ESA to UC migration letter

moonstone

Hi all,

I received today the dreaded letter about migration from ESA to UC.

I’ve been worried sick since last year waiting for this letter.

Current situation, I have ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis on both knees, bursitis on both hips, tension headaches, high blood pressure to name a few.
I suspect I have osteoarthritis on my right ankle, I’ve had many falls my left ankle is permanently bruised and scabbed.
I’m on IR ESA SG (last review/assessment in September 2018, later that year it was decided that long term illnesses without a prospect of getting better won’t be re-assessed so I guess I fall in this category). I also get help with service charges and SMI.

End of March 2022 I had an assessment for PIP and I was awarded standard daily living, backdated from November 2021 when I first applied with end date March 2026. I also since then get the SDP element on ESA.

November 2022 I was diagnosed with osteoarthritis and bursitis and had injections for both for over a year or so. Due to personal reasons and the difficulties booking appointments I haven’t had any more injections but I’m hoping of restarting them next month, I finally managed to get an appointment.

I did not report the change of circumstances, ie new conditions, despite my daily life getting a hit for the worse. I was terrified that there might be a chance of re-assessment and I’d lose PIP all together and SDP with it.

I’ve been working 12hrs per week (3 days) under ESA permitted work, but I dropped one day begging of this month as it become unattainable with severe consequences on my physical and mental health.

I don’t know where to start with the migration to UC.

I have done all the calculations and I will be considerably worse when the move happens.

ESA permitted work equivalent of UC, work allowance I believe it to be approx £411 per month (if I have to have help with service charges), or £673 if I don’t get help with service charges.

I don’t know how am I going to pay bills, mortgage, service charges, etc.
I only have one meal per day, I can’t cook, prepare food, do shopping etc

Everything is ordered online, ready meals or takeaways. I don’t go out unless is for work or doctor appointments and even then I have to use a taxi.

I thought moving to UC would be better off, at least that’s how it was advertised many years ago. In my case that’s not true.

I’m exhausted, I don’t sleep, I worry every waking hour.

I don’t know where to get help with filling the new forms and definitely I’m worried I’ll fill them wrong.

Anyone who’s been in the similar situation, can they please let me know how it went and what they did. Has anyone lost their monthly/weekly income once they migrated?

I have until 25th September to respond/claim.

Thank you

Passerby

I'm not in the same situation as you, but filled it in less than an hour ago, having received the invitation letter. It took me about an hour and all the questions are straightford. This application form is not much different from the classical forms for Income Support, Jobseeker's Allowance, etc. It's simply online. So, you shouldn't at least worry about completing the form online.

My two pennies.

OverlyAnxious

Hi, sorry if I've misunderstood the question but the £411 Work Allowance isn't a maximum limit.

It just means that anything you earn above that each week creates a deduction of 55p per £1.

Can you tell us roughly how much you earn each month now?

moonstone

I currently earn approx £450-£500 per month (under permitted work ESA).

I get help with service charges, and also SMI which goes direct to the mortgage company.

What I can find so far (although is not very clear), is that once I migrate to UC, I’ll be on LCWRA, with SDP as a transitional element protected.

If I’m to earn up to £411 I’ll still get help with service charges, but if I earn above that I’ll lose the help with service charges and SMI altogether.

OverlyAnxious

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1043290#Comment_1043290

Thank you.

I think there's a slight misunderstanding here.

The Work Allowance rate is based on whether you get Housing Element or not. It does not mean that you would lose Housing Costs if earning above £411 a month.

So if you earn £500 in one month, the excess is £89. 55% of £89 is £48.95. So you would only have a deduction of £48.95 taken from your total UC payment that month.

If you earn £400 in a month, no deduction would be made for that month.

For reference, SDP won't show on your statement at all. It will just be listed as Transitional Protection, which may include other legacy benefits as well.

I'm afraid I don't have experience with SMI so can't offer any advice specific to that at this time.