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NEWS REGARDING DISABLED PEOPLE TO CHANGE TO UC

charlie79

I have read on the news that the government has lifted a a ban and changed the law on moving people with sdp onto uc from olds legacy benefits. Its covid I am housebound and no support services do i have to change to uc. I am housebound at my witts end and my mental health is flying in all directions. Please can someone advise me.. pleeeaassse :'(

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Lisatho11987777

I will tag someone who may be able to help you @woodbine would you be able to help with this

charlie79

I'm panicking government has announced that people can now be moved onto uc from old legacy benefits with SDP. I have no support services and on the news read it said its urging disabled people to move to UC.
With covid i am housebound and my mental health is flying in all directions, does this mean they are stopping everyones benefits. If someone could advice me pleeaaassssse :'(

charlie79

I dont know how to tag on this laptop get confused. How would I get him to read the thread and advise me. Its always been poppy12345 in the past who has replied.

charlie79

Sorry stressing my hands are shaking

MarkM88

You won’t be transferred yet. At the moment it’s optional, unless you have a change of circumstances.

Ross_Alumni

Hi @charlie79

No this doesn't mean they are stopping everyone's benefits. you should be part of managed migration so when it is your turn to switch over your income will be protected during the transition.

Hope this helps. Do you have techniques in place to effectively manage your mental health?

charlie79

yes my medication and my friend who pops in to do limited care needed

Ross_Alumni

Good to hear @charlie79

Just to let everyone know, I merged two different discussions to create this one, in case any replies seem out of order somewhat.

MarkM88

Although, some charities are warning that 500 000 disabled people could be worse off than they are now because the way the SDP will be calculated on UC.

Just to clarify the SDP element that will be honoured in UC can decrease if another element of UC was to increase. I’ll copy the relevant text below:

This means that if a claimant’s UC entitlement increases - for example if their rent goes up or even if they become 25 years old and so entitled to a higher personal allowance - the amount of the transitional SDP element, worth between £120 and £405 a month, will decrease by the same amount.

So a claimant will be no receive an increase and the worth of their transitional award for loss of SDP will continue to decrease over time.

Edit: also see below.

https://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/news/2021/january/claimants-severe-disability-premium-awards-no-longer-exempt-requirement-claim

MarkM88

Yes, there’s transitional protection, but I’m just pointing out, this is at an agreed level, and if you see an increase in another element of UC, you can see a decrease in the SDP equivalent, as outlined in the articles and confirmed by DWP. Therefore as the articles states, some could be worse off in the long run, maybe not straight away, but over time, especially if other elements of their UC claim changes.

MarkM88

woodbine said:

MarkN88 said:

Yes, there’s transitional protection, but I’m just pointing out, this is at an agreed level, and if you see an increase in another element of UC, you can see a decrease in the SDP equivalent, as outlined in the articles and confirmed by DWP. Therefore as the articles states, some could be worse off in the long run, maybe not straight away, but over time, especially if other elements of their UC claim changes.

yes thats right a transitional amount will effectively freeze your UC at the rate your legacy benefits were paid, its like one side goes down as the other side stays where it was, best we can do is try and not confuse the issue more than it already is, as most people won't be managed migrated for possibly 3 or 4 years, and it is only IR benefits not Cont.based that are affected.

That's not 100% correct though when it comes to people that are on legacy benefits and are entitled to SDP.

As the article states, which I will put below again:

"This means that if a claimant’s UC entitlement increases - for example if their rent goes up or even if they become 25 years old and so entitled to a higher personal allowance - the amount of the transitional SDP element, worth between £120 and £405 a month, will decrease by the same amount."

For example if you move to UC, and your equivalent SDP amount is for example £120, and you have a change in another element, lets say for example, the rent goes up by £20, you lose that £20 from the SDP equivalent, because your housing element would have increased.

I'm not out to confuse people, but you keep saying that a full transitional amount will freeze exactly as the same amount, and that's not the case. That's why as well people still have the option to move to UC and that's the decision they need to make using the information available.

Of course, if they have a change of circumstances than they are not going to have a choice.

And again if they wait for natural migration then they will be forced across eventually.

The article is therefore trying to say that in the long run some disabled people might be worse off because they wont necessarily get the full transitional amount plus any changes to any other element as per the example I have given above.

I think its right to get it right because if people use the search function to review older threads at a later date.

Lisatho11987777

@MarkN88 Adrian scope said similar on my thread when I asked will esa be moved to universal credit the new style doesn't that runs along side of universal credit but the other esa does eventually

MarkM88

No one is claiming to be an expert, but the guidance has been published in relation to the SDP equivalent which I have linked on numerous replies and you seem to be overlooking them.

Its very clear that some people in the long run will be worse off because their SDP equivalent payment can and will be affected by a change of another element that makes up a full UC Award, however you advising the OP that they wont lose a penny, and you cant guarantee that.

Your saying yourself we are not experts, but your giving false information which has not been backed up and I've provided you with the links and the explanations of how it is going to work.

