Mixed aged couple claim

Nita17
Nita17 Online Community Member Posts: 12 Listener
in Universal Credit (UC)

I was on ESA and my now husband gets his basic state pension. We married and I had to move over to U/C…I have lost nrly£600 a month and am now entitled to £0 and have to pay £62 rent top up! We have to live on just his pension, he get cant get carers allowance as he's a pensioner though he is my recognized carer, this has totally ruined us. There seems nothing we can do about it. How can this be right?

Comments

  • Kimi87
    Kimi87 Online Community Member Posts: 5,910 Championing
    edited May 21

    Although it's correct as a mixed age couple his pension gets deducted from the joint UC claim, the first UC statement can be incorrectly calculated with bits missing.

    Are you able to post details of your statement?

    Please ensure any personal details are removed or blacked out.

    Alternatively you can use a benefits calculator and compare the results to your award.

    https://www.gov.uk/benefits-calculators

    I'd also recommend speaking to a trained benefits advisor as mixed age couples is a complex area.

    https://advicefinder.turn2us.org.uk/

    https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/money-legal/benefits-entitlements/

  • Nita17
    Nita17 Online Community Member Posts: 12 Listener
    Screenshot_20250522-155356_Samsung Internet.jpg Screenshot_20250522-155426_Samsung Internet.jpg Screenshot_20250522-155435_Samsung Internet.jpg
  • Nita17
    Nita17 Online Community Member Posts: 12 Listener
    Screenshot_20250522-155453_Samsung Internet.jpg Screenshot_20250522-155501_Samsung Internet.jpg Screenshot_20250522-155515_Samsung Internet.jpg
  • Nita17
    Nita17 Online Community Member Posts: 12 Listener
    Screenshot_20250522-155527_Samsung Internet.jpg Screenshot_20250522-155543_Samsung Internet.jpg Screenshot_20250522-155552_Samsung Internet.jpg
  • Nita17
    Nita17 Online Community Member Posts: 12 Listener

    I know that it is correct to the law but it is so unfair how I now receive nothing to contribute to the household and my husband has to support me out of his personal allowance

  • Kimi87
    Kimi87 Online Community Member Posts: 5,910 Championing
    edited May 22

    Which ESA group did you migrate from?

    You were paid for LCWRA in March, then LCW in April & May.

    Have you had a review and been moved from the LCWRA group into LCW?

  • Nita17
    Nita17 Online Community Member Posts: 12 Listener

    No theres been no review nor assessments. They just decided it

  • Kimi87
    Kimi87 Online Community Member Posts: 5,910 Championing
    edited May 22

    This is a mistake then, they can't just decide to move your group without a review.

    With LCWRA reinstated your entitlement before deductions will rise by just under £300, meaning you should be back to a similar UC payment to your March award.

    Put a note on your Journal (using the payment option) stating you migrated from ESA Support Group, and were paid LCWRA in March, but this changed from April onwards to LCW which was a mistake.

    Once they've looked at it and calculated your underpayment, a letter will be added to your Journal stating the amount owed. Payment will then follow within a few working days.

  • Mary_Scope
    Mary_Scope Posts: 1,787 Scope Online Community Children and Family Specialists
    Screenshot_22-5-2025_162045_forum.scope.org.uk.jpeg Screenshot_22-5-2025_161927_forum.scope.org.uk.jpeg

    Hi all, just dropping by to let you knw that I have cropped two of the original screenshots as they had personal details of the carer. I wasn't able to put them back into the original comment so I'm leaving them here. Hope thats okay!

  • Nita17
    Nita17 Online Community Member Posts: 12 Listener
  • Nita17
    Nita17 Online Community Member Posts: 12 Listener

    Thankyou Kimi87 I have done this

  • Nita17
    Nita17 Online Community Member Posts: 12 Listener

    AApparently I was awarded wrong rate when moved to ...ESA Its getting so bad,severely affected my mental health, having black thoughts again...we cant go on,the only way I can see is to divorce!?! Drastic I know but what else can I do

  • Kimi87
    Kimi87 Online Community Member Posts: 5,910 Championing

    Which ESA group did you migrate from?

  • Nita17
    Nita17 Online Community Member Posts: 12 Listener

    Work related group . Income based I think

  • Kimi87
    Kimi87 Online Community Member Posts: 5,910 Championing

    In that case the LCW rate is correct.

    I'd recommend seeing a trained welfare rights advisor, who can do a full benefits check for you and see if there is a way forward.

    https://advicefinder.turn2us.org.uk/

    Please see your GP also as you are struggling.

  • Nita17
    Nita17 Online Community Member Posts: 12 Listener

    Thankyou for your concern and comments. I have a welfare rights advisor but it is the correct amount for a mixed aged couple, the logical/moral side of this is another matter.

  • Nita17
    Nita17 Online Community Member Posts: 12 Listener
    Screenshot_20250528-204701_Samsung Internet.jpg

    I read this with interest as this was my position before migrating to …uc..could this apply to me that they haven't verified it between them?

  • Kimi87
    Kimi87 Online Community Member Posts: 5,910 Championing
    edited May 28

    You are receiving Limited Capability for Work (LCW) element on your UC statements, after migration from ESA Work Related Activity Group. So they have verified your previous award correctly.

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