Super confused like many people, regarding Migrating from ESA TO UC.

AshHV

Can anyone help me and explain to me, I was told I have to move from ESA to UC, My claim is currently pending, It says I am to wait to find out how much I get in may. But I have no idea if I am to get UC on its own without ESA. Or New style ESA, When I asked them, they replied this: ''Hi ashleigh, As explained your case worker has contacted your ESA suppliers and asked them for details, when they get back to us we will apply this to your claim.'' Am I being an idiot and does he mean it will factor into the decision of whether I'll get esa along side it or not, or has he literally just answered my question and meant ''we will apply your esa to your uc and your esa will end and the result is you'll get the uc only but with the esa factored in giving you the uc amount.'' Currently, I am on ESA: (Not sure what type, Been on it since about 2016?) 481.10 every two weeks and I also currently get PIP (which I have been on since about 2016) 290 every month. I don't get housing benefits and have to pay 450 in private rent per month as well as 113 for gas and elec, 40.50 for sky broadband fiber, which I will try and ring and get a social tariff for. Do they look at all this? How much you pay? Also, can anyone give me a rough estimate of how much you think I'll get monthly with both UC without new style benefits and UC without them. I am 31, female, no kids, live alone, single, marked myself down for LCWRA, I do get extra from pip and I think maybe esa for being classed as severely disabled. Thanks for the help.

Kimi87

UC are currently waiting to hear from ESA as to what your award was made up of.

If your previous award was IR ESA, you will be paid UC only.

If your previous award was CB ESA with an IR top up, you will be paid New Style ESA separately and UC will top up your income. Any New Style ESA will be deducted in full from your UC award.

Basic amounts will be the same whichever route your claim goes.

Without TP UC would pay £823.41.

Because your ESA includes the Severe Disability Premium, Transitional Protection will be added to your UC award so you are not worse off at the time of transfer. It increases your UC award to match legacy benefits. It does erode over time as the rates go up annually or anything new is added to your award.

UC do not factor in your utility bills.

Why do you not receive Housing Benefit?

Have you told UC about your housing costs?

AshHV

Thanks for your insight! I see, So it will be about that without TP? Do they not? Oh that's what I'll be primarily using the benefit for, to pay my very high eon gas and elec, Many times I've tried to get it lower explaining to eon what I am on but they reply I am not eligible for a discount. I've tried comparing others, even octopus and they were even more pricy. I'll ring sky to try and get a tariff broadband once this claim is settled. As for my Housing benefit, I don't know, I've been private renting since 2015, I get deduction from council tax. They did ask for proof of housing costs yes, I sent them photos of my tenancy with names and how much pcm I pay and then I also included my council tax bill.

AshHV

So I found out I am pretty sure I am on a contribution based esa, So with that being said, with the info I have given, If I get new style benefits, How much altogether will I get per month? When I get UC and new style benefits which will be reduced from my new style esa? I cannot work it out, It keeps coming up online as 200 altogether pcm which cant be right

Kimi87

You will receive £281.10 per fortnight in New Style ESA.

£609.05 will be deducted from your UC award as the monthly equivalent of NS ESA.

This looks more than you receive but ESA is a weekly benefit and there are 4.3 weeks in a month.

So without Transitional Protection, you will get:

£609.05 a month NS ESA

£214.36 UC

+ any Housing Element

+Transitional Protection to bring your award up (before deductions) to match legacy benefits at the time of transfer.

AshHV

Thanks so much kimi, It puts my mind at ease a little! It says I have to wait to see my what I am going to get on 23rd of may, At the same time I also got, a message saying you stated your health makes it difficult for you at work or to seek work, You may need an assessment to confirm this, I got the wait to see what you will get message after that you may need an assessment, does that mean I still might have to have an assessment? I have been id verified last week via phone and they are content with that

Kimi87

That is because at the moment the system has picked up on your health condition but doesn't yet know you are migrating from ESA Support Group.

It often takes several weeks for ESA to confirm your status with UC. This is usually done in time for the first payment.

You will not need a medical assessment.

AshHV

Understood, thats great to know! I sure hope so! So even though I will be changing to new style benefits from contribution based, will I need an assessment for that?

Kimi87

No assessment for IR ESA to UC, no assessment for CB ESA to New Style ESA.

AshHV

Thanks, I truly hope so, I was reading a few had to even though they were on the support group and got extra for being severely disabled and google had said it was ''likely'' so its so refreshing to hear that