Hi, my name is Lukeryan106! Will I now have to do natural migration?

Lukeryan106

Hello guys so I need some confirmation from someone as my anxiety is playing up and I suffer with alot of mental health conditions, I'm claiming ICR ESA with my partner she is the main claiment I've heard that people on ESA will now be moved over to UC by the end of 2028 my first concern is will I now have to do natural migration or will is still be able to wait for managed migration? Also I've read somewhere on here that if you claim ICR ESA and housing benefit then it will still be by the end of 2024 is this correct or will it still be by the end of 2028 my partner is the main claiment for ICR esa I'm just on the claim with her but I'm the main claiment for housing benefit that's my second concern so can someone who knows 100% what is correct so I can just relax and I can stop worrying so much thank you 

poppy123456

For those that are claiming either just IR ESA and or Housing benefit they won't be asked to claim UC until at least 2028.

For those that are claiming tax credits as well as IR ESA and/housing benefit then they will be invited to apply for UC by end of 2024.

The reason for the delay for those claiming IR ESA is because it will save the Government a huge amount of money because unless your ESA includes the SDP then it's likely the you'll be better off by claiming UC, if you're in the Support Group. This is because LCWRA for UC pays more than ESA Support Group unless your ESA includes the SDP. However, if you do plan on claiming UC yourself before managed migration then you should always use a benefits calculator to check entitlement first.

Do also be aware that at the moment because you're not the main claimant of the ESA claim then your NI credits towards your state pension are not currently being paid. They will only be paid for the main claimant (your partner)

Lukeryan106

So just to confirm, like I stated I'm the claiment for the housing benefit and my partner is the main claiment for esa but I'm on her esa claim together does that mean we will still be able to wait untill 2028? For managed migration? Obviously I'm just asking as I know if it's managed migration we would get the transitional protection am I correct? Where as if it was voluntary migratio we wouldn't get the transitional protection thank you. 

poppy123456

As i advised, it will be at least 2028 that you'll be invited to apply. Transitional protection will only apply if you'll be worse off when you do migrate accross to UC. If you're entitled to more UC than your existing benefits then transitional protection won't apply anyway.

Is you're partner in the Support Group? If so then LCWRA for UC pays more than ESA Support Group unless the ESA includes the Severe disability Premium but unless you're both claiming a qualifying disability benefit such as PIP daily living or DLA mid/high rate care or you're registered blind then your ESA will not include the SDP.