Need help with ESA and possibly moving to universal credit with change of address

calcotti

Benjamin_N wrote: »

Ok. thankfully I was told because the processing centre for my ESA is the same and my new address is only 9 miles away I would only need to apply for HB through UC and my ESA will remain. Thanks!

This is simply incorrect unless you are getting the SDP.

We can not recommend what to do. However you are not understanding what you have been told or you have been badly advised by DWP.

You cannot move your housing benefit to UC and keep your income based ESA.If you claim UC your income ESA claim will be closed and you cannot return to it.

As I see it, and as I tried to explain in my previous post, you have two options:

1) Move now and apply for UC in order to get help with your rent. Your existing housing benefit claim will end. Your ESA claim will end. If you get PIP in the future you will not be able to get SDP as it does not feature in UC.

2) Stay put while you wait for the PIP decision. If you get the daily living part of PIP contact ESA to claim the SDP. Once you have the SDP you can move and make a new housing benefit claim at you new address. Your ESA will continue.

(I am assuming you cannot afford to move and pay your rent without additional Helps).

Incidentally although we keep discussing SDP I don’t think you’ve confirmed whether or not you do live alone and if so whether you will still live alone if you move.

Benjamin_N wrote: »

After checking the UC website, I can't quite decipher what amount I would recieve. My ESA was awarded november 2017, does that mean that I would recieve the standard £317.82 + £328.32 for the limited capability for work? My current allowance is 500 a month so that would be £150 more which is considerable.

Yes the UC amount would be £646.14/month. I assume you currently get £127.15/week which is £552.50/month (a month is more than 4 weeks) so UC is better by £93.64/month or £21.55/week as per my previous post. However if you get PIP and can get the SDP in the ESA claim that would be worth £64.30/week and is not replicated in UC.

These figures exclude the housing costs element which will match the housing benefit.

Benjamin_N

I really appreciate you helping me with this.

That is a shame that I was wrongly advised. I was someone at the ESA Office that my claim could remain (I was under the assumption that the UC would be less actually, which is why I was pushing to remain).

I would need to move next week, to get to a better place which is better for my health.

Just to clarify if my ESA claim is closed and moved to UC (which it will because of HB) I will still have my award for the rest of the year, but will unable to apply for the SDA afterwards? I assume that's what you mean by my work capability assessment carried over?

Many thanks

poppy12345

Benjamin_N wrote: »

Just to clarify if my ESA claim is closed and moved to UC (which it will because of HB) I will still have my award for the rest of the year, but will unable to apply for the SDA afterwards? I assume that's what you mean by my work capability assessment carried over?

Many thanks

You will be given LCWRA which is Support Group equivalent. As far as re-assessment is concerned then for both ESA and UC they can re-assess you anytime from 3 months.



SDA no longer exists, it's SDP. You still haven't answered the question.... Do you live alone, or classed as living alone? This is one of the criteria to claiming the SDP. SDP doesn't exist on UC.

Benjamin_N

But I was awarded it until the end of the year, I am not re-applying? Why would they make me do it again in 3 months?

I live alone.

Thanks for the help

poppy12345

Benjamin_N wrote: »

But I was awarded it until the end of the year, I am not re-applying? Why would they make me do it again in 3 months?

I live alone.

Thanks for the help

The time is just a guide, they can re-assess you anytime from 3 months. I'm not saying you'll be re-assessed in 3 months, i'm saying they can reassess you anytime from 3 months.

Benjamin_N

Ah I see. Will there be a period of wait and can I be backdated from that date or any other date that I could have been receiving higher amount in UC?

calcotti

Benjamin_N wrote: »

Ah I see. Will there be a period of wait and can I be backdated from that date or any other date that I could have been receiving higher amount in UC?

Because you are already in ESA Support Group if you claim UC you are entitled to the LCWRA element from the start of your UC claim. However there is sometimes an administrative delay which prevents this althoughwhen sorted should be backdated.