Migrated from ESA to UC - worse off

Options
pumpkinpops1
pumpkinpops1 Online Community Member Posts: 4 Listener

Hi,

I have been moved over from ESA to UC and I am definitely worse off. I used to claim both aspects of ESA and have been migrated over to UC claiming I’d have transitional protection, however seem to be worse off after being told it wouldn’t change.

First of all, my UC entitlement works out at £1145.82, however I am deducted -£14.63 (‘as I received benefits I am not entitled to’ assuming this regarding me still getting new style ESA?), -£598.87 (for claiming new style ESA), -£18.71 (for having to take out an advance waiting for UC to be set up), and -£336.18 (rent payment to landlord). My rent is £441.20, however they take off £112.06 for having two spare bedrooms. I was in the support group with ESA due to my disability and used to have my whole rent paid. Now, my new style ESA is £552.80, and I get £177.43 a month from UC - meaning I get £730.23 a month. Before UC, I used to get £898.20 ESA (through x2 fortnightly payments) and my housing paid in full. Now I need to pay the extra £112 out of my UC and ESA, as well as seemingly be on £167.97 less than I was on beforehand.

Safe to say, the reassurance of ‘smooth transitional over, not need to worry about payments differing’ was a LIE. And only being able to contact UC through a journal and when I do eventually get through to someone, get told different things as to why I am seemingly worse off.

If anyone can give me any advice or point me in the right direction of who to speak to regarding this, it would be much appreciated. Sorry for the long winded post and thank you for taking time to read this! I have CPTSD and my head has been everywhere the past few days.

Comments

  • worried33
    worried33 Online Community Member Posts: 990 Championing
    edited November 2024

    Hopefully you get a helpful response, most of the attention seems to be on SDP for transitional payments, but I expect there will be a glut of renters who are going to need transitional protection for their previous levels of housing costs support, and is the biggest concern of my own UC migration.

    Everything I have read suggests previous housing cost support should be maintained (although at the time of migration, not future increases), but your case seems complex because of the extra rooms situation.

    The £18 deduction I assume is temporary until the advance is paid off, over 4 weeks thats £72, I am curious what the exact specifics are for the £14 a week deduction, or is that a per month deduction?

    £552.80 seems correct for 4 weeks according to this

    https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-style-employment-and-support-allowance-detailed-guide#how-much-new-style-esa-to-expect

    Is there any transitional protection listed?

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,464 Championing
    edited November 2024

    New style ESA is deducted in full from UC. It seems like they are deducting more than you receive but that’s not true. ESA is a weekly benefit and UC is monthly and there’s 4.3 weeks in a month, not 4 weeks.

    To work out the monthly deduction you do the following.. 53 x £138.20 then divide by 12, which gives a figure of £598.76/month. There will be 1 month a year where you will receive 3 ESA payments and the deduction will remain the same.

    Did your ESA include the SDP? If so does your UC include and Transitional Protection?

    For your rent are you privately renting or social housing? Bedroom tax only applies to social housing. Were you claiming an extra bedroom for a carer through housing benefit?

    Advance payments are to be repaid back over a period of 24 months and up to 25% of your standard allowance is used to repay it.

  • pumpkinpops1
    pumpkinpops1 Online Community Member Posts: 4 Listener

    Thanks for the reply guys!

    My UC breakdown doesn’t seem to include a section for transitional protection.

    Yes I’m classed as Severely Disabled - however I’m not sure if ESA is paying this. I thought when they stated I’m moving over to UC, ESA as a whole was ending, yet learnt today that I’m keeping New Style ESA. Had no conversations with anyone about any of this it’s really confusing me. Hoping it all works itself out properly soon. Been advised to apply for a DHP to help with my rent for now.

  • Kimi87
    Kimi87 Online Community Member Posts: 6,161 Championing

    What's happened to your ESA, means before you were getting both Contributions Based & Income Related.

    When someone is on both CB & IR ESA, upon migration the IR ESA ends and is replaced by UC, the CB ESA converts automatically into New Style ESA.

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,464 Championing

    Sometimes Transitional Protection isn't calculated in time for your first payment because the department that was paying your previous benefits haven't sent the figures across to them. When this happens your statement is usually recalculated quite quickly to reflect the correct calculation.

    On the statement does it also include the LCWRA element? This would be because you were in the Support Group.

    Put a message onto your journal under the payment section and tell them there's no TP included in your statement. If there's also no LCWRA element include, please also tell them this.

    You didn't answer the questions about your housing situation so I can't advise further on that.