Universal credit

wish

Hi all I'm new here and after some advice please my husband is in receipt of ESA contrubution based in support group has been on this for last 10 years I'm in receipt carers allowance and I work 3 nights a month as if I do anymore in month that is 5week month I earn over threshold for carers allowance I do bank work as I cannot do set hours as again it will put me over threshold on 5 week month I lost all my carers allowance one month by going 6 pound over so because my husband is contrubution based we have to pay for prescriptions dental glasses eye tests and council tax but I do get a slight discount on that so someone said why don't you spk with citizen advice which I did they said put in claim for UC  I filled in online form went for my interview along with my husband and advisor said my husband has got to get a fit note and he will have see a work coach I'm bit confused by this as he claims ESA in his own right and is entitled to that even if I go back to work full time I questioned this said my husband is entitled in his own right and he would have this regardless if I worked or not until retirement she said no only for a limited time he will have see a work coach and most probably a work capability test she said ESA will be deducted from UC yes I understand that you can't get both and I do understand that ESA and carers will be deducted from UC so does that mean because I've put in a new claim for UC he goes on to new style ESA as I'm little confused re this any advice in this I would appreciate it please so at moment until his got fit note seen the work coach she's put him in a certain group I can't remember what group she said now 

poppy123456

When you claim UC yes he will need to provide a fit note because it's part of the claims process. As he's in the Support Group for ESA then he will be entitled to the LCWRA element from the start of your claim. However, it can take a few weeks, sometimes longer for them to transfer his claim from ESA to UC. Once this is all done he will then need to accept his new claimant commiments, which will be to agree to report all changes and nothing more. Once this is done he will no longer need to send any further fit notes.

As you correctly stated the ESA and CA will be deducted in full from any UC entitlement. Both benefits will then continue to be paid as normal.

You also need to make sure that you've told them you are his carer, then the carers element will be included in your maxium UC entitlement.

Do be aware still of the earnings limit for carers allowance. Are you also aware that you don't need to claim carers allowance to be entitled to the carers element. This means you can cancel the carers allowance and just continue with the carers element. This way you won't have any worries about earnings exceeding the limit.

You will also have the work allowance for UC. This means that a certain amount of earnings you receive will be ignored before the 55% deductions apply. If you claim for help with the rent your work allowance will be £344, if you don't it will be £573.

wish

Ok thank you poppy so he will still have ESA contribution based entitlement or does he lose that all together I am aware it's deducted there is reason I'm asking this question

Kind regards 

calcotti

Any ESA contribution based continues and will still be paid fortnightly but will be deducted from the UC monthly payments. 

This is exactly the same way that the contribution based ESA is deducted from any income based ESA (but this is less obvious because the two are paid together so you just see the combined total).

wish

Thank you for replying I really appreciate it so far everyone has been so supportive in my questions always bit daunting all this at first but I'm finding it very useful it's putting me at ease with everyone's answers 

Alex_Alumni

Thanks for explaining how helpful the community has been for you @wish that's so positive to hear! It can take a lot of courage to make that first post, so well done  

If there's anything else you need a hand with, please do ask, and I hope you are enjoying the weekend.

Alex

wish

poppy123456 said:

When you claim UC yes he will need to provide a fit note because it's part of the claims process. As he's in the Support Group for ESA then he will be entitled to the LCWRA element from the start of your claim. However, it can take a few weeks, sometimes longer for them to transfer his claim from ESA to UC. Once this is all done he will then need to accept his new claimant commiments, which will be to agree to report all changes and nothing more. Once this is done he will no longer need to send any further fit notes.

As you correctly stated the ESA and CA will be deducted in full from any UC entitlement. Both benefits will then continue to be paid as normal.

You also need to make sure that you've told them you are his carer, then the carers element will be included in your maxium UC entitlement.

Do be aware still of the earnings limit for carers allowance. Are you also aware that you don't need to claim carers allowance to be entitled to the carers element. This means you can cancel the carers allowance and just continue with the carers element. This way you won't have any worries about earnings exceeding the limit.

You will also have the work allowance for UC. This means that a certain amount of earnings you receive will be ignored before the 55% deductions apply. If you claim for help with the rent your work allowance will be £344, if you don't it will be £573.

Thank you that's really helpful I don't have no housing cost 

L_Volunteer

You are welcome @wish. It is the very least you deserve. 

How are you feeling about having no housing cost at the moment? Please don't hesitate to let us know if we can do anything else to help.

We are all here for you and listening to you 

poppy123456

L_Volunteer said:

How are you feeling about having no housing cost at the moment?

Wish, may own their own home. Housing costs are not paid if you own your own home.

wish

poppy123456 said:

L_Volunteer said:

How are you feeling about having no housing cost at the moment?

Wish, may own their own home. Housing costs are not paid if you own your own home.

Yes that's correct poppy own my own home I was very lucky as took out insurance to cover my mortgage payment in event of sickness or disability so I have no housing costs