UC Migration Hell!!

tucson1969

Hi everyone.

Brief outline, Wife on full PIP, ESA Support Group for over 9 years, Me Carers allowance and Income support.

Got a migration letter.

Filled it all in, went to job centre for ID checks. All good

I was told as carer no need to look for work, wife however was told needed to see work coach and needs to supply fit notes until they ask her to go on a health journey to decide if she can work!!

Anyway she got a fit note and they said she didnt need to look for work but needs to keep sending in new fit notes as they expire.

Ive tried and tried to explain she hasnt worked or looked for work for over 9 years and is in the support group but they just say its the process and we have to follow it.

I asked why cant they contact ESA to confirm shes in the support group, but got told its nothing to do with UC and she needs to have a Health Journey.

Please someone help cause we are at our whits end here

Thanks

Adrian_Scope

Good afternoon @tucson1969 and a warm welcome to the community.

How frustrating for you and your wife! It sounds like UC may be incorrect as your wife's ESA Support Group should transition to LCWRA on UC. She should not be handing in Fit Notes as this can trigger a new Work Capability Assessment which she does not need.

Have you explained that you are transitioning from ESA where your wife was in the Support Group?

What is the latest thing they've said to you?

tucson1969

I rang and told them I also told the job centre staff, none of which seemed to have a clue.

We've had our first payment and it included LCWRA.

At the job centre ID we was told she had to do a fit note so we got one and entered it on the journal. They accepted and said we needed to send another when it ended, which we have just done.

Today I've added a note to the journal to say she is in the support group so why are we having to submit fit notes.

The migration came through only mentioning income support no mention of esa.

Weve been told so many different things we have no idea what to do next

Adrian_Scope

So your current statement has your couple's element, housing (if you're eligible), carer element and the LCWRA element @tucson1969?

If so, it sounds as though they have already transitioned her LCWRA from ESA Support Group and are incorrectly advising to submit fit notes. Unfortunately, once you've submitted the first one the system is automated and will continue to request them until a work coach or case manager turns this off.

She should not be submitting fit notes at this stage unless she is requesting a change of circumstances and wanting a work capability assessment review.

tucson1969

Couples, carer and LCWRA on statement.

What do we do to stop them requesting more?

Everytime I ring they seem to have no idea how it works.

As I said I put a note on journal today, should we wait the outcome of that? We don't have to submit another fit note till next month.

Or would ringing be better? If so who do I ring that might have a grasp on how it all works?

poppy123456

It's pointless ringing the helpline because they are as helpful as a chocolate teapot.

Just wait for them to respond to the message you put on the journal. She will not need to continue to provide fit notes.

tucson1969

And if we don't hear by the time another one is due?

poppy123456

Just ignore it because the LCWRA element is already included in your claim and nothing will happen. Fit notes are not needed because of the LCWRA element. They ask for them when migrating across as part of the claims process.

tucson1969

Ok so we don't submit anymore fit notes, even though it says to, because I guess that's a automated message?

And nothing will happen....

I hope you are right

Thanks

poppy123456

Yes, it automatic and still there because no one has switched that off. Nothing can happen because the LCWRA element is already included on your claim, which is correct.

When my daughter was found to have LCWRA in July 2021, in December 2021 she had an automatic message on her journal asking her to provide a fit note. I'm her appointee so manage her claim for her. I knew fit notes were no longer needed so I ignored that message and it's still on her "to do list" she didn't receive any further requests after that.

tucson1969

Just had a reply saying she's been added to LCWRA and therefore no fit notes needed.

Thanks for the help