Lisatho11987777

I think evrry one has given the best advise they can whatever is going to happen will happen I only ended up on universal credit because my paid job I was doing at the time I was earning to much then when I had my heart attack I was put onto universal credit

In my own experience at the moment I am getting more money between my pip and universal credit than people I know who work so I am happy being on uc

When people do start getting moved across to uc hopefuly someone will let us know

MarkM88

woodbine said:

I have said what I have to say but I do take umbrage when you say I am giving false information, my message is clear on being migrated to UC those on legacy benefits will get transitional protection, the clue is in the word transitional, I perhaps make the mistake in thinking people understand what transitional means as in its a transition from one benefit to another BUT I have not given false information.
But I refuse to be drawn into an argument.

You clearly haven’t read the links I provided. It tells you in there if there are changes to individuals other elements than it can reduce their SDP equivalent amount. What don’t you understand?

No one is saying there transitional amount of legacy benefit is affected. It’s the SDP part that would be and that’s what the OP asked about.

I’m not arguing, I’m giving factual information, from sources, from guidelines, that take effect as of today. Simple.

chiarieds

Hi @MarkN88 - please be mindful of our communities guidelines & be respectful of another member's opinion even if you think you are right, thank you.

Please see: https://www.entitledto.co.uk/help/Universal-Credit-Pilot &

https://www.entitledto.co.uk/help/Transitional-protection-Universal-Credit

As @woodbine has been at pains to say, the managed migration, suggested as being Sept - Dec 2024 may keep getting pushed back. Far from 'false information,' woodbine tried to advise; it also seems to me that the status quo would be maintained if a person got help in one aspect of their UC claim having migrated, it would then be deducted by a similar amount. Adrian also gave an explanation in a post today: https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/381388#Comment_381388

If you would like to discuss this further, I suggest you tag Adrian.

MarkM88

I fully respect the community and the guidelines, I have linked to everything I was saying, It seems you do not understand what I was trying to get across.

I'm not saying there is no transitional protection.

The original poster was asking about SDP and the equivalent amounts that come into place and this is what I was responding to.

Woodbine was saying that they would not lose a penny, but I think that was in response to the overall UC transitional protection, this was not what was asked.

I was responding directly in relation to the SDP.

The guidance specifically says that if you have an increase in another element of your UC award, for example the rent or the personal allowance because of your age, this would decrease the amount of the SDP equivalent you would be entitled to.

This is mentioned and explained in the links I have provided.

This is why many charities have been saying that around 500 000 disabled people may in the long run be worse off because at first they will get their transitional protection in full and they will get their SDP equivalent, but what the charities are trying to say is, say for example two years after changing across to UC there is a major change like a rent increase for example, if for example this was £20 a month, then that would decrease the SDP equivalent that the person is entitled to.

Its all linked and all explained on how it is going to work.

Yes I totally agree that their will be that transitional protection across the board and that the original date is by 2024 and this will more than likely keep been pushed back.

All I was trying to get across is, woodbine was answering in more general views, which were perfectly correct and I was responding to the specifics of the SDP.

I hope that explains what I was trying to say, I have no intention to disrespect anyone.

calcotti

woodbine said:

@charlie79 today marks the start of the DWP transferring people on legacy benefits on to UC, however that process is expected to take until 2024 and maybe 2025 ...

That is slightly misleading. It is not the start of transferring people onto UC. ‘Managed’ migration of legacy claimants to UC has not yet begun (other than the Harrogate trial) and any progress is suspended.

Many people have already ‘naturally’ migrated from legacy benefits to UC. To date the law has prevented legacy claimants entitled to SDP from naturally migrating to UC. The change that has now occurred is that the exclusion is removed so claimants with SDP are I now in the same position as everyone else (but will benefit from the SDP transition element if they meet the conditions for it).

if someone has a relevant change of circumstances that would require a new means tested benefit claim then that claim will now have to be for UC and the act of claiming UC will close any other means tested benefits.

Non means tested benefits are not affected at all.

The only means tested benefit outside all of this is Council Tax Reduction which continues to be administered by local authorities.

Last target for completion of managed migration was 2024 but OBR had commented that 2026 seemed more realistic. Whether COVID has delayed things or quickened them (because many have naturally migrated) is unclear. Bear in mind that original date for completion was (I think) 2016 so keeping to the timetable is not a feature (just as with transfer service from IB to ESA, DLA to PIP etc.)

Adrian_Scope

Hi @charlie79. How are you feeling today? The media reports on this can be quite misleading and cause needless worry.

Just to confirm and hopefully reassure you, this does not mean you will be forced over to UC right now. You do not need to change at the moment.

In short, at the beginning of 2019 the Government introduced a 'gateway' preventing those who were receiving SDP from claiming UC. This gateway protection ended this week, meaning those who receive SDP can now claim UC.

If you don't have any change of circumstances coming up, this change won't really make any difference to when you are moved over to UC.

When they do start moving people in your area over to UC through managed migration, you'll be given lots of notice and when it happens we can help talk you through the process. But for now, as difficult as it is you need to try not to worry.

Cher_Alumni

Hi @charlie79

Just to let you know, I've bobbed you an email over. If you could give it a little read and get back to me, that would be fab. Best wishes and I hope you are having a better day