Questions about migrating from ESA to UC...

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JM2025

Hello.

I have been told that I need to migrate to UC from income related ESA by July 22nd.

I'm currently on the following benefits:

ESA Award:

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Your living expenses: £92.05

Extra money because you are severely disabled: £82.90

Extra money because of the disability income guarantee: £21.20

Limited capability for work addition:

Extra money because you are in the support group: £48.50

Which gives a total income related amount: £244.65

PIP Daily Living Component for you is not counted as income towards ESA. No income will be taken off ESA.

I receive this amount weekly (I receive £489.30 every 2 weeks, which is a total of £978.60 per month). I also receive £558.40 of PIP monthly. This is a total of £1,537 per month. I know that this sounds a lot but I did work all of my life prior to becoming disabled and I do have a number of disabilities that impair my life in huge ways: brain injuries, severe mental health issues, severe physical ailments, etc. I also have to pay my mortgage, bills etc. I will never be able to work again.

I have a few questions:

1) I receive my esa payments every 2 weeks: the next payments are May 28, June 11, June 25 and July 8. If I have to claim UC by July 22nd, would it be wise to make my claim the day after my final ESA payment? Will this be enough time to process the claim? If I make it a day or two after the June 25th payment, will I receive UC 5 weeks from this date? If I receive a final ESA payment after making the UC claim, will it be 3 weeks after that final ESA payment that I'll get UC, meaning I'll only go one week without any money?

2) I've been told I will need to provide evidence of my NIS. Will a letter with my national insurance number on it be sufficient? Will a letter from the DWP suffice?

3) I've finally found my passport. It's the only photo ID I have. If this isn't enough on its own to complete the migration process online, will I receive an appointment to go to the job centre to prove my identity?

4) Is the first UC payment exactly 5 weeks after one makes a claim?

5) When I set up my UC account, should I put anything in my journal? Shall I tell them I'm in the support group and that I should be transferred over without having to provide medical evidence?

6) If any part of my benefits are contribution based, will I receive this separately? Will I have to inform UC of this?

Any help and advice is greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

OverlyAnxious

Hi,

1) It's best to submit the UC claim the day after after an ESA payment. It's not possible to get another ESA payment 1 week before UC. Your ESA will end a maximum of 2 weeks after you submit the UC claim. Then UC will be paid approximately 3 weeks later. Personally I would not wait until the very last moment but that is your choice.

2) If you're over 30, you'll have a card with your NI number on it. If you're under 30, you'll probably have a letter with your NI number on it. If you have lost the original, you should apply for a new one.

3) Yes, you'll get an appointment in the journal to provide more ID if you cannot complete that online.

4) Yes, the first UC payment is exactly 5 weeks after submitting the claim. (Unless it gets delayed by a payment block such as ID verification. Or it falls on a weekend/bank holiday).

5) It doesn't do any harm to put in the journal that you're migrating from ESA support Group with SDP.

6) If any of your ESA was contributions based then you will get a letter from DWP regarding New Style ESA. That gets paid at a rate of £281.10 every 2 weeks. And that will be deducted from your monthly UC payment.