Universal Chaos arrives ... (Again)

We want to hear from you: please tell us about your experience of the online community.

Apollo14LMP

Hi,

I received IR ESA for some years - was hoping to start work but that fell through (illness). Now I have received a Migration Notice from the DWP - We were assured the transit to Universal Chaos (UC) as I call it would be smooth. Though I though not - seems im right ..

I applied for UC last Thursday - with OH, and we got a Journal message to the effect that we would receive a phone call in 2 - 3 days. Never happened … change of plan now ..

Next gets a message that we both need to go to the local Jobcentre with a number of documents this coming Friday. Why is this does anyone know as they verified my ID apparently online ? I already get ESA and PIP so they must know who I am ? - I need to know if they invite everyone in for a documents check - or is it just us ??

I will be watching for anymore discriminatory behaviour on their part had all of this before ended up in a court with these people - Leigh Day did an ace job for me :-) … Im so upset I cannot help myself out and get a job as I would not have to rely on this truly awful chaotic system which I hate so much and cannot cope with but must somehow - there has to be some irony there …

I would like to know if I will still receive my final ESA run on payment which is due Wednesday ? and my HB ? as we live fortnight to fortnight. I will be asking for direct HB payments and two weekly UC payments as soon as I can .. I have received no notifications about payments etc left guessing :-(

This process has caused arguments between me and OH were there were none and bad feeling in general. I dont understand why my claim which was processed through the migration process is now held up and I need to go to the Jobcentre which causes me anxiety, My MH is through the roof… GP tomorrow .. this UC nonsense really does help you back to health and work !

I made a successful discrimination claim against the DWP (settled out of court) when they unsuccessfully tried to force me onto Universal Chaos six years ago and tried to deprive us of 500 quid a month. That case took 4 years and made my overall being much worse. So I have a bit of an issue with UC and all it is .. or isnt. Knew trouble would start with this UC thing how right I am …

Truly awful system designed to grind you down and to push you off the edge ..

poppy123456

They are not just picking on you, it's the standard procedure for anyone claiming UC for the first time. You can ask for a reasonable adjustment for a telephone appointment instead of in person. If you can't speak on the phone they can also do a home visit.

Even though this is managed migration, UC will not know that you're currently claiming ESA because there would be nothing on their system to tell them this. Yes, I know UC is part of DWP same as ESA but they are different departments. They will not know until ESA send your details across to them and this can often take a few weeks.

In the meantime I'd advise you to put a message into your journal to tell then that you were claiming ESA in the Support Group. You do not need to provide any fit notes. Although they may ask for that as part of the claims process but just tell them you do not need to.

Once ESA send your details to them your claim will be updated and you'll be asked to agree to your claimant commitments, which will only be to report any changes.

Yes, your Income Related ESA and housing benefit will continue for 2 weeks and then stop.

If any part of your ESA is contributions based this will continue but be deducted in full from any UC entitlement. Though that ESA will revert to New style automatically. You will be contacted in due course and asked to agree to your commitments for this too, which will be the same as UC. New style ESA support Group is £138.20/week and it will be deducted in full from any UC entitlement.

Does your partner claim carers allowance? if so they need to make sure they report being your carer and the carers element will be included in your claim. Carers allowance will be deducted in full from any UC entitlement.

You can also ask for an advance payment but this will need to be repaid back over a period of 2 years and your future UC payments will be reduced.

For them to pay your landlord directly then please put a message onto your journal under the payment section and ask them to do that.

With wanting your UC payments to be more frequent this is known as an Alternative Payment Arrangement. (APA) However, please not that it is not fortnightly payments, it's twice a month and your payment will be split into 2 equal payments. Please also be aware that it can be extremely difficult to manage your payments once this is first set up because you will have been waiting for a whole month for your payment and then you will only receive half of it, the other half will be paid around 14 to 17 days later. After that it will become easier due to the twice monthly payments. More information here.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-alternative-payment-arrangements/alternative-payment-arrangements

Your council tax reduction will also be recalculated based on your UC entitlement. I hope this helps. Happy to answer further questions if you have them.