New style esa/uc sg am i being overpaid?

mookin

poppy123456

Hi,

That's the correct amount of UC that you're receiving. Sounds like to me that it's UC limited capability for work related activity you're receiving and not New style ESA. They are similar benefits but just different names, it's confusing.

If you were receiving new style ESA Support Group this would be £110 per week, paid fortnightly.

As you're receiving UC then it's paid monthly and the group you're in is limited capability for work related activity (support group equivalent)

Your housing element, then you should be receiving the 1 bedroom rate for your area and for this you will need to check what that is as all areas are different. You can check that here https://lha-direct.voa.gov.uk/

mookin

poppy123456

No, LCWRA/SG doesn't qualify you for extra help with your rent. You could ask for a discretionary housing payment from your local council but this will only be paid for a short amount of time. Not everyone is successful when they apply for this and you'll need to fill out a form from your local council.

mookin

poppy123456

You're welcome.

Moving house isn't always the most ideal solution. Landlords these days don't like benefit tenants and you would most likely find it very difficult to find a landlord that will. Of course it does depend on what area you live in as some areas there's a few that will, with a guarantor but not everyone can find one of those.

discretionary housing payments are not a long time solution for anyone and it does depend also on your local councils budget. Asking you to attend a money management course is ridiculous and i'd be very offended if they said that to me. It's not easy managing on low income and i'd like to see the person who advised you this to try it for their self some time. They would soon take back what they said.

If you are struggling with your health have you considered starting a claim for PIP? This is extra money to help those with a disability like yourself. It's not awarded based on a diagnosis, it's how those conditions affect your ability to carry out daily activity based on the PIP descriptors, here. https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/Global/Migrated_Documents/adviceguide/pip-9-table-of-activities-descriptors-and-points.pdf

You would need evidence to support your claim because they rarely contact anyone. You would also most likely have to attend a face to face assessment, similar to the work capability assessment but with different criteria.

Here's more information about PIP, which would be worth reading.https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/

The claim could take several months and it's not guaranteed you'll be awarded but it's worth trying.

mookin

Adrian_Scope

Hi @mookin, just wanted to say a quick hello and welcome to the community.

You've received great advice from @poppy123456 and she's right, that is the amount you're entitled to.

Just to clarify something regarding the extra rent assistance for being in the support group etc, this mainly applies to under 35s. Typically they are only entitled to the shared room rate of housing, rather than a 1 bedroom, but having a disability entitles them to a 1 bedroom place instead. You're already getting the one bedroom rate which is why this doesn't apply to you.

Thank you for sharing your story. Are you receiving much in the way of professional support?

mookin

poppy123456

They don't give any reasons why you were placed into a group for UC or ESA, they just tell you which group. If you want to know the reasons then you can contact UC and ask or request a copy of the assessment report to be sent to you and you'll know by the recommendations in the report. Even though you didn't have a face to face assessment there will still be a report written.

Timescales, there isn't any of those either because they can re-assess you anytime from 3 months. The form you would have filled in is called the UC50 and not ESA50 because you're claiming UC.

For your review, when ever that maybe then future appointment dates/times are not classed as evidence. If you've had hospital appointments in the past then the consultant will usually write a letter to your GP and CC a copy to you, if you ask them to do this. If you don't receive copies then it's free to request your medical records from your GP, which you'll receive digital copies of. If you want paper copies then you will be charged for them.

It's not unusual for GP to refuse to write letters for benefit purposes because they don't really have the time. You were lucky that they contacted your GP the first time because it's rare for them to do this. Don't rely on this happening because it may not next time.

For the PIP then it's definitely worth having a look. Yes, it's stressful as all benefits like are very stressful to claim but if you don't try you'll never be awarded it.

Adrian_Scope

Thanks for all the information @poppy123456! 

@mookin I hope Poppy has managed to answer all of your questions, but if there's anything else you're unsure of, just let us know.