income support migration to universal credit

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1Newbridge

Hi, I hope you kind folks may be able to help me. The dreaded migration from income support to universal credit letter has arrived, it seems hot on the heels of DLA to PIP .

I have been preparing for migration , but one thing I cannot get clarity on is …. my partner claims income support for both of us .included in that award is an amount " because your partner is severely disabled " £76.40 will this be protected by transitional protection? and if so will it be from the start of UC claim? or will it just be basic rates until I go through the UC50 and work capability assessment?

There is also an amount of £27.90 described as Disability income guarantee.

My partner is my carer and receives carers allowance and he is also getting a standard rate of PIP care.

further amount of £56.80 Because you and your partner are sick or disabled.

Apologies for rambling question, but I think I am asking will we still receive these payments included in our UC claim or will it all stop until I have gone through the whole UC50 and assessment. Im a nervous wreck atm.

thank you in advance.

poppy123456

Once you migrate across to UC you will be entitled to Transitional protection so you won't be worse off. Once you submit the claim your Income Support (IS) and Housing benefit (if you're claiming it) will continue for 2 weeks and then stop.

As your partner claims carers allowance then they will need to make sure they report being your carer when you claim. Your UC will then include one carers element. They will also have no work commitments as a carer.

As you're not claiming carers allowance then you will be treated as a job seeker. If you report being their carer when you claim UC then this could affect any TP you're entitled to because of the SDP in your IS.

You can report your health condition and provide fit notes for yourself and this will start the work capability assessment process (WCA) off. If you're then found to have LCWRA then you'll be entitled to extra money from the 4th month of your claim. However, you may not be any better off because if other elements increase or you become entitled to other elements your TP will decrease, until eventually it will erode to zero. Whether you'll be better off will depend on how much your TP is.

Or you can report being their carer after the end of your first assessment period. Your UC will then include 2 carers elements. But with the additional carers element it will mean your TP decreases by the same amount.

The carers allowance will be deducted in full from any UC entitlement. It will continue to be pad separately as normal.