Universal Credit increase

MAURICE82

Hi all can anyone help me understand why my UC has increased by £270 this month -my ESA has decreased but I've not been told when and why -any help would be great

Kimi87

This is possibly a mistake which happened to me last year (same month actually, possibly a bug which happens sometimes when the rates change).

On my statement they didn't take off the full deduction for ESA so my UC payment went up.

I reported the mistake via Journal message (using Payment option) and it was all sorted out fairly easily- they confirmed the amount of overpayment via Journal letter and I repaid the whole amount back in one go to DWP debt management.

MAURICE82

Hi Kimi87-i have a letter -Feb 2025-setting my CB ESA until 27th November 2025 -so was a bit suprised to have a UC Increase and an ESA decrease-what would you advise me to do ?

Kimi87

The February letter was the annual uprating for CB ESA. They use a November date because a £10 Christmas bonus is paid in December.

Is the deduction for ESA lower on this UC statement compared to your previous statement?

If so, my advice is to put a note on your Journal (using the payment option) stating you have been overpaid UC due to an incorrect ESA deduction.

Once they've looked at it, a letter will be added via Journal confirming the overpayment amount and repayment options.

MAURICE82

Yes it's more UC this month - and the same deducted from my CB ESA -so instead of £431 monthly UC Payment this month it's £698 -shall I leave a journal message letting them know ?

Kimi87

I'm not 100% clear from what you've written - is the ESA deduction this month the same as the ESA deduction on last months UC statement?

MAURICE82

No last months Deduction was £598 for my ESA -this month it's £315

Kimi87

So it is a mistake on their part then. Yes it is best to leave a Journal message.

MAURICE82

ok thanks Kimi87 -do I let then know the figures or just let them know I think I've been overpayed on my UC ?

Kimi87

It's completely up to you 🙂

MAURICE82

Thanks Kimi87 -message left on my Journal with all the figures and discrepancies noted