Esa, uc and backpayments

starbuck

I'm almost scared to ask this but what will happen to my husband's contribution based esa if we are moved onto universal credit? 
The reason I'm wondering is he received the backpayment from the dwp last year and we were told that would be disregarded where benefits are concerned for the life of the esa claim. 
Will his claim end if we are moved onto uc and if so will we have to spend the money? We've spent a little on some household things but my husband and I have been used to living frugally for a long time so find it hard to spend for the sake of spending. 

thespiceman

Hello @starbuck    Thank you for your question.

Sorry do not know the answer.

Please if I can tag the Team SCOPE.

@Adrian_Scope   @Chloe_Scope .      

Please can you help this member do not know answer.

Please will be along shortly if they can help will tell you.

Please take care.

@thespiceman

Adrian_Scope

Hello @starbuck. I thought I'd written a reply to this but must not have posted, my apologies.

It depends largely on how much the backpay was. If it was over £5,000 of arrears paid to you, this disregard should continue even when you're on UC, as long as there is no more than a month between ESA ending and UC beginning. 

As he is claiming contribution-based ESA, if you were to switch to Universal Credit, he would continue to receive contribution-based ESA alongside UC and the amount would be deducted from your total Universal Credit.

Are you anticipating a change which will move you onto UC?

starbuck

Thanks for the reply ?
We're not going to move to uc until we're forced to but it's something that's always hanging over us as we don't know when we'll have to change over. 

Adrian_Scope

I'm glad I was able to answer it for you. Please let me know if you have any other concerns or questions @starbuck.