New style Esa & UC

Pinky48
Pinky48 Online Community Member Posts: 1 Listener
edited February 22 in Benefits and income

I applied for UC early last year when I got very poorly but never got any money from them as I was still getting SSP, when my SSP ran out I applied for new style Esa which I got but obviously still had to do these exhausting UC appointments even though I had been supplying fit notes for months (to Esa & UC) anyway, I submitted my forms for work capability back in August last year to UC and two weeks ago there was a not on my journal to say I had been deemed LCWRA. I received a little back pay from Esa and a letter to say I was now in the Support group and my payments had increased. But my question is... Because I now get enhanced Esa, do I not get the extra LCWRA amount from UC? Do I not get back pay from UC? I'm single and receive PIP, if I had stayed on just UC I think I would have got £416 per month so have I just shot myself in the foot? I have no clue what I'm doing and wish I was fit and able to get back to working for a living it was so much less stressful 😔 any advice would be very gratefuly received.

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  • Kimi87
    Kimi87 Online Community Member Posts: 5,276 Championing
    edited February 22

    You will get LCWRA element added to your UC award before deductions.

    There is a waiting period of three full assessment periods before LCWRA is payable. Often the AP you supplied the first Fit Note in doesn't count.

    Any gaps Fit Note, any that were backdated etc will effect the waiting period.

    Any backpay due for UC will be calculated, this takes several weeks at least. You'll know this has been done as a letter will be added to your Journal stating the amount owed. The money will then be paid several working days later.

    Benefit backpay is excluded from calculating your capital for UC for one year.

    NS ESA will be deducted in full from your UC award, at a rate of 598.86 monthly.

    This looks like more than you receive but isn't. As ESA is a weekly benefit and there are 4.3 weeks in a month

    UC LCWRA & Standard Allowance is over £800 so don't panic about the ESA deduction. Your income will be NS ESA topped up by Universal Credit.

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