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UC and ESA?

My wife and I have just sorted out our Universal Credit claim. The information came through today. As I have Asperger's Syndrome, and my wife is also my carer, the total amount (which is basically child benefit, child tax credit, carer's allowance and housing benefit all folded into one), the amount we're due before deductions is £1,681.92.

Now the deductions..this is what is confusing me.

We are being deducted £66.67 - this is from the advance payment. I understand this bit.

What I do not understand is the deduction for my ESA. This is given as a monthly amount of £483.82. However, the payments I get for ESA are £388.60 every two weeks.

What is the reason for the difference? Has my ESA been re-calcuated?
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Comments

  • poppy12345
    poppy12345 Posts: 18,976 Forumite
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    Lenzar wrote: »
    However, the payments I get for ESA are £388.60 every two weeks.
    That seems rather alot of ESA and more information is needed.



    Is your wife claiming PIP daily living or DLA mid/high rate care? if so does anyone claim carers allowance for looking after her and do any other adults live with you?



    Were you claiming ESA as a couple?
  • calcotti
    calcotti Posts: 15,696 Forumite
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    edited 24 October 2019 at 11:46AM
    The UC deduction of £483.82 looks correct.

    If you are getting contribution based ESA in the Support Group you will be paid £223.30/week. This is £111.65/week which ahs to be converted to a monthly amount for UC. 3111.65 x 52/12 = ££483.82/month. This is the maximum amount of contribution based ESA you can get.

    I can only assume the £388.60 you have referred to is an amount you were previously getting on ESA prior to claiming UC. ESA at that time would have included income based top ups which have now been replaced by the UC.
    Information I post is for England unless otherwise stated. Some rules may be different in other parts of UK.
  • Lenzar
    Lenzar Posts: 17 Forumite
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    calcotti wrote: »
    The UC deduction of £483.82 looks correct.

    If you are getting contribution based ESA in the Support Group you will be paid £223.30/week. This is £111.65/week which ahs to be converted to a monthly amount for UC. 3111.65 x 52/12 = ££483.82/month. This is the maximum amount of contribution based ESA you can get.

    I can only assume the £388.60 you have referred to is an amount you were previously getting on ESA prior to claiming UC. ESA at that time would have included income based top ups which have now been replaced by the UC.

    Right so I'll get £483/month ESA and my existing PIP on top of UC?
  • poppy12345
    poppy12345 Posts: 18,976 Forumite
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    Lenzar wrote: »
    Right so I'll get £483/month ESA and my existing PIP on top of UC?
    No, Contributions based ESA is £111.65 per week, you'll receive this from ESA and the rest will be UC. £483 per month is deducted from your UC per month.


    Also, please answer my previous question above.



    That seems rather alot of ESA and more information is needed.

    Is your wife claiming PIP daily living or DLA mid/high rate care? if so does anyone claim carers allowance for looking after her and do any other adults live with you?

    Were you claiming ESA as a couple?
  • Lenzar
    Lenzar Posts: 17 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Name Dropper First Post Combo Breaker
    poppy12345 wrote: »


    That seems rather alot of ESA and more information is needed.

    Is your wife claiming PIP daily living or DLA mid/high rate care? if so does anyone claim carers allowance for looking after her and do any other adults live with you?

    Were you claiming ESA as a couple?

    I receive enhanced rate care and standard rate mobility PIP. This also boosted my ESA (and stopped them constantly harassing me to go to see a work coach). My wife then started to claim carer's allowance.
  • calcotti
    calcotti Posts: 15,696 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Lenzar wrote: »
    I receive enhanced rate care and standard rate mobility PIP. This also boosted my ESA (and stopped them constantly harassing me to go to see a work coach). My wife then started to claim carer's allowance.
    Getting the PIP would have made no difference to your ESA unless your wife was also getting a disability benefit.
    Information I post is for England unless otherwise stated. Some rules may be different in other parts of UK.
  • calcotti
    calcotti Posts: 15,696 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Lenzar wrote: »
    Right so I'll get £483/month ESA and my existing PIP on top of UC?
    Broadly yes but the payment schedule for ESA and UC is different.
    The amount of UC you get will include a deduction for the ESA as detailed in your opening post. From the details you posted UC will be £1,681.92 minus £66.67 minus £483.82 = £1131.43. This will be paid monthly.
    ESA will be paid as £223.30/fortnight.
    PIP will continue to paid every 4 weeks.
    Information I post is for England unless otherwise stated. Some rules may be different in other parts of UK.
  • poppy12345
    poppy12345 Posts: 18,976 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Lenzar wrote: »
    I receive enhanced rate care and standard rate mobility PIP. This also boosted my ESA (and stopped them constantly harassing me to go to see a work coach). My wife then started to claim carer's allowance.
    That still doesn't answer my question fully. Does your wife receive a disability benefit as previously asked.



    The reason i ask is because it seems like you were receiving the severe disability premium in with your ESA payment, which would be the reason why it was that amount. If your wife doesn't receive a qualifying benefit then no SDP should have been in payment, which would mean you would have been receiving less ESA.
  • calcotti
    calcotti Posts: 15,696 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Based on the information provided I would have expected the income based ESA (pre UC) to be £355/fortnight if OP is in Support Group or £296.40/fortnight if partner gets Carer's Allowance. I cannot see a way of arriving at £388.60/fortnight. If there is an SDP x2 or SDP plus carer premium involved the amounts are obviously higher.
    Information I post is for England unless otherwise stated. Some rules may be different in other parts of UK.
  • Nannytone
    Nannytone Posts: 501 Forumite
    Fourth Anniversary 100 Posts
    calcotti wrote: »
    Based on the information provided I would have expected the income based ESA (pre UC) to be £355/fortnight if OP is in Support Group or £296.40/fortnight if partner gets Carer's Allowance. I cannot see a way of arriving at £388.60/fortnight. If there is an SDP x2 or SDP plus carer premium involved the amounts are obviously higher.

    £388.60 per fortnight is the rate that a single person get that received Pip and a severe disability premium alongside ESA.

    VIP says his wife only gets Carer's Allowance.

    I am incline to think that the opp has been claiming ESA as a single person and one with the premiums while the wife claims only carer's allowance and is not included on the ESA claim
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