Hi, my name is shazz666!

shazz666

I don't understand anything about UC and I have had half ESA moved to UC and I have lost over 109 a week I have phoned and citizens advice phoned and they said I have lost 700 a month and I don't know why I get penalized by UC as they take the full amount of ESA off the payment and I have protection on it and still I have lost money they say if I move all to ESA then I would get the same amount money but ESA said that I would have to look for work and I am house bound with hands smashed and surgeries needed again so who do I believe as I can't get a straight answer from either but I have no food nothing to live on and no one will help but I can't live on that as I was getting 500 a fortnight ESA and on UC it's 117 and I am lost help please

Kimi87

It sounds like you are now getting both UC and New Style ESA. I appreciate you were probably expecting it to be all UC and are now very confused.

Instead of looking at the UC in isolation, your income is now New Style ESA (£609.05 a month) topped up by Universal Credit.

So you need to add them both together and compare to your previous ESA award.

New Style ESA and UC are both income replacement benefits. Under the welfare system a person is entitled to one income replacement benefit, that is why the New Style ESA is deducted in full.

It still works out at exactly the same money, as an example (excluding Transitional Protection & Housing Element as they are unique to the individual).

Single person, over 25

UC Standard Allowance +LCWRA Element £823.41.

Or

New Style ESA £609.05 +214.36 UC =823.41.

Also because UC is a monthly payment the amounts can seem wrong compared to legacy benefits which were calculated weekly. There are 4.3 weeks in a month.

To convert a weekly benefit into a monthly you multiply the weekly amount by 52 then divide by 12.

The payment cycle is different and takes some getting used to.

Please see this page about getting help with food:

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/debt-and-money/food-bank/using-a-food-bank/

shazz666

Yes I don't understand it at all as I have payment protection which is supposed to mean the exact same amount of money but it is not there's 600 a month missing and UC said if I moved everything over I would get the same but ESA said that as I have severe disabilities and my life will end early if I moved I would have to look for work so who do I believe as no one is telling me anything and UC /ESA are telling me the opposite so as I am expected to die early I get penalized by the government is that correct. Thanks