What are universal credits and there effects???

mightyroyals

Hi

I was just wondering what effect Universal credits would have on some one on Income Related Esa in the support group.
I have no idea what universal credits are at all so any help would be appreciated

Thanks

Horseunderwater

Technically nothing - you should keep the same ESA component(group) that you are on now. What is happening so far as I understand it - is that when a persons award is coming up for reassessment after a certain date you will be migrated over from the separate ESA as it now is to UC with a section or component consisting of what you are on now. It will happen bit by bit for each different benefit. The first one will be Tax credits I think in April 2014 and so on until approx 2017 or so. This is a very big change linking all benefits under the one umbrella of UC.
Prior to that PIP will be starting for new DLA claimants this year.

Roxy07

Horseunderwater wrote: »

Technically nothing - you should keep the same ESA component(group) that you are on now. What is happening so far as I understand it - is that when a persons award is coming up for reassessment after a certain date you will be migrated over from the separate ESA as it now is to UC with a section or component consisting of what you are on now. It will happen bit by bit for each different benefit. The first one will be Tax credits I think in April 2014 and so on until approx 2017 or so. This is a very big change linking all benefits under the one umbrella of UC.
Prior to that PIP will be starting for new DLA claimants this year.

When does PIP start for existing claimants?

CTcelt1988

Roxy07 wrote: »

When does PIP start for existing claimants?

From October 2015 for indefinite awards.

Horseunderwater

CTcelt1988 wrote: »

From October 2015 for indefinite awards.

And for anyone who has an award closing after 7 Oct 2013 - I believe it will be on an as and when basis - DLA reassessment process I am told begins at 20 weeks prior to end date so if you end date is + 20 weeks on 7th Oct (7th Feb 2014?) I guess you will be invited to apply for PIP instead of DLA. Those prior to 7th Oct - should still get a DLA invite review with the option to change to PIP if they so decide. But as PIP would seem more difficult to get it may be madness to opt in too soon. And as above responder said if your DLA is indefinite, then sometime after Oct 2015 onwards upto 2017/8?