I'm on ESA with SDP. I haven't been told about moving to UC. Could someone shed some light on this?

dynasty30 · January 27

I’m currently on ESA with SDP I’ve noticed on google this morning that as from today they roll out the universal credit rule.
ive not been informed as yet about the change but obviously worried as means a five weeks without money and looks like SDP ceases altogether can someone shed some light on this for me thanks

MarkN88 · January 27

The move isn’t instant.

If you choose to move to UC you can do so.

The only way I believe you will be forced too is if you have a change in circumstances.

dynasty30 · January 27

I’ve no change in circumstances so for the time being I would remain on the esa with SDP ?

I was so panicked by what I read today

janer1967 · January 27

@Adrian_Scope can you advise here

@dynasty30 you may find a similar post helpful on this it is in the recent discussions

mark2411 · January 27

Everyone eventually will be moved onto uc by 2023, unless this has changed.

Don’t apply for uc as you are on sdp, eventually you will automatically be moved onto uc, and you will have transition protection, you won’t loose sdp.

MarkN88 · January 27

More information below, however I believe you wont be forced across to UC at the moment, unless you either a) want to or b) have a change of circumstances. Obviously in the future when natural migration happens you wont be able to avoid it.

https://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/news/2021/january/claimants-severe-disability-premium-awards-no-longer-exempt-requirement-claim

dynasty30 · January 27

Thank you both I appreciate that,I’m assuming when the change does happen I will lose my SDP as that doesn’t exist within the UC roll out.
as I’ve come to rely on that for extra heating due to my vascular disease?

janer1967 · January 27

As above you will have transustion protection so wont lose SDP

woodbine · January 27

The managed transfer to UC starts from today that's fact, how long it will take is an unknown and might be as late as 2025 for everybody. You will get transitional relief so you are not worse off BUT that relief will never be increased so over the years you will move towards whatever you are entitled to on UC.
They have done this in the past with other benefits, one example I think i'd be right in quoting would be the move from SDA to IB in 2001

dynasty30 · January 27

Thank you what was most worried about was my SDP would not longer exist when the transition occurs would I then be on the flat rate as per say someone who wasn’t disabled

woodbine · January 27

@dynasty30 transitional relief will in effect mean that when you are migrated you will still get the same amount each week, BUT that amount won't increase each year

MarkN88 · January 27

Just to clarify the SDP element that will be honoured in UC can decrease if another element of UC was to increase. I’ll copy the relevant text below:

This means that if a claimant’s UC entitlement increases - for example if their rent goes up or even if they become 25 years old and so entitled to a higher personal allowance - the amount of the transitional SDP element, worth between £120 and £405 a month, will decrease by the same amount.

So a claimant will be no receive an increase and the worth of their transitional award for loss of SDP will continue to decrease over time.

calcotti · January 28

Many people have already ‘naturally’ migrated from legacy benefits to UC. To date the law has prevented legacy claimants entitled to SDP from naturally migrating to UC. The change that has now occurred is that the exclusion is removed so claimants with SDP are I now in the same position as everyone else (but will benefit from the SDP transition element if they meet the conditions for it).

if someone has a relevant change of circumstances that would require a new means tested benefit claim then that claim will now have to be for UC and the act of claiming UC will close any other means tested benefits.

For the time being if there is no relevant change of circumstances means tested legacy benefits continue as now.

Non means tested benefits are not affected at all.

The only means tested benefit outside all of this is Council Tax Reduction which continues to be administered by local authorities.

Last target for completion of managed migration was 2024 but OBR had commented that 2026 seemed more realistic. Whether COVID has delayed things or quickened them (because many have naturally migrated) is unclear. Bear in mind that original date for completion was (I think) 2016 so keeping to the timetable is not a feature (just as with transfer from IB to ESA, DLA to PIP etc.)

dynasty30 · January 29

many many thanks for all the replies seems a lot clearer now

Tori_Scope · January 29

I'm glad the above advice has been helpful @dynasty30

Please do comment or post if you have any further questions.

calcotti · February 3

Regarding the issue of 'manged migration' of legacy benefit claimants to UC I have come across this recent written answer in the house of commons
Written questions and answers - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament
Question: "To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 23 November 2020 to Question 116496, on Universal Credit: Coronavirus, what the revised timeframe is for the universal credit managed migration pilot in Harrogate."
Answer: "The Pilot remains suspended as the Department continues to focus on delivering its part of the Government’s ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic."
With the pilot suspended the whole migration process is clearly in limbo at the moment.

I'm on ESA with SDP. I haven't been told about moving to UC. Could someone shed some light on this?

Replies