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Worried about Universa lettet

Aura

Hi I'm autistic and I got a letter to change from ESA to Universal Credit from the DWP.

I'm very worried about this, as I've been told it drives people into poverty and I could lose up to £200. I rely on my money to pay bills and shopping, thers also a lengthy delay until it comes in.

I have to fill it in online by August, they've already used comes words I don't understand.

I'm in lots of support groups due to my anxiety and depression. I'm also disabled. I am told I may be pestered to find non existent work, or ordered to join work groups.

The last one I was in just simply didn't try to understand my autism and I had a rough time. I don't want to go through thst again.

Can you guys advise me please?

Many thanks.

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Comments

Hopeless

I’ve just got my migration letter too and am struggling with the anxiety it is causing. I had a talk with the citizens advice help to claim people and they were great. The contact info is on page 2 of your letter. They give you a reference number so they can recognise you if you contact them again and can support you until you get your first correct payment. There’s a phone or webchat option.

Aura

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1033262#Comment_1033262

Hi my suppirt worker is back tomorrow, so hopefully they can help me. I'm also an unp aid carer for my mum, as we lost dad in August.

Appologies for spelling g mistakes, predictable text keeps interfering.

Kimi87

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/universal-credit/claiming/contact-us-about-universal-credit/

If at the time of transfer your UC award is lower than legacy benefits, Transitional Protection will be added to your claim. This tops up UC to match previous legacy benefits. TP does erode over time as other elements go up or new elements are added.

Some people are actually better off on UC.

Are you in the Support Group or Work Related Activity Group for ESA?

After applying for UC the first payment arrives five weeks later, then monthly afterwards.

ESA stops when you claim, apart from one final payment known as the run on payment. If you apply for UC the day after an ESA payment, the run on payment will arrive around two weeks later and should be for the full amount.

You can ask for an Advance payment from UC, which will then be deducted from your payments until it's repaid.

Aura

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1033268#Comment_1033268

I'm in the support group. So what does TP mean? So I could be worse off then?

Kimi87

As you are in the Support Group, you will be entitled to LCWRA element automatically from the start of your claim. LCWRA is the UC equivalent of ESA Support Group.

You will have no work requirements exactly the same as now.

Do you receive the Severe Disability Premium with your ESA?

Aura

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1033271#Comment_1033271

What is LCWRA element? I don't think I recieve severe disability premium thingy, only enhanced on my PIP

Kimi87

With UC each part you are entitled to is known as an element. UC is a benefit made up of different elements.

LCWRA is the UC equivalent of ESA Support Group.

For ESA you have Support Group & Work-Related Activity Group.

In UC these groups are known as Limited Capability for Work Related Activity (LCWRA) and Limited Capability for Work (LCW).

As advised you will have no work requirements in LCWRA same as in ESA SG.

How much is your ESA payment at the moment?

Aura

It's £489.30 at the moment, so loosing £200 would be a huge chunk

Kimi87

From that amount you do get SDP.

So Transitional Protection will apply to your UC claim. TP will be added to your award so at the time of transfer you aren't worse off.

See here for an example of how TP works.

https://www.turn2us.org.uk/get-support/information-for-your-situation/universal-credit-uc-transitional-protection/when-will-my-universal-credit-uc-transitional-protection-end

Transitional Protection will reduce in line with annual benefit rises and any new elements you may get in future.

How long Transitional Protection takes to end varies from person to person as everyone has different circumstances.

I'm not sure where you got losing £200 from, or who told you that.

Aura

Doesn't it take ages to go through and change over?

During the wait, I don't get paid.

Kimi87

As advised, after applying for UC the first payment arrives five weeks later, then monthly afterwards.

You can ask for an Advance payment from UC, which will then be deducted from your payments until it's repaid.

Aura

So when I claim, my ESA will stop for God knows how long until UC gets paid into my account?

Kimi87

It's best to apply for UC the day after an ESA payment.

You will receive one final payment of ESA after applying for UC. This should come through about two weeks later.

Three weeks afterwards your first UC payment arrives, then monthly afterwards.

Aura

"your first UC payment arrives, then monthly afterwards"

Not every other week like ESA?

Kimi87

UC is paid monthly.

It is possible to ask for an Alternative Payment Arrangement (APA) and have it paid twice a month.

This is not fortnightly with one half arriving on a set date, with the second half arriving 14-17 days later.

WhatThe

Kimi, I just want to clarify something about ESA and UC.

LCWRA is the ESA Support Group and LCW is the ESA WRAG

That the status can be transferred to UC is not in doubt but it belongs to an ESA award.

Aura

Someone said I could lose my flat, as I have housing g benifit paid for me.

Kimi87

You are already paying your rent via Housing Benefit, paying via Housing Element (UC) is no different.

The person you spoke to doesn't know what they are talking about.

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