Will I still get transitional protection?

anxiousmum

I just received my migration notice today. I am on income based esa (support group) it’s come at a good time, and a not so good time as i am currently awaiting news about a house with the housing association (Me and my daughter currently live with a friend and I do not pay rent just share bills). It will mean a brand new location, and I’ll be entitled to the housing element. I’ll find out on Saturday if I have the house. Because it will be a change of circumstances, will I still get the transitional protection?

anxiousmum

I’m also confused about whether I will need to apply under my current address or the one I’ll be moving to

poppy123456

You have 3 months in which to claim UC. I'd advise you to wait until you know about the house and when you maybe moving before claiming. Once you've moved into your new home you should then claim UC, providing it's within those 3 months.

If you claim UC before you move in and you claim for help with the rent after your first assessment period, then any Transitional Protection you maybe entitled to will erode once the housing element is added.

Whether there's any entitlement to TP will of course depend on the figures for your current benefits and what entitlement will be for UC.

anxiousmum

I’ll know on Saturday if I have it or not. And the housing association have advised me to apply for the UC with housing element on the same day (if I get it). So I don’t know if that messes things up. Do I then apply under my new address as I’ll have the tenancy agreement?

poppy123456

Yes, apply once you sign the tenancy agreement, you will need to put the new address down. Once you submit your UC claim your first payment will not be until just under 5 weeks later.

Your Support Group will continue for 2 weeks.

anxiousmum

thanks poppy. Do you know when reviews will start again? I first signed up for esa in 2016, relocated in 2019, and now I’m about to relocate again. I’ve never had a review. A review was due in 2023. Although they said it’s been pushed back to 2025.

anxiousmum

All of my ID has my current address on it (obviously) why do I feel this is going to cause issues when I apply under my new address. I do hope not. But then they will be able to see that the tenancy agreement starts from Saturday. I’m probably worrying over nothing (hence the username)

poppy123456

You're welcome. I have no idea when the reviews for those in Support Group/LCWRA will start again, sorry.

Once you submit your claim for UC once you have access to your journal please put a message on there to tell them you're in the Support Group for ESA. It will take a few weeks for your details to be sent from ESA. You will be asked for a fit note as part of the claims process but you do not need to provide that. If they ask then simply tell them it's not needed because you're in the Support Group.

Are you able to change address with your bank soon after you move? My thinking behind that will be at least you can provide a bank statement as proof of address.

If this is social housing you'll be living in then you won't need a tenancy agreement as proof of liability to pay rent because they contact your landlord directly.

If it's privately rented then you'll need proof such as a tenancy agreement.

Good luck with the move too!

Jimm_Scope

Hey @anxiousmum, as Poppy mentions you do have 3 months. Since you find out about the house pretty soon that should hopefully give you time, if it is available, to move there and then apply for Universal Credit 🙂 You could swap your bank accounts there as soon as possible and get bank statements and bills sent to your new address for address confirmation.

What's the new potential house like? I hope you get it, I imagine having your own space is something you'd like.