Manage Migrated to UC from WTC

JonnycJonny

I currently work 16 hours a week at home 'online'. I receive the Severe Disability Premium as part of WTC. I receive PIP at the highest Daily Living rate.
My wife also works 16 hours but she will soon need to spend much more time caring for my needs at home and so intends to claim the Carers Allowance ( for now she gets Carer Credit only ). We do not receive any other means tested benefits. 

What will happen when we get manage migrated to UC ? I know - given the descriptors - that I meet the LCWA conditionality ( if not the LCWRA ).  What groups would we be in under UC ? How much could we earn as a couple before UC tapers ? Would my wife get a carer premium ? How do self-employed people report their earnings under UC ?

Sorry - lots of questions but it is all a little complicated compared to WTC. Thanks to anyone who can shine a light on this.

calcotti

When transferred to UC you will need to report a health condition and will then have a Work capability assessment. If found to have LCWRA you will get the LCWRA element from the fourth payment.

You wife will be entitled to the carer element.

When you apply for UC as a result of a managed migration notice you will get a transitional element added to ensure that on day 1 of the UC award the UC matches your existing benefits. However this transitional element is subsequently reduced by any increase to your other UC elements until such time as it has been fully eroded. If the LCWRA is put into payment it will be deducted from the transitional element.

As regards earnings, once you are found to have LCW or LCWRA you will have a Work Allowance which is an amount of joint earnings that are ignored. This is £573 if you are not claiming help with rent, £344 if you are. Above this there is deduction of 55% of earnings.

Any CA your wife receives will be deducted in full.

Self employed earnings have to be reported each month on a cash basis - literally what have you received this month and what have allowable expenditure have you incurred.

Lots of information here
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/universal-credit-detailed-information-for-claimants

poppy123456

When you report a health condition, you will also need a fit note and you must continue to send them without any gaps until a decisions made on the WCA.

JonnycJonny

Thank you for this information. 

Would my wife's claim for CA immediately trigger a move to UC if my hours were to remain the same ?

calcotti

JonnycJonny said: Would my wife's claim for CA immediately trigger a move to UC 

NO. CA has nothing to do with UC.

Note that your wife's CA is taxable income. You should let Tax Credits know that she is claiming and about her drop in earnings.

To be eligible for CA she must earn less than £132/week.

JonnycJonny

So even if her working hours change - drop below 16 as she will be caring a lot more for me at home - the claim for CA will not trigger a move to UC ? 

calcotti

JonnycJonny said:

So even if her working hours change - drop below 16 as she will be caring a lot more for me at home - the claim for CA will not trigger a move to UC ? 

No. As advised CA has nothing to do with UC.

I assume you get the disability element as well as the severe disability element and, as I understand it (although Tax Credits are not my strong point), if you get the disability element, as long as you continue to work at least 16 hours/week yourself you will retain entitlement to WTC.

JonnycJonny

Thank you for all your advice.

L_Volunteer

You are welcome @JonnycJonny. If you need any more advice, please don't hesitate to let us know