NEWS REGARDING DISABLED PEOPLE TO CHANGE TO UC

You won’t be transferred yet. At the moment it’s optional, unless you have a change of circumstances. 

Although, some charities are warning that 500 000 disabled people could be worse off than they are now because the way the SDP will be calculated on UC. 

woodbine said:

MarkN88 said:

Yes, there’s transitional protection, but I’m just pointing out, this is at an agreed level, and if you see an increase in another element of UC, you can see a decrease in the SDP equivalent, as outlined in the articles and confirmed by DWP. Therefore as the articles states, some could be worse off in the long run, maybe not straight away, but over time, especially if other elements of their UC claim changes. 

yes thats right a transitional amount will effectively freeze your UC at the rate your legacy benefits were paid, its like one side goes down as the other side stays where it was, best we can do is try and not confuse the issue more than it already is, as most people won't be managed migrated for possibly 3 or 4 years, and it is only IR benefits not Cont.based that are affected.

That's not 100% correct though when it comes to people that are on legacy benefits and are entitled to SDP. 

As the article states, which I will put below again:

"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."

For example if you move to UC, and your equivalent SDP amount is for example £120, and you have a change in another element, lets say for example, the rent goes up by £20, you lose that £20 from the SDP equivalent, because your housing element would have increased. 

I'm not out to confuse people, but you keep saying that a full transitional amount will freeze exactly as the same amount, and that's not the case. That's why as well people still have the option to move to UC and that's the decision they need to make using the information available. 

Of course, if they have a change of circumstances than they are not going to have a choice. 

And again if they wait for natural migration then they will be forced across eventually. 

The article is therefore trying to say that in the long run some disabled people might be worse off because they wont necessarily get the full transitional amount plus any changes to any other element as per the example I have given above. 

I think its right to get it right because if people use the search function to review older threads at a later date. 

No one is claiming to be an expert, but the guidance has been published in relation to the SDP equivalent which I have linked on numerous replies and you seem to be overlooking them. 

Its very clear that some people in the long run will be worse off because their SDP equivalent payment can and will be affected by a change of another element that makes up a full UC Award, however you advising the OP that they wont lose a penny, and you cant guarantee that. 

Your saying yourself we are not experts, but your giving false information which has not been backed up and I've provided you with the links and the explanations of how it is going to work. 

woodbine said:

I have said what I have to say but I do take umbrage when you say I am giving false information, my message is clear on being migrated to UC those on legacy benefits will get transitional protection, the clue is in the word transitional, I perhaps make the mistake in thinking people understand what transitional means as in its a transition from one benefit to another BUT I have not given false information.
 But I refuse to be drawn into an argument.

You clearly haven’t read the links I provided. It tells you in there if there are changes to individuals other elements than it can reduce their SDP equivalent amount. What don’t you understand? 

I fully respect the community and the guidelines, I have linked to everything I was saying, It seems you do not understand what I was trying to get across. 

I'm not saying there is no transitional protection. 

The original poster was asking about SDP and the equivalent amounts that come into place and this is what I was responding to. 

Woodbine was saying that they would not lose a penny, but I think that was in response to the overall UC transitional protection, this was not what was asked. 

I was responding directly in relation to the SDP. 

The guidance specifically says that if you have an increase in another element of your UC award, for example the rent or the personal allowance because of your age, this would decrease the amount of the SDP equivalent you would be entitled to. 

This is mentioned and explained in the links I have provided. 

This is why many charities have been saying that around 500 000 disabled people may in the long run be worse off because at first they will get their transitional protection in full and they will get their SDP equivalent, but what the charities are trying to say is, say for example two years after changing across to UC there is a major change like a rent increase for example, if for example this was £20 a month, then that would decrease the SDP equivalent that the person is entitled to. 

Its all linked and all explained on how it is going to work. 

Yes I totally agree that their will be that transitional protection across the board and that the original date is by 2024 and this will more than likely keep been pushed back. 

All I was trying to get across is, woodbine was answering in more general views, which were perfectly correct and I was responding to the specifics of the SDP. 

I hope that explains what I was trying to say, I have no intention to disrespect anyone.