Universal credit query

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System Posts: 230 Online Community Programme Lead
in Universal Credit (UC)
This discussion was created from comments split from: The Universal Credit Bill becomes law. Here are the changes to disability benefits you need to know.

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  • Tumilty
    Tumilty Online Community Member Posts: 321 Empowering

    Hi

    I have just had my universal credit migration letter and wondering what to do. Says I will soon stop getting income related ESA and housing benefit.

    I'm wondering if I still get paid the same amounts as I've just had a letter saying my ESA has increased, do I need to go to my local first point to create direct debit for housing benefit etc.Or do I do it all when claiming online?

    Thanks

  • Kimi87
    Kimi87 Online Community Member Posts: 6,069 Championing

    If your UC award is lower than legacy benefits, Transitional Protection will be added to your claim so you aren't worse off than on legacy benefits. This erodes over time as other elements go up or new elements are added. Effectively your payment is frozen until the usual non TP rates catch up with your award.

    Once you've applied for UC you have access to the online account called the Journal. You can request (by writing a note on the Journal) that your rent be paid directly to your Landlord.

    Otherwise, you will need to make whatever arrangement suits you best to pay the rent once your UC payment arrives.

  • Tumilty
    Tumilty Online Community Member Posts: 321 Empowering
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1049952#Comment_1049952

    Thanks.. I will have a look at the letter I received a few weeks ago that stated an increase in award monies and a date that it ends. I will post what it says in a while as I'm wondering if I'll need a WCA as I guess it's ongoing. Apologies if it's all a bit laboured my anxiety is through the roof.

    Regards

  • Tumilty
    Tumilty Online Community Member Posts: 321 Empowering

    Hi Everyone & @Kimi87

    I received a form saying that ESA have looked at my claim again & from 19th June will be changed to a higher rate.

    My question is, is that when i claim Universal Credit is it an ongoing thing or do i have to go through all the process of claiming again. i.e needing a letter from my Dr or do an assessment.

    It doesn't say a date that my claim will end but obviously now i need to claim UC which is why i found it strange they sent me a letter in June about ESA.

    Regards

  • Kimi87
    Kimi87 Online Community Member Posts: 6,069 Championing

    When you apply for UC, they will ask ESA (behind your scenes) about your current award.

    You will receive the UC equivalent group automatically, with no medical assessment required as a result of migration.

  • Socrates63
    Socrates63 Online Community Member Posts: 3 Connected

    For what its worth. I'm a single man living alone and moved to u.c. In April this year.i used to receive esa and was on it since it 1st started years ago. I was placed in the support group. My money was £320 a fortnight,with housing benefit straight to my landlord. When moved to u.c. I remain on new style esa at 281.10 a fortnight. But also receive £107 a fortnight from u.c. Plus I requested to have my housing benefit paid direct to the landlord. I'll let you do the maths.totally understand your anxiety, I was exactly the same.Countless sleepless night. But so far all seems OK. Hope this helps, all the best tumility.

  • Tumilty
    Tumilty Online Community Member Posts: 321 Empowering
    edited 7:25PM

    @Kimi87 thanks yeh I'll have to start doing the application. I'll be doing it soon. Thanks it's been worrying me about assessments but yes it's just migrating over. Is income related different from the other. Also when filling in online do i have to provide medical evidence? but i guess that is there from my ESA claim as it's just transferring over from one to another.

    @Socrates63 many thanks I've got to start doing it soon instead of worrying. I called my housing association and the gave me my rent and service charge amount which I think I add separately.

    I'm just wondering if I have to go to my local city council office who I think pay my HB, the place I take my yearly rent increase evidence.. but I guess it'll tell me when filling form in.

  • Kimi87
    Kimi87 Online Community Member Posts: 6,069 Championing

    When you apply for UC, work will be done behind the scenes to close your Housing Benefit and ESA claims. The claimant has no input info this process, UC do it all.

    Your responsibility would be to arrange payment of rent, either by asking UC to pay rent directly to landlord, or making payment once your Housing Element arrives with your UC payment.

    Some people's ESA is wholly income related, others have Contributions Based with an IR top up. Many don't know what their award is is until they migrate. See linked thread for what happens if your ESA award is mixed.

    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/130268/ive-already-moved-to-universal-credit-but-ive-received-a-letter-from-esa
  • Tumilty
    Tumilty Online Community Member Posts: 321 Empowering
    edited 8:03PM
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1050135#Comment_1050135

    Thanks.. My deadline to fill it in in October 25th so better to do it as late as possible so i continue to get ESA.

    When filling in the form online, is that where i ask for my housing benefit to be payed directly to my housing association.

    I will start the process tomorrow hopefully, i guess i can go back & forth to it like other .gov forms so i will report back if i need anything.. I appreciate everything you all write.. I'm worn out with it all, i'll respond asap i'm needing a chill pill

    Regards

    Tumilty

  • Kimi87
    Kimi87 Online Community Member Posts: 6,069 Championing

    After starting the application you have 28 days to submit the form.

    If after 28 days it hasn't been submitted, it gets deleted and you'd have to start again.

    As advised, once you've applied for UC and submitted the form, you have access to the online account called the Journal. You can request (by writing a note on the Journal) that your rent be paid directly to your Landlord.

    Usual forum advice is to apply for UC one day after an ESA payment. This helps ensure the run on payment will be for the full amount.

    After applying for UC, ESA & HB end, apart from one final payment known as the run on payment. This does not impact your first UC payment.

  • Tumilty
    Tumilty Online Community Member Posts: 321 Empowering
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1050142#Comment_1050142

    Ok thanks, yes applying day after a payment so it blends in. Also the evidence from GP etc is carried on from last claim yes? As I haven't got anything only what DWP have .

    Regards

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