Moving to UC (another thread sorry!)

bubsxo
bubsxo Online Community Member Posts: 31 Contributor
edited December 23 in Universal Credit (UC)

Hey everyone.

Sorry for another thread I'm sure there's been many.

Ive just received the 3 month migration letter to move over to UC.

I currently receive:

Contribution based ESA + SDP.

Enhanced PIP for both daily living and motability

Housing benefits

Council tax support

I also do permitted work.

I have tried multiple benefit calculators online but they are really confusing.

What am I looking at losing roughly? I think I would have to reduce my permitted work hours as I believe they deduct some for every £? I'm aware there's also aa big gap between my ESA stopping and UC starting.

Also what happens with work assessments etc? I've seen you have to submit sick notes. I've been in the support group for so many years (I can't remember how many it's been that long!) That i don't have any sick notes. I do have a letter from my doctor outlining my mental and also physical health conditions that I used to support my claim for PIP when they tried to fail my most recent assessment. Is that enough?

I hope that's everything I've tried to keep it short. It does state to get advice but im not sure who to turn to! Thankyou!

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Comments

  • OverlyAnxious
    OverlyAnxious Online Community Member Posts: 3,466 Championing
    edited December 23

    Hi,

    Are you sure your ESA is all contributions based? I would expect it to be at least partly income related if you've got a migration notice.

    You shouldn't lose anything because Transitional Protection is added to make it up to the same as your legacy award.

    There is no need to go through another WCA, you will be awarded LCWRA from the start of the claim because you are migrating from the Support Group of ESA. Do not send a fit note if they ask for one.

    You will have a work allowance of £404. Anything above that will create a deduction of 55% from your UC award. (So if you earn £504. 55% of £100 would be deducted. Which is £55 in this case).

    If you do get Contributions Based ESA alongside income related, that will be changed to New Style ESA, and will continue to be paid as a separate amount every 2 weeks. That amount will be deducted from your UC amount.

  • Kimmy87
    Kimmy87 Online Community Member Posts: 1,688 Championing
    edited December 23

    If your UC is less than legacy benefits, then Transitional Protection will be added to your payment so you aren't worse off at the point of transfer. This does erode over time as other elements go up or new elements are added.

    You will be entitled to a work allowance on UC due to having LCWRA . This means the first £404 of earnings will be ignored and deductions (£0.55p for every £1 earned) will only start after that amount.

    The CB ESA converts automatically into New Style ESA.

    You will still be in the Support Group for NS ESA & automatically receive the UC equivalent (LCWRA).

    NS ESA will be paid separately from UC, fortnightly at a rate of £276.40.

    This will be deducted in full (598.68) from each UC payment.

    As UC is a monthly benefit and ESA weekly, the numbers may look wrong- but are correct.

    You may get a letter mentioning work coach, medical evidence etc

    Don't panic. The letter is a generic letter, assuming the claim is a brand new one and not a transfer from the old ESA. Most of it doesn't apply to your claim.

    You will need a commitments interview for NS ESA this is just a formality, your commitments will be to keep them updated with any changes. If a face to face is booked, you can ask for a phone call instead as a reasonable adjustment

    You will be entitled to LCWRA element automatically, it can take a few weeks for ESA to send your details (it has allegedly been sped up recently).

    Ignore any request for a Fit Note as that isn't needed.

    Housing costs will be paid via Housing Element under UC.

    Advise your local authority you are transferring for Council Tax Reduction. Some areas treat UC and legacy benefits differently so some see the amount they need to pay go up.

    Moving to UC won't trigger another WCA.

    UC will be paid 5 weeks after you claim. You will receive one more payment (2 weeks worth) of Housing Benefit and IR ESA. This won't be deducted from your UC payment.

    You will also still get NS ESA paid fortnightly.

  • Kimmy87
    Kimmy87 Online Community Member Posts: 1,688 Championing
    edited December 23

    @OverlyAnxious OP mentions CB ESA & SDP.

    SDP is IR ESA.

  • bubsxo
    bubsxo Online Community Member Posts: 31 Contributor
    edited December 23

    I thought i was on CB esa but I definitely get SDP so possibly IR and not both. I'll have to check that out. Would being on IR ESA + SDP only and not IR+CB make any difference to the information mentioned above?

    Thankyou by the way! Extremely helpful.

  • OverlyAnxious
    OverlyAnxious Online Community Member Posts: 3,466 Championing
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/958103#Comment_958103

    I thought that might be the case. 🙂

    If it's IR only then it moves fully to UC with LCWRA. You will not get any New Style ESA separately.

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