UC & ESA support group pregnancy advice

WelEng2024
WelEng2024 Online Community Member Posts: 4 Listener
in Universal Credit (UC)

Hey everyone 

I have just migrated over from the old legacy benefits system with my partner and 2 children 

The UC claim is currently going through the first 5 week period 

My partner is also claiming PIP enhanced on both parts and contributions based ESA and is in the support group along with child benefit and I'm claiming carers allowance 

My partner is also 27 weeks pregnant very unexpected and not planned at all and she is suffering lots as expected with her conditions 😞 she has lots of help in place from the maternity team and hospital and family

I have just been sat here thinking though do we need to notify UC about the pregnancy or is it just when the baby is born ? I know we won't get help financially with the 2 child limit already in place but I'm not sure if we have to tell them yet ?

I don't want to cause any issues with our claim, I did get help from citizens advice previously a few months ago when on legacy benefits saying we didn't need to notify anyone but I'm not sure if that's the case with UC 

Thanks in advance 🙏

Comments

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing

    You do not need to report that she's pregnant, you only need to report it once the baby is born.

    As she was in the Support Group for ESA she'll be entitled to the LCWRA element from the start of her claim. I'd advise her to put a message onto her journal to tell them she was in this group.

    It will take a couple of weeks for ESA to send her details across to UC. Once this is done your claim will be updated. She maybe asked to provide a fit note but she doesn't need to do that due to being in the Support Group. It's just UC will not know this until details come from ESA.

    Her contributions based ESA will be deducted In full from any UC entitlement and the same for your carers allowance.

    I hope everything goes well with the pregnancy.

    I don't know if you're aware of this but the 2 child limit doesn't apply to child benefit and you will still be able to claim that once the baby is born.

  • Emilee
    Emilee Online Community Member Posts: 257 Empowering

    I wanted to add in case someone reads who is in a different situation:

    If you do not have LCWRA and are not a carer, and are 29 weeks pregnant or more, you are advised to report it to Universal Credit as your work commitments are changed and you will not have to undertake any previous commitment of work search or work-related activities.

    You can of course report it to UC even if you have LCWRA or are a carer but there is no need or change to your claim as a result.

  • WelEng2024
    WelEng2024 Online Community Member Posts: 4 Listener
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/919970#Comment_919970

    Thank you so much @poppy123456 you have put my mind at ease you are a credit to Scope 🙏

  • Albus_Scope
    Albus_Scope Posts: 9,784 Scope Online Community Coordinator

    Heya @WelEng2024 and welcome to the community from me too.

    I can see you're already getting help from our ace regulars, but I just wanted to stop in and say a quick hi. 😊

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/920063#Comment_920063

    You're welcome and thank you so much for saying that, that's so kind of you!

  • WelEng2024
    WelEng2024 Online Community Member Posts: 4 Listener

    So sorry to message back for further advice but my partner has just received a message in her Journal from UC to say she needs to supply a FIT NOTE

    We have migrated over from Legacy benefits and she was in the support group for ESA Contributions based I was previously advised it would automatically move over and she wouldn't have to supply fit notes or be assessed again

    Can anyone confirm how to proceed please thank you

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing

    She doesn’t need a fit note because she was in the Support Group for ESA.

    It’s standard procedure for them to ask for a fit note because when she claimed she reported her health condition. UC do not yet know that she’s claiming ESA and they won’t have that confirmed until ESA send her details across. Once this is done your claim will be updated.

    In the meantime she should put a message onto her journal and tell them she’s in the Support Group. It will take a couple of weeks for your claim to be updated.

  • WelEng2024
    WelEng2024 Online Community Member Posts: 4 Listener

    Thanks @poppy123456 really appreciate the response

    The Work coach that she was issued when we first migrated over was well aware of the support group status and made a new appointment for the 28th October via phone in the hope everything would be updated by then so to receive this today came as a shock and with new commitments which were no different to what she had already agreed to

    It's been just over 4 weeks that we changed over its such a shame things like this can't be resolved sooner to save people who are already worried even more so 😔

    I have again left a Journal message stating she's migrated over from the support group etc hopefully someone will take notice

    Thank you

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