Voluntary move from ESA to Universal Credit

epitome

He will only lose the EDP £15.75 or £15.90, if he is on PIP DL Enhanced. -not been mentioned in the thread so far.

If he is not on PIP DL Enhanced then his ESA will be £102.15 a week, and this is the rate (give or take a few pence) that will be protected on his UC.

Also "why did the UC girl say what she said?" Maybe did not realise you were in a UC full service area(UCFSA) (but she should have checked) , if you specifically told her you were in a UCFSA, then there is no excuse.

CKhalvashi

Just got back.

What Alice Holt and Epitome have said are the correct answers. I do have some links on my iPad which are the same ones that have been given already.

Hope this helps and best of luck to your friend with his new accommodation if this is what you decide to do

CKhalvashi

Alice_Holt wrote: »

That's a very good question. I can't definitely say - I think the single room LHA rate still applies. But UC is very new and very confused - so I may be wrong! - I can't presently point you to an authoritative site with this info.
Give the Shelter helpline a ring - they should know.

There was the option with the old HB system to request the 1 bed rate if medical considerations warranted it.

I believe (and it's not something I asked) that there is the same discretion within the UC system however I'm not 100% sure, however it will be another body awarding it. I can find out tomorrow if needed.

Another option if it's not the case would be to speak with your MP (Rebecca Pow) to discuss the issue as she will be in the best position to lobby the government to help.

IAmWales

CKhalvashi wrote: »

There was the option with the old HB system to request the 1 bed rate if medical considerations warranted it.

I believe (and it's not something I asked) that there is the same discretion within the UC system however I'm not 100% sure, however it will be another body awarding it. I can find out tomorrow if needed.

Another option if it's not the case would be to speak with your MP (Rebecca Pow) to discuss the issue as she will be in the best position to lobby the government to help.

The one bed rate does apply, because he receives PIP. It would have applied under LHA as well. It's not discretionary. Perhaps CK is thinking about the discretion to award the two bedroom rate where an overnight carer is regularly required.

Not sure what you mean by another body awarding it. It will be part of his UC calculation.

Rebecca Pow today abstained from the Universal Credit vote. She's not going to be lobbying against the government anytime soon!

ikcdab

Thank you for the replies. To be clear, wrt PIP he's on enhanced daily living and standard for mobility.
On ESA he's in the WRAG.
How does that affect what I think the numbers should be?

ikcdab

Sorry second supplementary question.
We have been through the PIP and ESA work capability interviews some time ago. If we now do this claim for UC, is it an automatic read across...i really don't want to go through the WCA process all over again!

CKhalvashi

IAmWales wrote: »

The one bed rate does apply, because he receives PIP. It would have applied under LHA as well. It's not discretionary. Perhaps CK is thinking about the discretion to award the two bedroom rate where an overnight carer is regularly required.

Not sure what you mean by another body awarding it. It will be part of his UC calculation.

Rebecca Pow today abstained from the Universal Credit vote. She's not going to be lobbying against the government anytime soon!

I possibly am.

My experience goes back to DLA and HB days where those and ESA were claimed separately. I'm no longer actively involved in local government and therefore my knowledge isn't completely up to date which is why I've checked earlier on instead of giving an answer straight away.

If PIP gives an automatic entitlement to 1 bed rate then excellent, however I remember actively filling out forms to request the 1 bed rate in the days when it was under 25s who were on the shared rate rather than 35 for some on DLA.

If there are any additional questions I will ask tomorrow as there have obviously been more changes than I had thought between then and now, either that or I have far too much on my mind tonight and I'm not thinking properly.

Alice_Holt

ikcdab wrote: »

We have been through the PIP and ESA work capability interviews some time ago. If we now do this claim for UC, is it an automatic read across...i really don't want to go through the WCA process all over again!

In theory it should be, however.....
This discussion is relevant:
https://www.rightsnet.org.uk/forums/viewthread/11307/#53010

As an aside, I have heard (from caseworkers at a CPAG UC conference) that the UC work coach will not necessarily know about previous benefits, WRAG, or PIP so may try to impose full conditionality . So, I would advise you also attend the first JC appointment with him taking all PIP, ESA, medical paperwork, etc and make it very clear as to his capability.

"PIP he's on enhanced daily living" - so, unfortunately he will lose the EDP currently paid under ESA.
As an other aside, under ESA he may have been eligible for a £62pw SDP once living on his own (if no one claimed CA for him) - this too is lost under UC per IAmWales post.

ikcdab

Thank you that's all very helpful.
I much appreciate the replies. The PIP and ESA has been so hard won that I don't want to jeapordise anything, so I am proceeding carefully.
It really shouldn't be like this!

epitome

"Lives at home with his parents" SDP is usually (but not always, and I don't agree with the cases that are allowed, but hey what you gonna do?,) not awarded in this circumstance.

Remaining WRAG period should be kept on UC.