Previously on UC, ill and moved, what now?

elsien

Person was previously in a UC area and claiming UC. They then got a job and came off all benefits. They lost job, lost accommodation and ended up homeless and in hospital in a different area. They are unlikely to return to UC area.
When making the ESA claim the helpline advised that because they had already been on UC previously all new claims would be for UC even if they were now in non UC town.
Is this correct? The helpline seemed fairly sure but they're not always the most accurate. I think the UC was in a full service area.

NeilCr

Found this. It ties in with my "understanding" but I've never come across an actual case

https://revenuebenefits.org.uk/universal-credit/guidance/who-can-claim-universal-credit/moving-areas/?css_skin=2

elsien

Clear as mud to those of us who speak normal English.


.I can see that if you're staying on UC and move then it would move with you, but does that still apply if you stop claiming completely for months then move? I can't work that out from the link you posted.

NeilCr

I "think" that once you have been on UC you can't return to legacy benefits, whatever the circumstances - although, I have it in my head you can go back to HB if you are in supported housing

huckster

Sorry, what is meant by not returning to a UC area ?

Where are they moving to ?

What happens at the moment, is that this issue is decided based on housing needs.

If the housing is temporary or supported through council, they can make a new ESA claim and not have to make a new UC claim. The position changed in April 2018, when UC stopped paying for temporary housing and it returned to council Housing Benefit.

If the housing is permanent or there are no housing costs, then it depends on the situation. They might have to claim UC full service online, with the claim attached to a Work Coach at their old JCP for admin purposes, who then hands over the local face to face, general conduct of the claim to a JCP WC local to the claimant. The two JCP WC's then work together, until the the local JCP is UC full service and can do the admin themselves.

If the previous claim has been closed for 6 months or more and the current postcode will not be UC full service for quite awhile, then they can claim for ESA.

Best point of contact is the complex needs Work Coach at the nearest JCP to the claimant. They can find out what needs to be done in the particular case and arrange relevant actions.

elsien

Person is in hospital, will be there for the foreseeable future and currently not able to get to the nearest Job centre. They have no idea where they will be living when they leave hospital but have no wish to return to previous town. That will be part of the discharge planning but if they stay in the town where they are now it's not UC .

huckster

It will be UC Full service within months or by end of 2018.

Up the persons support worker to contact ESA to make the claim, I think in this situation.

This is on basis previous UC claim closed, not in a UC area and there are no housing costs.

If this person is in hospital and difficult to get exact info, I think it would not make sense to restart UC claim that might have been closed within 6 months and to then have 2 JCP's dealing with the claim.

The local Job Centre nearest to hospital should be able to help. There will be a Work Coach that deals with these situations, who can assist with ESA sorting out a new claim with support worker/claimant.