Universal Credit Payment Deductions (ESA Migration)

LadyL

Hi,

I am feeling quite anxious right now. Not having the best day and just confused about my first UC payment calculation.

I work 5 hours a week doing admin work at my local hospital. It was bank work but it has been regular for 2 years. Under ESA it was permitted work as I was in the support group. Today I was sent an email stating that there would no longer be any work for me from the beginning of May. I felt quite sad as it has been good for my mental health and I can't work many hours.

Anyway, I also received my first payment statement today from the period 3rd March - to 4th April which states that there has been a deduction as I am still receiving the ESA.

I have been awarded the LCWRA as I was in the ESA Support Group but they have calculated that I will only receive £189 for my first payment, because they think I am still receiving ESA.

My biographical appointment was on 17th March and I submitted my claim before my deadline on 20th March.

According to the gov.uk website regarding migration, I thought you would still receive your current benefit for 2 weeks after your claim, which I did. Plus, that it wouldn't affect your first UC payment:

Unless, I read it wrong. Should they have made a deduction for my ESA payment that I received in the period between 3rd March 3rd and 4th April...?

Also, isn't the ESA (legacy benefit) supposed to stop automatically once you have migrated…? I thought it was the same department and we didn't need to contact anyone about ESA.

Feeling quite confused and worried. I have left a message in my journal stating that my UC is supposed to be replacing my ESA and therefore their calculation is wrong... but I really don't know anymore.

Also, when my bank work ends, will this be an issue...? I have been awarded the LCWRA element and do not have any work commitments currently..

Please can someone advise.

Thank you in advance.

Kimi87

If you have no work commitments then no consequences if you stop working.

How much is the ESA deduction?

LadyL

Hi,

Thank you for your response and reassurance. I appreciate it.

As for the deductions it says:

...'received benefits not entitled to:

ESA - £20

Average of other benefits that you're continuing to claim :

ESA - £598'

I'm not sure if it's right or not. Maybe it's to do with the overlap of what I was receiving or that they haven't correctly stopped my ESA when I started my migration claim.

If it's correct that's fine. I don't want to claim anything I am not entitled to. I guess it just means I will need to budget much better as it will be another month before the next payment date.

Kimi87

The £20 will be an accidental overpayment if IR ESA.

Have you been continuing to receive ESA payment?

If so, the £598.86 is because before migration part of your ESA was Contributions Based.

The current rate is £276.40 a fortnight, the UC deduction looks incorrect, but as ESA is a weekly benefit and there are 4.3 weeks in a month, that's the correct deduction.

Many don't know what their ESA was until migration.

If you haven't already you will probably receive some correspondence about New Style ESA.

Please see this thread (click on the purple text View Post) for an explanation.

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/130268/ive-already-moved-to-universal-credit-but-ive-received-a-letter-from-esa

LadyL

Hi Kimi,

My payment statement says that I am entitled to the standard allowance and the LCWRA allowance.

Also, it looks like I did receive two payments of ESA in March after I submitted my migration claim.

Would that explain the deductions…?

I thought, however, that ESA was being replaced by UC and it would therefore stop after UC was claimed instead. Also, my migration letter stated that my IR-ESA was ending so I needed to claim UC.

Therefore, I was almost certain that my ESA is mostly, if not all, Income-related not contributions-based as I don't think I have made enough contributions lately.

As for the New-Style ESA, I don't really understand. Sorry… 😐

Kimi87

Your UC award is correct. Entitlement is added up, then any deductions are made.

Some ESA awards were made up of both IR and CB ESA. Many only find out after migration.

Upon migration entitlement to New Style ESA is automatic if part of your ESA was CB.

Recent NI Contributions are irrelevant. It would be your circumstances when you first claimed ESA that are relevant.

Did you read through the thread I linked to? Full explanations are there as many have faced this issue before

LadyL

Hi Kimi,

Good morning.

Thanks for your reply.

I did read the link.

Is this right…? ESA will continue fortnightly and UC is like a top-up.

Sorry for any inconvenience. I just get anxious at times, then panic and fear the worst when I don't understand.

Thanks for persevering with me and for your help. :)

Kimi87

That's exactly right, the wording & amount from your UC statement suggests there is an entitlement to New Style ESA.

So your income is now New Style ESA fortnightly topped up with UC monthly.