Upcoming UC payment error

berry61
berry61 Online Community Member Posts: 178 Contributor
edited February 26 in Universal Credit (UC)

Hello,

I have just looked at our latest UC payment notification which is due on the 3rd February for our usual assessment period 26th to 25th each month.

I am in receipt of support group Esa since December 2024 and this amount has always been deducted in full from our " other benefits " section on the payment breakdown.

However this latest statement doesn't have any deduction for my Esa at all... has this ever happened to anyone else ??

I know the Esa amount is deducted as an average amount each month over the year but this is strange.

Should I phone UC or put a note on my journal. I'm scared of touching the extra money in case it is an error and needs paying back !!

Thanks Everyone

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Comments

  • Kimi87
    Kimi87 Online Community Member Posts: 4,501 Championing

    Yes I had an incorrect deduction once.

    You need to write a note on your Journal (under Payment) stating your latest payment is incorrect because they haven't deducted ESA.

    Once they've had a look, a letter confirming the overpayment will be added to your Journal stating the amount owed, and repayment options.

  • berry61
    berry61 Online Community Member Posts: 178 Contributor

    Thank you Kimmy87,

    Appreciate your help I will do that now.

    Take Care

  • berry61
    berry61 Online Community Member Posts: 178 Contributor
  • berry61
    berry61 Online Community Member Posts: 178 Contributor

    Hi ,

    Sorry to ask another question, but regarding the original post I made this morning I have noticed that our Transistional protection has gone down to zero now.

    We have been on UC for 12 months now since migration from WTC so is that correct. Does TP only last for 12 months ?

    Thanks

  • Kimi87
    Kimi87 Online Community Member Posts: 4,501 Championing

    When you transferred from WTC, how much did you have in savings?

  • berry61
    berry61 Online Community Member Posts: 178 Contributor

    Hi not much it was well under the 6k limit and still is , it has never gone over.

  • Kimi87
    Kimi87 Online Community Member Posts: 4,501 Championing
    edited February 26

    There is a special rule if transferring from WTC with over £16k, you only get TP for one year.

    But I suspect in your case because the ESA deduction wasn't done correctly, the increased UC award reduced your TP, and was enough to reduce it to zero.

  • berry61
    berry61 Online Community Member Posts: 178 Contributor

    This is what it now states on the payment breakdown..

    You are no longer eligible for transitional protection.

    This is because your earnings have dropped below the amount agreed in your Claimant Commitment for 3 consecutive months.

    My wife still works the 12 hours per week she always has and her earnings are still within our work allowance because i get Esa support group. So nothing has changed its strange this !

    Thanks

  • Kimi87
    Kimi87 Online Community Member Posts: 4,501 Championing
    edited February 26

    Is she earning the same as in your first UC assessment period?

    Earnings thresholds when migrating from WTC can be a complex area, I'd recommend trying a local welfare rights organisation to see if they can help untangle what has happened.

    https://advicelocal.uk/welfare-benefits

  • berry61
    berry61 Online Community Member Posts: 178 Contributor

    Hi yes she is we migrated to UC back in Feb 2024.

    I have just phoned the UC help and spoke with a helper who looked at this and said it needs to be looked at by a case manager and they have stated I will get a reply by 6pm today either via journal or if needed a telephone call.

    Last month was a strange incident has well , on my journal they asked me to report earnings from employment and dates , but I have never worked for anyone since my ssp ended on 4th Oct 2024 and was transferred to Esa assesment for 13 weeks then awarded lcwra just before Xmas.

    I will update any news I get so it may help others in a similar situation.

    Thanks

  • berry61
    berry61 Online Community Member Posts: 178 Contributor

    HI Kimmy87,

    I received a reply on our journal today about the over payment, apparently this was caused with a system update that was done for the upcoming benefit increase in April, so that has now been corrected.

    Regarding the Transistional protection that has now stopped completely and reason given is because our income has fallen below the " Actual earnings threshold "

    I have questioned this again as my wife's income and my Esa have been the same since December 2024

    Thanks

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