Hi, my name is Briar! just received a migration notice, but need help.

Briar
Briar Online Community Member Posts: 13 Connected
edited August 23 in Universal Credit (UC)

Hello

Comments

  • Briar
    Briar Online Community Member Posts: 13 Connected

    I have MS and have just received a migration notice and I am terrified as I am a sandwich short of a picnic, and have no one to help me and can only do basic things on my phone and computer. ( I have recently been scanned out of £300 to give you an idea of how useless I am) I can't remember things and my concentration span is about 15 mins. I don't know how I am going to fill in the form, upload photos/documents.

  • luvpink
    luvpink Online Community Member Posts: 3,173 Championing
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/137896/hi-my-name-is-briar

    Hi

    Welcome to the community.

  • Kimi87
    Kimi87 Online Community Member Posts: 7,474 Championing

    Citizens Advice offer a Help to Claim service, they can support you before during and after your claim.

    https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/universal-credit/claiming/contact-us-about-universal-credit/

    Not everyone needs to scan/upload anything.

  • Briar
    Briar Online Community Member Posts: 13 Connected

    Thank you so much, I will contact them next week.

  • WhatThe
    WhatThe Online Community Member, Scope Member Posts: 4,693 Championing

    Hello Briar and welcome to Scope 😊

    I'm unable to upload or scan documents so the job centre does it for me. You'll get lots of advice here about the migration process. It doesn't all have to be done at once. Best wishes.

  • Albus_Scope
    Albus_Scope Posts: 11,423 Scope Online Community Coordinator

    Heya @Briar and a warm welcome from me too. 😁

    I can see everyone's already given you some top advice, but I just wanted to pop in and say a quick hi. If you do need additional support, or even just a natter, we're all here for you when you need us. 😊

  • Briar
    Briar Online Community Member Posts: 13 Connected

    Many thanks

  • WelshBlue
    WelshBlue Online Community Member Posts: 954 Championing

    @Briar … I can't offer advice on the UC , but it's awful you were scammed. it happens to the most computer literate too. One of the biggest 'geeks' (self professed) I know has just lost £16,000 on a debit and credit card. They're very sophisticated so don't feel bad at the being scammed, but feel free to feel anger at the parasites

    My own card was hacked a couple of years ago … will never forget the bank fraud man telling me … don't worry, we stopped their Uber payment. Didn't stop the 8 transactions 200 miles away but Okay 🤣

    I hope you get the chance to claim it back

  • Briar
    Briar Online Community Member Posts: 13 Connected

    Thanks to everyone, I really appreciate all your help. I am trying not to get stressed as it will make my MS worse. I hope you are all as well as possible and that life is treating you kindly ❤️

  • Briar
    Briar Online Community Member Posts: 13 Connected

    Hi, me again, sorry,

    I contacted CAB and they have agreed to help me do my UC migration via a three way telephone call on 3rd November. They also did a calculation based on what I am currently getting and what I will get on UC and it is over £200 less a month. They said I will have to cut back on my expenditure but I can't see how I can do so any further as I don't smoke,drink or go out at all due to the MS. I have only one light bulb in my bungalow which is energy saving and only used in emergencies at night. I wash up in cold water rather than wait for the water to run hot and then only once a day. I live on toast and jam two days a week, never have meat, fresh veg or fruit. Only shower and wash clothes once a week and only have the heating on low with tin foil behind the radiators in the winter. I don't wear makeup up or buy new clothes. How am I supposed to cut back further to save over £50 a week? Anyone got any ideas? Or do the government expect me to take my own life as I can't afford to live?

  • Kimi87
    Kimi87 Online Community Member Posts: 7,474 Championing

    That's terrible advice and shocking from the Help to Claim service.

    If your UC award is lower than legacy benefits, Transitional Protection will be added to your claim. This ensures at the time of transfer you aren't worse off.

    Transitional Protection does erode over time as other elements go up or new elements are added.

    Effectively your payment is frozen until the rates for those not getting TP catch up.

  • Briar
    Briar Online Community Member Posts: 13 Connected

    Thank heavens for that. I have been unable to sleep at night. They said I would lose out on money as I wouldn't get the severe illness allowance under UC that I get on ESA amongst other things. Don't they know how awful it is not being able to work? I hate that my whole life is out of my control and that I can no longer work extra hours if I have extra expenses to cover like I used to do pre MS.

    Sorry to run on. Many many thanks for your help.

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