How do I move around the country without it affecting my benefits?

coladrpeppersprite

So much of my life ive lived in one place in England, and I may want to move near by or far away but still within England, or I may want to move to Scotland

How do I do that from a benefits standpoint ie do I have to go to my home city and the place I usually go to organize say a PIP or ESA interview, or do I go to a new place in the new city.

How does it work? How do I do it properly and abiding by the rules?

coladrpeppersprite

So I will be on ESA PIP and housing benefit

poppy123456

For ESA and PIP, if moving to either Wales or remaining in England it will just be a change of address and you would need to contact them. You wouldn't need to attend any appointments.

If moving to Scotland then you will be transferred from PIP to Adult Disability Payment (ADP)

For housing benefit then that would end if you're moving out of where you're currently living and move to a different local Authority (council). To claim for help with any rent in a different local Authority then you would need to claim Universal Credit. That would then end any Income Related ESA you may already be claiming 2 weeks after you claim UC.

coladrpeppersprite

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/897581#Comment_897581

Thanks Poppy! Why would ESA end if I claimed housing benefit in a different city, Im not on Universal credit im on ESA

poppy123456

You can't claim housing benefit if you moved to a different local Authority. Help with the rent would be through UC (known as housing element) so you would need to claim that. This will then end Income Related ESA after 2 weeks.

coladrpeppersprite

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/897648#Comment_897648

Ok lets forget Scotland and Whales.

Housing benefit is just housing benefit where ever you are in England right?

Also how do you know the local authorities and their boundaries?

coladrpeppersprite

Is UC simply what they call Housing benefit in another local authority?

Also is Universal credit just what ESA is in another local authority?

poppy123456

A local Authority (LA) is the local council. For example, if you lived in London and your LA at the moment is Ealing and you moved to Croydon then your housing benefit will end because you can't start a new claim for HB.

If you remained in the same LA (Ealing) then you can remain on housing benefit because it would just be a change of address.

You will know which LA it is by the postcode. You can use this link.

https://www.gov.uk/find-local-council

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/897655#Comment_897655

No, UC is one benefit made up of many different elements and is completely different to HB and ESA. UC has replaced all the old lncome Related benefits such as Housing benefit, Income Related ESA/JSA, Income Support and Tax credits.

coladrpeppersprite

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/897656#Comment_897656

Thanks very much friend I really appreciate you, !!

Has benefits money increased decreased or pretty much stayed the same?

Why did they change it to a new name is it to make it easier for the government to process all the claims etc?

poppy123456

You're welcome. Apparently, it was introduced to give a greater fairness in the welfare system. 🙄 hmm, can't say I agree wholly with that but it is what is and UC is here to stay.

You will eventually be migrated across anyway because housing benefit and Income Related ESA are both ending.

If you claim UC through a change of circumstances known as natural migration, whether you would be worse or better off will depend on your circumstances. If you're in the Support Group for ESA and it includes the Severe disability Premium then you will be worse off.

If your ESA doesn't include the SDP you'll likely be better off.