Hi, my name is baby10!

baby10

Hi.. I've just received my migration letter to UC (date to move by is 7th November 2024). I'm worried about how this all works. I am on income based ESA (support group) and in receipt of PIP (high rates for both). I have 2 children and get tax credits fot both. 1 child gets high rate DLA (care) low rate (mobility).. how is all this affected by moving over to UC? We also get housing benefit and council tax support. I've heard so many horror stories about huge amounts of money being lost. Then contradicting ones about a protection period. Any advice /help is very much appreciated.

Jimm_Scope

Hi @baby10, first of all welcome to our community 😊 I hope we can help you feel less worried about this migration. We actually have an advice page on transitioning to Universal Credit here: Moving to Universal Credit and transitional protection | Disability charity Scope UK

The important thing is to claim Universal Credit by the deadline, as any old benefits that Universal Credit is replacing will stop. Claiming before the deadline means you can be eligible to that transitional protection. Universal Credit claims can take 5 or so weeks to process sometimes as well.

I've noticed you haven't specifically mentioned if you are receiving any Severe Disability Premium (SDP)? You are in receipt of high rate of PIP and receive income-based ESA so, unless I am mistaken, should be eligible or should be receiving that. Anyway, if you do receive SDP you should also then get the SDP transitional element.

I know this is a lot of information, the benefits system is not a simple beast. So please take the time to read this and the page I linked and ask anything you have questions about 😊