Migrated to UC once I got LCWRW Council tax support reduced but income from UC not changed

Unhappy_Bunny
Unhappy_Bunny Online Community Member Posts: 2 Listener
edited March 22 in Universal Credit (UC)

I'm on PIP (Enhanced for both). My Partner cares for me and gets Carers Allowance

He doesn't work (Being a carer is his /a full time job), so our income doesnt change from month to month).

We have 2 children we still get Child benefit for. We rent from the council (North Yorkshire).

In September 25 we managed migrated to Universal Credit (on the health pathway).

We used to recieve Child Tax Credit.

Due to being my carer my partner recieved Income Support for us as a couple. As he claimed for me, all my sickness benefits were paid as part of IS. So I never applied for ESA.

The UC Elements we recieved were:

Standard Allowance,

Housing,

Children,

Carer,

And Transitional Protection of £472.45 (so we recieved the same amount as our legacy benefits).

They then take off the Carers Allowance (same as IS).

This was a monthly total of: £2037

I recieved a new bill and continued to recieve 100% Council Tax Reduction - so a bill of £0

In December 24 I received and returned my UC50.

On 21st February 25 I was put into the LCWRW Group.

So my entitlement to LCWRW to was backdated to that date.

My Statement paid on 31/01/25 which covered the Assessment period: 25 Dec to 24 Jan 25 - was corrected on the 21/02/25.

So, My UC Elements now also include:

Limited capability for work and work-related activity Of £416.19

And the Transitional Protection was adjusted to: £56.26

This was a monthly total of: £2037

No change in Total amount of UC recieved

A week ago I received my 25/26 council tax bill of 100% Council Tax Reduction so a bill of £0

Today I recieved a revised Council Tax bill - My support has gone done to 75% so I owe over £500 - including £100 from this years 24/25 bill (so from Dec 25).

Again, I actually have been receiving continue to recieve the same amount of £2037.

I rang my council and asked what they count as income ect - My council disregard all my other benefits.

In UC the Council don't count the housing payments.

My council also have a £40 income disregard for if receiving (PIP or DLA etc).

By my calculations I'm under the under amount so i should get 100% CTR.

My Council say that they get the figure from UC. I have done a calculation on Entitled to

and their figure is higher than mine:

"Assessed Income Without UC Housing Costs by Proportion of £322.72"

It is £4 higher than than my calculation, but £10 less Than the councils.

Is this right? I'm getting the same amount of income from UC as before - its just the LCWRW element has been added (and transitional protection reduced accordingly).

I feel i'm being penalised for being in the LCWRW group.

How do UC get this figure?

I know that each council can do what they want and I'm glad and very relieved to be in the LCWRW group. But, I only transfered to UC at the end of Sept 24 - with no change in my disability, but I'm already worse off now (even with the transitional protection).

Sorry for the long post (i wanted to include as much info as possible). Thank you.

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Comments

  • Albus_Scope
    Albus_Scope Posts: 9,502 Scope Online Community Coordinator

    Hi @Unhappy_Bunny and welcome to the community.

    That sounds like a bit of a pickle. Unfortunately it's not something I'm trained in, but I'm hoping someone will be able to answer for you soon. If not it may be worth contacting Citizens advice, they may be able to get to the bottom of this for you.

  • kermitt1012
    kermitt1012 Online Community Member Posts: 4 Listener

    hello I’m going through very very similar situation. See my first discussion on my profile.

    I’ve only just join scope so I’m still trying to get used to site. But I’m pleased I’ve found someone who has similar issue with council.

    Is yours relating to the SMI 25% support / reduction on top of the other 75%

  • Unhappy_Bunny
    Unhappy_Bunny Online Community Member Posts: 2 Listener

    Hi, welcome.

    This was my 1st post so I'm a newbie too.

    I wasn't receiving the SMI support. My council gave a 100% support for income related ESA, income support ect (depending on circumstances).

    Now, if you are on UC my council give 100% support if you get under a certain income (Inc depending on any kids ect). Then 75% ect.

    But I've read on a few sites that a lot of councils are not giving the same support as previously to people that have migrated to UC (even with exact circumstances & income).

    I also got a re-adjusted bill for last year, once they decided i was in the LCWRA group so, they back dated the council tax to the date we applied (as i was getting transitional protection, I obviously didn't get any back payments from UC).

    Apparently (for my council anyway) UC give the figures to the council.

    I checked with my council what figure UC gave them - its higher than I worked out (i worked out that I was under the cut off) and it's s also higher than Entitled to said.

    I think (for me, at least) it's definitely linked to being in the LCWRA group , as my council told me that UC don't count transitional protection in the figures they give the council.

    So, for the first 4 months or so (while I was being assessed to see which group i was going to be in) we recieved exactly the same total amount of benefit - Just more of it was transitional protection.

    Have you tried Entitled to? - for me, it gave the same level of support as the council (it just had an income amount lower than the amount that UC apparently gave the council.

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