA, Housing Benefit, PiP? of the change in address, they will be notified once we submit our UC claim? Or is it just ESA that will be notified?

Thank you 

poppy123456

You can't start a claim as a joint claim. You will each need to start a claim and then one of you will receive a linking code to use, which will then join both claims together to make it a joint claim. 

No, you do not need to notify ESA or HB when you submit a claim to UC because they will automatically receive information that you've made a claim. 

PIP isn't part of UC so that's irrelevant anyway. 

As your ESA includes the SDP it will make sense to delay claiming UC until you've actually moved house. 

You can start to fill out the online form before you move because nothing will happen until you actually submit that claim. Please note that if you don't submit that claim within 28 days then you will lose all the information you've put into the form and you will have to start again. 

Portlanders

Thank you so much, that´s been a great help. Much appreciated