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ESA migration clarification on timeline

bentan930

Received my later and just making few plans. Could somebody please clarify a couple of things. It says ESA stops 2 weeks after claim and may take 5 weeks for UC to kick in. I get my ESA fortnightly on a Tuesday. So say I make my claim on the Thursday would I still receive next/last ESA payment ? As that’s a 12 day gap and under 2 weeks ? If that were the case and the 5 weeks is reliable I’d only be short 1 week.

Also I’ve seen couple of options to cover this period. A budgeting loan or advance payment ? Which would be preferred option.

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Kimi87

When you claim UC Income Related ESA stops, apart from one more payment known as the run on payment.

This is usually paid around 2 weeks later, and on the forum we recommend claiming UC a day after an ESA payment to maximise the amount of the run on payment.

You then receive your first UC payment 3 weeks after legacy benefits finish.

An advance payment is your option while awaiting first UC payment. This will be deducted a little at a time from your monthly UC payments until the whole amount is repaid.

bentan930

ok great thanks I think I’m clear but just to be totally clear. If I receive ESA payment and make the claim say next day I will still receive one more ESA payment.

Kimi87

Yes that's correct.

bentan930

And sorry just to add. If the first UC payment is 5 weeks is the missing ESA payment backdated and included in first payment ?

Kimi87

Your ESA ends after you claim UC, excluding the run on payment. So there is no missing payment to backdate.

You will be paid UC according to your UC entitlement for the previous calender month, known as the assessment period.

bentan930

sorry one more thing while I’m here. Are people generally finding they are better off on UC ? I’m in support group and housing benefit no PIP. Or money is about the same ?

Kimi87

You should be better off because your ESA doesn't include the Severe Disability Premium.

Excluding your housing costs, UC pays £823.41 a month for Standard Allowance & LCWRA (the UC equivalent of ESA Support Group).

bentan930

Really oh wow that’s a big difference I currently get £320 a fortnight. You sure about that ? £823 is just the standard payment doesn’t include any extras you have to pay with it ?

Kimi87

Yes I'm sure.

LCWRA pays £423.27.

You are automatically entitled to this due to moving from ESA Support Group.

Everyone gets Standard Allowance.

bentan930

ok thanks very much. Knowing about the advance payment and increase offsets the mild anxiety of switching over. Every cloud and all that.

bentan930

with ID I don’t have photo ID passport got stolen. Does it tell you straight away if you need to visit job centre ? And is the claim live as soon as apply or only once ID verification in regards to 5 week timeline ?

OverlyAnxious

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1022058#Comment_1022058

If you don't have photo ID then you will most likely need to visit the Job Centre or have a biographical check done over the phone.

You will get a message on the journal within a few days of submitting the application telling you to visit a Job Centre if required. That is when you can request the biographical check if prefered.

The UC claim is live as soon as you submit it. The first payment will be 5 weeks after that date. (Unless you fail to verify ID within that time, then the payment gets blocked until you confirm ID and accept commitments, but the dates of future payments will still be the same).

bentan930

was just looking for some more advice. Done everything on line and got a message for a phone call next Thursday to confirm ID, which was expecting as don’t have passport.
However earlier in year had to go to job centre to change some bank details and the woman was very nice. I asked her about migration and she said if had any issues when it happens to just come see her. So wondering if maybe I should pop in with some ID and just get it sorted ? Or best to just wait for the call which I’ve heard is pretty straightforward ?

OverlyAnxious

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1024604#Comment_1024604

I think that's entirely down to your preference. Whichever would be easiest for you. I'm not sure whether Job Centre staff get much spare time during the day to deal with people randomly popping in though. Did they give you a direct contact number or anything?

bentan930

yeah actually I think I’ll just wait for the call. After bit of googling it seems pretty straightforward.

bentan930

after ID check should I look out for any more messages in journal ? I’ve heard mention a week before you get a breakdown of your payment amounts is that correct ?

Kimi87

It's a good idea to keep an eye on your Journal in case there is something they need from you.

A week before your payment date your Assessment Period ends.

The payment statements are available 1-3 days after your AP ends.

bentan930

sorry just question on housing benefit cross over. If all goes smooth I’ll be 3 weeks behind on rent. I’ve just spoken to my housing officer who was very nice. First asked if I could cover those 3 weeks to which I said no. So then they said I could pay extra £10 a week till I catch up. Is this standard ? Doesn’t seem very fair.
Is there any situation where UC cover that 3 week period ?

Kimi87

UC is paying for those weeks but due to the payment cycle arrears occur and your rent account would always be in arrears.

It is standard in those circumstances for a payment plan to be set up until the arrears are cleared.

Then each UC payment puts your account into 4 weeks credit.

bentan930

really don’t get this tbh. So through no fault of my own I have to pick up the shortfall that occurs. Why isn’t the UC backdated to when housing benefit stops.