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Universal Credit Group Action

androgynous

First of all, to clarify, I do not work for Leigh Day.

If you have been affected or know a service user, care for, have a member of your family, friend or anyone you know 'naturally' migrated to Universal Credit from 'Legacy Benefits' before the 16th January 2019, please have a good look through the links below. 'Naturally' migrating was a change of circumstances such as moving home into a local authority area which was an Universal Credit area, whilst still receiving Legacy Benefits. Significantly, those claimants with a need to claim Housing Benefit and therefore UC. Those claimants had previously claimed a benefit with an additional award of the severe disability premium.
The SDP Gateway came into force on 16 January 2019.

Following recent legal challenges to Universal Credit, Leigh Day are bringing compensation claims for people who have migrated to Universal Credit, prior to 16th January 2019, and have lost their severe disability premium. Also, the Enhanced Disability Premium (otherwise known as the ‘Disability Income Guarantee’) is not covered by the Department’s plans.

Note - If you have received a backdated payment then you will be eligible to join the claim for further compensation.

It's estimated 13,000 severely disabled claimants were affected.

Contact details are provided in the links below.

5. Who can bring a claim?

We would like to hear from anyone who made a claim for Universal Credit, before 16th January 2019, and had previously claimed a benefit with an additional award of severe disability premium. If you claimed the following ‘legacy’ benefits you may have also been in receipt of severe disability premium:

Income Support
Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance [‘JSA’]
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance [‘ESA’]

6. How do I know if I was receiving severe disability premium?

A legacy benefit award letter will indicate this on the page showing the breakdown of your benefit entitlement. If the letter states that you receive:

Extra money because you are severely disabled’ then you were receiving severe disability premium.
For 2018/19 this was set at a rate of £64.30 per week for single people and £128.60 for couples
For 2019/20 this was set at a rate of £65.85 per week for single people and £131.70 for couples

https://www.leighday.co.uk/News/2019/May-2019/Fight-for-compensation-launched-for-people-with-di

https://www.leighday.co.uk/Employment-discrimination/Current-cases/Universal-Credit-group-action

https://www.leighday.co.uk/Employment-discrimination/Current-cases/Universal-Credit-group-action/Universal-Credit-group-action-FAQs

The more claimants there are, the stronger the claim will be, so if you know of anyone who has been impacted by the loss of the Severe Disability Premium, please do get in touch with Leigh Day.

Good hunting!

androgynous

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Comments

Adrian_Scope

Thanks for sharing this @androgynous. I've moved it over to our Universal Credit section of the community where it'll be more relevant and hopefully reach the target group.

androgynous

Adrian_Scope said:

Thanks for sharing this @androgynous. I've moved it over to our Universal Credit section of the community where it'll be more relevant and hopefully reach the target group.

Thanks Adrian.

I think i forgot to mention the SDP in the title!

I've also been in touch with my solicitor and the Universal Credit rent shortfall is something they will definitely pass over to their human rights team.

Unfortunately, these things take time and alot of it. My first case is only now with my Barrister and about ready to finally start court proceedings.

In the meantime, I'm wrestling with what i can of my DHP form until i can get some support.

It makes me wonder if it's worth it for one weeks rent?

But in the longer term, legal action is worth it for the good of thousands of Universal Credit claimants?

Another year, another battle.

androgynous

Another 5 and a half years since my last post and over 7+ years since I lost my disability premiums.

Allegedly most people have now received their SDP/EDP/ Compensation? This was to be paid by 1st September 2025.

I haven't received mine yet. There are 6 working days to the deadline. 7+ years and I'm no further forward.

I know there were a few people on here who were part of this claim.

A) Did you receive your payment?

B) How much was it?

LD don't want to know, they say don't get in touch. Come the 1st September I'll have to work out how to take a legal challenge against LD and the D*P.

You couldn't make it up, but why should I not receive my dues when every one else has?

6 days from tomorrow.

Talk about discrimination 😢 😭

androgynous

It's the final countdown. They all tell porkies. No payment today.

Miscounted, 6 working days from today for my edp from 7+ years ago. 😢 😭

Did anyone receive their backpay /compo? Thousands are supposed to have received it or is that a porky put out by LD / the media?

I wish I knew the truth.

androgynous

No pay today. Where is my share of the £452 million repayment exercise?

5 working days to go.

I know it has been discussed by rights net. If anyone from welfare rights is reading this, I don't have access to WR in my area. Can anyone help me, please? Mike Hughes?

LD aren't responding. This is the most stressful part of the last 7+ years so far.

Knowing that 57,000 claimants have supposedly received their backpay? 13,000 are still waiting? 270?people were in the group action, including me.

This legal action was a complete waste of time. It's taken years whilst the D*P have dragged it out as much as they can and I still don't have my backpay. I might as well be dead, I feel very upset and stressed at the moment. How do I move forward? Take action against LD and the D*P?

No one is responding.

WhatThe

androgynous,

I don't want to ignore your post though I'm not part of the group action. Did you make forum connections in your earlier posts about the group action?

MH left before I joined the forum but he's still in welfare rights - I just checked. He took a phone call from me once (I'm in London)

I concur with your views on both LD and the other. I don't know what we can do to secure justice but we must keep trying, we must keep demanding it!

androgynous

Thanks for caring enough to post, WhatThe. I appreciate it.

It's the final countdown. No payment today and no payment on Monday as its Bank Holiday.

4 working days to go.

Yes, I asked MH for advice previously as he was the only person I would trust. Unfortunately, he was very wary of me 😟

It was all perfectly innocent, I would have just trusted his advice.

androgynous

No, I didn't make any connections with anyone. I don't think Scope knew anything about this case and removed the details of the most vocal person who I was trying to get in touch with?

After all, this dates back to 2018 ( in my case). It's a long, long time ago. Easy to forget about even if you are involved.

I put it to the back of my mind as we had to wait a year for each court appearance.

I never thought we would receive the backpay, to be honest.

I still haven't 😢 😭

WhatThe

androgynous, give him one last shot today. Try email and a telephone call. If anyone knows the outcome, it's MH and you just need answers.

As for money owed, I'm in a similar position. I hold onto the belief that one day, somebody, somewhere will expose the scams and I hope to be around to provide evidence when that happens. If not, I've adjusted to being poor and feel proud to have survived their mean games, as you have done.

androgynous

26th August 2025

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Haaaa llllleee luuuu jahhhh.

7+ years after losing my disability premiums, I've finally received my backpayment. I estimate I've lost probably £1k in Transitional Protection. They've had the last laugh, of course.

It's unbelievable how long this has been dragged out, along with the cost of legal fees.

Can die now, never thought I'd receive it before I died. 😊

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