Volunteering to move to UC from ESA IR

J2351

Hey everyone hope all is well  

Just a quick question about SDP which I’m sure can be easily answered. 

If I go out my own way to transfer myself from ESA IR to UC will I receive transition protection on my new UC claim for my SDP?  

You might be asking WHY ON EARTH WOULD YOU WANT TO DO THAT? It’s simple I find it easier and less stressful to have one payment a month rather than several a month 

calcotti

If you transfer to UC you will get the SDP transitional element included in your starting UC amount. However the UC will be worth less than your old benefits because the SDP transitional element does not fully compensate people for loss of the SDP. 

If you use a benefits calculator you will be able to see the difference.

If you wait until managed migration you will get a transitional element that fully compensates you and ensures that your UC starting amount matches your old benefits.

In either case the transition element reduces over times as other elements increase meaning taht you benefit is effectively frozen until such time as the transitional element has been fully eroded,

J2351

Hey thanks for commenting  

Even if it’s not a natural migration or managed transfer? Bear in my mind I will “Choose to move” my claim. Sounds like something DWP will argue to not award protection of SDP if volunteered 

woodbine

Personally if I were you I would wait till you have to do it, it could be longer than you think, I assume you get your ESA every two weeks? if for some reason it's paid weekly you should be able to change to fortnightly?

J2351

I would but I just can’t manage multiple payments in a single month I keep making mistakes and it’s becoming costly especially when I have a very bad week with my epilepsy

I really like the idea of receiving a single payment on let’s say the 2nd of every month then paying everything I have to pay on that day or shortly after. 

poppy123456

J2351 said:

Hey thanks for commenting  

Even if it’s not a natural migration or managed transfer? Bear in my mind I will “Choose to move” my claim. Sounds like something DWP will argue to not award protection of SDP if volunteered 

Natural migration is when you decide to claim it yourself. Managed migration is when you're invited to claim it, which has yet started.

As advised, if you claim it yourself you will be worse off because your ESA includes the SDP. The SDP transitional protection is £120 per month IF your claim includes the LCWRA element.  but this erodes over time. Which means that if other elements increase, the SDP decreases.

If you're in the Support Group for ESA then LCWRA and the SDP transitional protection for UC pays less than your ESA.

I can't see how you think 1 payment per month will be better for you to manage as opposed to your ESA being paid fortnightly. To me, that would mean you would be without money for longer.

Of course it's your decision but choosing to be worse off when you don't need to be is quite strange.

woodbine

OP could you make some changes to when you pay your bills by changing the dates you pay them ?

poppy123456

woodbine said:

OP could you make some changes to when you pay your bills by changing the dates you pay them ?

I'll second this. The majority of my bills come out about the 1st of each month. I've always paid them around the same time, makes budgeting a lot easier because i know exactly what i need to keep in my bank to pay those DD's.

J2351

You both make some very good valid points, I will definitely considering this. Thank you for the swift replies  

calcotti

poppy123456 said: 

I can't see how you think 1 payment per month will be better for you to manage as opposed to your ESA being paid fortnightly. To me, that would mean you would be without money for longer. 

I think the difficulty some people have is that their are bills are monthly and income at fortnightly (or even four weekly) drifts within the calendar month so the income doesn’t have a constant relationship to the outgoing dates. some people just find this confusing.