Help with UC migration possible error

Jakex

I need help badly, hopefully Poppy can help. I migrated from Income related esa to UC & went through ID at job centre, had a letter for telephone interview for commitments but the letter stated contribution based when I have been on Income related with SDP for years. I'm panicking cuz I'm am confused. I get housing benefit too. The number seem correct & received the 2 week payment after applying for UC. Now I have had a rent payment the usual way 4 weekly & £200 also a few days before my UC payment is due, the UC online shows a deduction of around the right amounts but is that going to happen every month. Is this an error & I worry it will end in a yr, how am on contribution based when I have been to ill to work for years. Can anyone help me please

Kimmy87

Many people find out when they migrate their ESA is different to what they thought.

Yes the deduction will happen every month, and no it won't end after a year (that only applies to the Work Related Activity Group).

You mention previous work, which means after you finished work you were put onto CB ESA with an IR top up.

There is no time limit for CB ESA (or New Style) when in the Support Group.

Upon migration the IR ESA ends and is replaced by UC and the CB ESA transfers into New Style ESA.

Jakex

But I haven't worked for years, I have been to sick to work. I was on esa support group with SDP, I migrated then done the ID & received letters stating I will be on contribution based & the phone call for commitments he said it's all correct and based on contributions. I was so sick I just couldn't ask any further & wanted the call to end quickly. I think I should be on something like income related for everything. I'm so confused.

Kimmy87

When you stopped work you would have been entitled to CB ESA with an IR top up due to your NI contributions.

With Support Group ESA there is no end date or time limit.

So you are still eligible for CB ESA (now New Style ESA) from your contributions when you worked.

It doesn't matter how long ago you stopped work.

Jakex

Thanks Kimmy, my brain is fried from this migration, it's torture. So even though I haven't worked for a long time due to illness I can still be on contribution based? So why has my housing benefit been paid 4 weekly as it usually is? Why did I get £200 odd on my usual pay date not even half the usual, shouldn't this had stopped? I thought it would be one monthly payment for everything?

Jakex

Reading your comment again I do not think I was CB esa just Income related ESA, but still I was sent a letter to advise it was New style esa & on the call he confirmed it was contributions, I believe it should be IR LCWRA with transitional protection.

poppy123456

Are you living in either supported or temporary housing? If you are then your rent will continue to be paid through housing benefit. If not then HB should have only continued for 2 weeks and then it should have stopped.

When exactly did you claim UC?

The money that you received that you said was £200 odd was the actual amount £276.40? That would be your new ESA amount paid every 2 weeks.

The amount deducted from your UC for the ESA will be £598.86/month and this will be every month. UC then top up your income.

Kimmy87

Re housing benefit, what is your living situation? In a very few circumstances hb is still paid even when you've claimed UC.

If you worked previously then it's likely you qualified for CB ESA (plus an IR top up) that way. As advised in the Support Group there is no time limit.

As someone previously on CB ESA then it's entirely correct that this now changed to New Style ESA as a result of claiming UC.

Lots of people don't know or fully understand their ESA entitlement. This isn't helped by letters that are very confusing even to experienced welfare advisors.

Jakex

Thanks Poppy, I claimed in January & had my phone commitments a few days ago, so I had a rent payment then claimed, rent say on 13th, claimed 17th, had a last payment of esa of £481 two weeks later. I am worried about being on contribution based new style esa & if it's an error. I try get more detail on amount in minute for you.

Jakex

Hi Poppy, yes it was for 276.40. my rent went in as usual after migration & first payment of UC will be end of this week.

Jakex

I am not living either it's just a normal housing association 1 bedroom flat

Jakex

Thanks Kimmy, this is making sicker & sicker, I'm so worried this can drag on if it's errors, I'm really afraid & this migration has been hanging over my head for over three months

poppy123456

As Kimmy advised, part of your ESA was contributions based. This will have reverted to New Style ESA. Even though you said you haven't worked for many years, this doesn't mean that all of your ESA would have been Income Related.

If you claim Incapacity Benefit before ESA then this would be why your ESA was part contributions based.

Going forward you will receive ESA £276.40/fortnight. Then your UC once a month on top of that. If you've had your UC statement already then you should see a deduction of £598.86/month for the ESA payments.

Your UC will include standard allowance, LCWRA element, housing element and Transitional Protection because your ESA included the SDP.

I hope this helps make things a little clearer.

Jakex

Thanks for that Poppy, I have read many of your posts while unregistered, you really kept me from spiralling in the last three months. This is confusing when ya so sick, is there any logical reason for getting housing benefit. I am due a payment of 966 in a few days according to online, I am worried something is wrong but do suffer from severer mental issue & severer paranoia too. does this all sound right? my total I think was £1565 which sounds right but the HB has really confused me with that separate payment. Will any of this stop after a year if it's contribution based? You people on here will never realise how many people you save cuz they are unregistered like I was. Thanks so much Poppy & kimmy

poppy123456

You're welcome. I'm so glad to hear that all my advice that you've been reading has helped you.

That housing benefit payment could have been the 2 week run on so that will not affect your UC entitlement because it's extra money.

Your UC payment before deductions compared to the deduction for the ESA payments of £276.40/fortnight is correct. Please remember though that if you haven't asked UC to pay your landlord directly then you will need to pay your rent out of that money.

Your UC payment should be in your bank on your payment date. My daughter also claims UC and there's never been any issues with her payments into her bank each month.

Jakex

Thank s so much Poppy, I will pay my rent as I always do, one last thing for peace of mind please. Will my contribution based ESA stop after 1 year or will this continue as it has previously? There is no expiry to this is there? obviously they can assess & that's always the case but I'm worried somehow it will expire automatically.

Kimmy87

No there is no expiry date for New Style ESA (Support Group).

Jakex

Thanks Kimmy, Thanks Poppy, I can't thank you both enough for you patience, caring & kindness, without people like you, people like me would be lost. All the best X