Income Support migration to UC

Carer90

Hello everyone,

I claim carers allowance/income support. I have been a carer for my father for over a decade.

At the weekend I received the dreaded brown letter from Universal Credit informing me that I must migrate over to UC by August 30th because after that date my income support is coming to an end. I have a few questions below if anybody would be so kind to answer & maybe the thread could help anybody else out there too in the same boat as myself.

1. When should I apply for UC?

2. I have no photo I.D at all, what will happen?

3.Would they expect me to attend the job centre? my local job centre is in the city centre and not really convenient for me travel being a carer.

4. Will my carers allowance be paid seprate as normal? It gets paid once per week every Monday

Also, has anybody else out there on income support received their migration letter? or already moved over?

Thanks in advance!

poppy123456

1/ Anytime up until 30th August, it doesn't really matter what date you claim. Once you submit your claim your IS will continue for 2 weeks and then stop.

2/ There will be ways of confirming your identity so I wouldn't worry too much about that.

3/ Yes, you maybe asked to attend your first appointment, especially if it's to confirm your identity. After that you will have no further appointments because as a carer you have no work commitments

4/ Carers allowance is deducted in full from any UC entitlement, the same as it is for IS. Carers allowance will continue to be paid as normal every Monday.

5/ When you claim UC please make sure you report being a carer and your UC will include carers element.

Yes, there's been quite a few threads this weekend where others have received the migration letter.

Carer90

Thank you Poppy!

Carer90

I have just applied for UC. The process took around 20 mins & because I have none of the 2 requested ID documents to prove my I.D online I am awaiting a phone call within 2-3 days to check my details and arrange an Interview.

On the application I told them I'm a carer, is that the carer element part? I entered my Fathers details etc.

Also, I am currently paying back some budgeting loans that I got through Income support. Will they contine to be repaid out of the Universal credit monthly rather than weekly? Do I need to tell them? Thanks

poppy123456

Carers element will be included in your UC. Carers allowance will be deducted in full.

Yes they will reduce your UC to repay back what you owe but this may not happen straight away.

Your Income Support will continue for 2 weeks and then stop.

Carer90

Thanks Poppy.

For anybody following the thread:

I didn't receive a phone call-instead I received an email first thing this morning asking me to check my UC journal as they have arranged a standard ID appointment for me at the job centre. The journal message listed the items of I.D I need to bring with me to my appointment next week.

I left a message in the journal telling them I have no photo I.D at all and my name isn't on any bills. They responded swiftly and told me to just bring my birth certificate, bank statement, bank card and a letter or appointment card from my GP surgery to show I am registered there as a patient.

I have just been to the bank and they happily printed off last month's bank statement for me & the receptionist printed off an appointment sticker for me and stamped it with the surgery logo. I'm also going to take a recent DWP letter with me from the carer's allowance department, and also the migration letter itself. All have my name and address on.

I just thought I'd update the thread for anybody who is looking for an idea of how this migration process works. It seems quite fast to my surprise, from applying for UC yesterday (Thursday) my I.D appointment at the job centre is next (Tuesday.)

Albus_Alumni

I just noticed I'd not popped in to say welcome to the community @Carer90 how rude of me!

Best of luck for Tuesday. 😁

Carer90

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/873189#Comment_873189

Thank you!

I will update after my interview on Tuesday

poppy123456

Yes, usually they will put a message on your journal with details of your first appointment.

Carer90

Hello everybody.

Just got back from my standard I.D appointment at the job centre. It went very well-I was in and out in 5 minutes. The work coach guy who I had my appointment with said I don't need a work coach as I'm a carer and the I.D I brought was perfectly acceptable. I said to look out for a journal message stating my entitlement and the date I will be paid which is 5 weeks away. He asked if I required an advance but I said no as I owe budgeting loans from my old legacy claim.

I feel such a relief after this. Thank you all for the help.

Rosie_Scope

Glad it all worked out okay @Carer90, thanks for updating us all with how it went 😊

Carer90

Hi again guys...I made a thread regarding the below but it vanished.

I think I already received my extra 2 weeks payment, but below are some dates to help.

Wednesday 5th June-Paid Income Support

Thursday 6th June-Applied for UC and accepted commitments

Wednesday 19th June-Paid Income Support

Was Wednesday the 19th my final IS payment? AKA...the extra 2 week payment after applying for UC?

Confused by the payment of "arrears" DWP use. Thanks!

poppy123456

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/882925#Comment_882925

It may have got caught in the spam system. A member of the admin team will post it once they start work today.

Yes, 19th June should have been your last IS payment.

1Newbridge

Thank you for your timeline its really helpful.

Started our migration 14th July , couldn't upload our ID so waiting for appointment at Job centre .

Let's see how it all goes. I have a 3 month sick note and believe I will have to fill out a UC50 and have another assessment , hot on the heels of PIP move from DLA lifetime award high on care and mobility to Pip ongoing enhanced on both.. Why oh why can they just combine the assessments . Anyhooo we are in it now and we can only keep moving forward .

poppy123456

You will be referred for a work capability assessment, which is usually from day 29 of your claim. Although it can sometimes be later than that. Once it's done you will receive a letter on your journal telling you that you've been referred. A few days later you will receive the UC50 form in the post. You need to make sure they receive that back no later than the date in the letter.

The reason another assessment is needed is because PIP and the WCA are completely different and claiming one doesn't automatically entitle you to the other. (unless you're state pension age and above and part of a mixed aged couple)

You need to make sure there are no gaps in your fit notes because this can affect when the extra money is paid from if found to have LCWRA. A decision may take longer than 3 months.

1Newbridge

Hi Poppy.

Many thanks for this, I’ve marked dates I need to go back to GP to keep continuity with my sick notes.

Carer90

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/889527#Comment_889527

Hope everything went ok for you!

wilko77

Hi @Carer90 I'm in the same situation regarding being a carer on income support and carers allowance being asked to migrate to universal credit,can I ask how far back in bank statements do you need to get off bank to give the universal credit people?I imagine I can get them free from bank.

Thank you

wilko77

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/908214#Comment_908214

Thank you

wilko77

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/908262#Comment_908262

Thank you

Carer90

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/907859#Comment_907859

Sorry for the late reply. I haven't been on the forum for a while. I went in Santander a few days before my appointment and they printed out some bank statements for free for me to take to my ID appointment, this was just to prove my name and address as I have no photo ID so I gathered as many documents as possible and they were happy with what I took to my appointment.

Hope your claim went well!