ESA to UC

snuggles65
snuggles65 Online Community Member Posts: 39 Connected
edited February 1 in Universal Credit (UC)

Hi

Not had my migration letter yet but wounded if anyone could advise me. My self and hubby are on pip. I'm my hubby's carer but I have health problems too. Do I need to put my health issues on the UC form because I won't have any works commitments due to being a carer. I spoke to someone in the JC they told me I need to but my health problems on the form is there any point? My hubby is also in the support group.

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Comments

  • Kimmy87
    Kimmy87 Online Community Member Posts: 3,156 Championing

    As you rightly say, as your husband's carer you won't have any work commitments.

    It would be a waste of your time going through a work capability assessment, because even if you did get LCWRA (the UC equivalent of Support Group), no extra money would be paid as the maximum number of LCWRA elements payable in a couples claim is 1.

    With his LCWRA and your carers element, you will already be getting the maximum entitlement for a couple.

  • OverlyAnxious
    OverlyAnxious Online Community Member Posts: 3,677 Championing

    I guess it depends on how your health conditions affect you. If you'll be asking for adjustments to made, for example because you can't get to a Job Centre, then I would say you should put down your health conditions.

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,467 Championing

    As a carer they will not be expected to attend any appointments anyway, with the exception of their first appointment. For this reason there's no need to report their health condition.

  • snuggles65
    snuggles65 Online Community Member Posts: 39 Connected

    Hi guys

    Sorry to bring this up again but I went into the jc again for something different and asked again if I need to mention my health problems they said I have to. If you read above you will know my situation I'm just so confused why put myself through the assessment if we don't get extra money. But will I be in trouble for not putting my health problems down because I get pip. Sorry to be a pain x

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,467 Championing

    This is why you shouldn't rely on the JC for advice because very often they give misleading information that isn't always the best or correct advice.

    As has been advised because you're a carer you will have no commitments. Your husband is also already in the Support Group for ESA which would mean he's entitled to the LCWRA element from the start of your claim. Only 1 person can receive this element on your claim, which would be him.

    If you report your health condition and provide fit notes it's going to be a waste of your time because you will go through all of that stress and anxiety, an assessment is most likely but at the end of all of that, you would not be entitled to any extra money.

    My advice is, save yourself all that needless stress and do not provide fit notes to go through the work capability assessment. Just report being a carer for your husband when you claim. The carers element will be included in your claim, as well as the LCWRA element.

  • snuggles65
    snuggles65 Online Community Member Posts: 39 Connected

    Thanks poppy12346 just as I thought but it's nice to hear reassurance off someone.

    Thanks again x

  • snuggles65
    snuggles65 Online Community Member Posts: 39 Connected

    Another question what do I need to put on my husband journal when we do move over to UC about him being in the ESA support group I've heard something about reg 19. How would one word it in the journal x

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,467 Championing

    All you need to do is put the message on his journal to tell then he's in the Support Group for ESA. No need to state any regulations here. It will likely take up to a few weeks for your claim to be updated.

  • snuggles65
    snuggles65 Online Community Member Posts: 39 Connected

    Hi poppy122356

    Do I put it on the initial UC form or do I have to wait for the account to be set up?

  • Kimmy87
    Kimmy87 Online Community Member Posts: 3,156 Championing

    There might be a question on the form, but once you submit your application you will have access to your online account called a Journal. You can write messages on there.

  • snuggles65
    snuggles65 Online Community Member Posts: 39 Connected

    Thank you once again ladies x

  • snuggles65
    snuggles65 Online Community Member Posts: 39 Connected

    Hi sorry another question

    When we transfer to UC and hubby is in the LCWRA group (ESA support group now) we both get pip hubby enhanced on both and me enhanced mobility standard care and I get paid carers allowance for hubby do we get paid the carers element on UC

    Rrgards

  • Kimmy87
    Kimmy87 Online Community Member Posts: 3,156 Championing

    You can get the Carers Element for looking after hubby.

    That takes you to the maximum allowed for a couple:

    1x LCWRA element

    1 x Carers Element

  • snuggles65
    snuggles65 Online Community Member Posts: 39 Connected

    Hi

    Can anyone advise me on this please. I've read a lot of people saying the DWP when ask to see your bank statements they look at your income I've nothing to hide but also ask you about your spending are they allowed to ask what you spend your money on?

  • Kimmy87
    Kimmy87 Online Community Member Posts: 3,156 Championing

    When you are claiming UC you might get selected at random for a claim review. They are undertaking millions of these checks.

    The standard request for this is 4 months of bank statements for all accounts and ID.

    They can and do question spending I'm afraid, although there doesn't appear to be standard questions, I was asked quite a bit, all of which were household bills, other people have been asked just a few questions or none at all.

    Have a read through of this thread:

  • snuggles65
    snuggles65 Online Community Member Posts: 39 Connected

    Hi me again sorry,

    My hubby as you know is in the ESA support group do I need to inform ESA of a new health condition.

    I thought with him already in the support group it wouldn't make much difference

  • Kimmy87
    Kimmy87 Online Community Member Posts: 3,156 Championing

    You are correct, he already gets the highest award so there is no point. You don't want to have the misfortune of encountering someone who doesn't know what they are doing, and misinterprets the reported change as reason to trigger a re assessment.

  • snuggles65
    snuggles65 Online Community Member Posts: 39 Connected

    Thanks kimmy87

  • snuggles65
    snuggles65 Online Community Member Posts: 39 Connected

    Hi me again lol.

    Can someone put this into layman terms for me.

    When myself and hubby migrate to UC we have to open a different account we that get a code which puts the 2 accounts together. What happens after that so I put mine and my hubby's info on the same joint account or our own account sorry for being thick I can't get my head around it. Tyia