Questions about ESA to UC please help!

lothiriel

Hi all, 

I hope everyone is well today? I have to migrate from ESA to UC with a deadline of 26th March and I have a couple of questions. 

A bit of background, I am in the support group for MH: EUPD, eating disorder (chronic anorexia), social anxiety, agoraphobia, anxiety (gad), and depression. I receive £318.10 every two weeks. I do not claim PIP as I could not cope with it due to severe anxiety. I live with my parents so it is a single claim. 

Firstly, my ESA goes into a savings account which I transfer all but a tiny amount (which is saved) into a current account, which I am unsure whether I am doing anything wrong about that? Particularly as I transfer some money to my mum for bills, food, and other things they pick for me from town as I am agoraphobic. I am worried it would look like deprivation of capital. 

I am wondering if I should swap these around when migrating? Will I have to contact ESA first to change the account? Or can I just put the current account as the account UC will go into and include the savings account as just another account?

Secondly, due to my above disabilities, I will have to request a biographical id check, as I only have a passport so I cannot do it online. I am very frightened about this as I have severe social anxiety where normally my mum talks for me. Can I write on the journal, that my mum will be helping me during the call? Also when asking for a telephone id check do I have to list all my disabilities as to why I would need a call? Or do I just put social anxiety and agoraphobia? What would I have to write to request this reasonable adjustment? Can I also ask what kind of questions do they ask so I can prepare? 

Can I also ask about when another WCA will occur as I think my last one was 2019?
Also, when is a UC bank review is likely to occur after migration?

Sorry about all the questions, i am just so frightened as i have been previously just left alone. I am sure I will have more questions as I fill out the form and progress through the migration.

Thank you in advance

Kimi87

You can move your money between accounts, this is normal and lots of people do so.

You can ask for a biographical id check, social anxiety & agoraphobia are good enough reasons. I can't see why they would object to someone helping you during the appointment.

WCA's have been suspended for the majority on UC LCWRA/ESA SG for several years, significant backlogs now exist within the system.

For the UC bank reviews claims are selected at random.

lothiriel

Thank you so much for replying Kimmy87. I am just so nervous about all of this!

Can I just put my current account of the UC form then? I am unsure if my bank account with ESA will be flagged as different from the UC one.

Shall I also put all my disabilities just in case when asking for a reasonable adjustment. I think I better due to not wanting to stir up a WCA.

I also have another question for anyone who might know.

On the form it wants you to state when you last worked, which I believe was around 2006/2007. I have been on ESA since 2013 and before that I believe it was income support, though I have no paperwork for that anymore as it was lost many years ago. Can I just put an estimated year for when I last worked as due to memory problems I have no idea apart from an educated guess?

Kimi87

You can have your UC paid into whatever bank account you wish.

Yes put down your health problems when applying.

If an educated guess is correct to the best of your knowledge, then that's all you can do.

lothiriel

Thanks again!

So that means I don’t need to inform ESA, only put down my other banking details on the UC form. I am frightened that ringing ESA will trigger a new WCA which is the last thing I need atm with this migration rubbish.

Of course this will change if I have been receiving CB ESA, which I do not believe I have. Only then I will have to inform them, as overall I will still have the two bank accounts and am just swapping them around?

Sorry for the lack of understanding my brain is in a muddle with all of this and MH has nosedived. I do worry about everyone else in the same boat! I have never hated anyone before, but this lack of care and compassion is teaching me a hard lesson.

Albus_Scope

Hey there @lothiriel and welcome to the community. 😁

I can see Kimmy is already leaping to your aid and I don't want to interrupt. I just wanted to pop in and say hello to a fellow LOTR fan. 😉

lothiriel

Hi @Albus_Scope thank you it’s nice to be here!

Yes only a hardcore LOTR fan would know who Lothiriel is, so it’s doubly nice to meet you! 😀

Kimi87

You can have whichever benefit paid into whichever account that you want to.

lothiriel

Thank you @Kimmy87 I think I need information drummed into me most of the time. 😂

Just another quick question.

On the form about Health what does ongoing medical treatment consist of? I take medication but I am not undergoing therapy such as CBT atm. I very occasionally see a cmht consultant psychiatrist (around every 6 months or so), is this classed as treatment? I would not have thought it would as it’s just like a GP check up. Would I just put that I am receiving medication as an ongoing treatment at this time?