Needing advice please. Do I have to tell ESA I'm pregnant? Will I get changed over to UC?

shanh1

That’s great thanks for your help poppy il let you know what they say in 10 days 

calcotti

poppy123456 said:

calcotti said:

poppy123456 said:

You can remain on your existing benefits but you will miss out on extra money for the baby, which will be £244.58/month. 

Although taht would be partly offset by the fact taht the SDP transitional protection doesn't fully compensate for the loss of the SDP.

That is true but OP should still be better off when the child element is included, providing they leave claiming UC until the baby is born.

Realised that which is why I said

calcotti said: OP, you may want to use a benefits calculator (such as https://www.entitledto.co.uk) and put in your circumstances with a child and compare the old benefits with UC so you can see exactly what you would lose if you don't switch to UC.

I only meant to indicate that the loss will not be £244.58. Sorry if that wasn’t clear.

calcotti

Sue_Scope said: If you do decide to move to UC I would suggest you do it before your baby is born while you are still in receipt of income related ESA.  This way you will "retain" your LCRWA assessment and this element will be added to your UC without the waiting period.  

Like poppy I agree this would be completely the wrong thing to do because that would result in the reduction of the SDP transitional element will the child element is added. After the child is born the ESA will still be payment and the LCWRA will still transfer to UC (with the inclusion of the SDP element and the child element).

Be_kind2000

hi, can I ask what happened with your claim please now you have had baby?? As my sister in same situation. On ESA & pip due to illness but she’s just had a baby and does not know what to do. She’s afraid to go on universal credit incase loses money but then won’t get any money for the Baby and Baby thinks will be better off on ESA than UC could you please let me know what your outcome was now you have had your baby?? Please thank tou xxx also I called citizens advice for her and they said something about a dual payment??? Have you heard of this they says she can stay on ESA and still claim UC but what does this mean??? They left me confused lady wasn’t very helpful on phone xxx

poppy123456

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/946266#Comment_946266

This thread is more than 2 years old so you may not receive a reply. This persons situation was different to your sisters is at the moment because your sister has already had her baby. The advice that I've given on your thread is correct and you should be guided by that.

To recap the advice you've had.. she will not be worse off if she claims UC because her UC will include the SDP Transitional element. Her UC will also include child element for the baby. If she doesn't claim UC then she will be worse off.