Moving from ESA SG to Universal Credit? Moving out..

pinkjune

Hi I will be moving out soon and needing to claim HB for the first time, which means I will have to start claiming UC I think? I read online that people in the Support Group for ESA get moved on to the UC LCWRA group, but do I have to apply for UC or do I ring the Jobcentre and tell them Im moving and they move me over? Can someone please fill me in on what the process is because I have no clue?

poppy12345

If the area you're moving to is a full UC area and you don't have more than 2 children you'll need to claim UC. Check here.
https://ucpostcode.entitledto.co.uk/ucdate
If it is then you'll need to claim this online. First payment takes 6 weeks and the DWP should honour your Support Group award and place in LCWRA but this isn't always the case. You will need a tenancy agreement to be able to claim the housing element of UC.

tazwhoever

poppy12345 - does that mean CB ESA (WRAG and Support) moving over to UC becomes IB ESA?

That means if partner works FT, the claimant isn't entitled to IB ESA under UC?

poppy12345

tazwhoever wrote: »

poppy12345 - does that mean CB ESA (WRAG and Support) moving over to UC becomes IB ESA?

That means if partner works FT, the claimant isn't entitled to IB ESA under UC?

CB based ESA isn't part of UC. It would become New Style Contribution based ESA.

calcotti

tazwhoever wrote: »

poppy12345 - does that mean CB ESA (WRAG and Support) moving over to UC becomes IB ESA?

That means if partner works FT, the claimant isn't entitled to IB ESA under UC?

No. When you apply for Universal Credit the contribution based ESA converts to new style ESA and payment should continue without interruption. The ESA payments are then deducted from the UC award.


In the case of an ESA award which is contribution based topped up with income based the income based part will end but, again, the contribution based part should continue.
What 'conversion' of the ESA award involves from a practical point of view is not clear. Claimant should not have to make a claim but as there are some slight differences in the administration of new style ESA you would assume the DWP would have to contact the claimant at some point.


Would be very helpful to hear from someone who has actually experienced this - particularly if they had a hybrid award.


Having a partner working full time does not exclude a UC award. It will entirely depend on the level of earnings and the amount included in the UC for housing costs (to replace housing benefit). The maximum UC amount will be the basic couple amount (£498.89) plus the LCWRA element (£328.32) plus the housing costs. There will a work allowance of £198 (assuming there is a housing costs element) which means this amount is ignored from the monthly earnings. Only 63% of the remaining earnings are taken into account. For someone working 35 hours at minimum wage take home pay is about £1092/month but the deduction is only £562.94. This is less than the basic amount plus LCWRA amount even without the housing costs so UC will be payable.


Obviously if the earner is a high earner the result will be different.