Does she have to Migrate to UC?

Nobodyspecial

My Daughter has both physical and mental health conditions and she has never been able to work and has always been in the ESA Support Group.

She recently received the migration letter to Universal Credit. (Yes, I have asked previously questions here)

The thing is, we think that some of her current ESA support group benefit will have also been contribution based and income related....she's been receiving £323 a fortnight. Plus low rate DLA.

Does she have to Migrate onto UC - or is it possible for her to just stay on ESA - Which we think would change to the New Style ESA application?

She understands she will lose some money, which at this time is not the priority as she lives at home amd doesn’t claim HB or CT. She is extremely depressed and although has an appointee is extremly scared of moving to UC.

The worry is, will this request to not claim UC make the stress even worse? Who would even contact her regarding changing to new style ESA?

Has anyone here decided to not migrate to UC? Please can someone advise, her deadline is coming up very soon.

Please, please help?

Kimi87

Just a point to think about, if her appointee did not claim UC, she would lose entitlement to free NHS health costs.

Her appointee would need to apply annually to the NHS Low Income Scheme.

https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/nhs-low-income-scheme

Pre payments certificates are available for prescriptions.

https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/help-nhs-prescription-costs/nhs-prescription-prepayment-certificate-ppc

Although she understands she will lose money, does she and her appointee realise she will actually be better off on UC?

At the moment her ESA is approximately £700 per month.

Her UC entitlement would be £823.41.

New Style ESA pays £609.05 a month.

Nobodyspecial

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1078702#Comment_1078702

Thank you for your kind reply.

Yes, they both understand the financial side. She's actually always paid via prepayment for her prescriptions because she didn't know she was entitled to free prescription all this time.

The main reason to not migrate to UC is to avoid the stress that she feels unable to cope with.

My worry though is that there will 'still' be stress, potentially more, if she doesn't move to UC.

From what I can tell she wouldn't be just moved to New style ESA automatically....they would still need to contact her and still go through the commitments interview ect.

So would she be avoiding the stress?

Or, would being on UC and new style ESA then mean having to deal with both departments separately, that would mean double the stress from separate departments?

It's so confusing and she's in such a vulnerable place mentally and grieving. I'm worried she'll end up worse off 'stress wise' - if she doesn't migrate.

If it was as simple as her ESA automatically updating to the New Style ESA without any interpretation or interview - then I know she would choose to do that.

I just want to be sure to advise her of the correct information.

TThank you so much for your help.