Can I move from ESA SG to UC voluntarily?

pinkjune

Hi I am in ESA SG and receive PIP enhanced on both components. I live with parents so don't receive the severe disability premium in ESA. Benefit calculators say i'll be better off on UC by £100+ a month (Im guessing that's because I dont receive SDP right now). Can I apply for UC voluntarily? And will I need to do it over the phone or can I do it online ?. Also does my ESA stop immediately? thanks

Spoonie_Turtle

You apply online.

Just to check, did you put in anything for housing costs when doing the calculation? UC won't pay a housing element unless you have a proper tenancy agreement, so living with parents does not count.

calcotti

Yes. If you apply for UC this will automatically end any entitlement to income based ESA will stop the day you claim UC. If your ESA is a mix of contribution based ESA and income based ESA you will continue to get the contribution based ESA but will get UC as well. The amount of UC will take into account any ESA you are still getting.

You are expected to claim UC online. You will have to attend the JobCentre to complete ID checks and to agree a Claimant Commitment. Your Support Group status should be carried over into UC (although this can take a few weeks to sort out - and may take longer over he holiday period.) Although they shouldn't Uc may initially ask you to provide a Fit Note.

If all of your ESA is income based bear in ind that your first UC payment will not arrive until 5 weeks after you claim. You can ask for an advance but this has to be paid back y deduction from your next 12 payments.

Bear in mind also that whereas you are used to fortnightly ESA payments UC payments are made monthly.

calcotti

Spoonie_Turtle wrote: »

You apply online.

Just to check, did you put in anything for housing costs when doing the calculation? UC won't pay a housing element unless you have a proper tenancy agreement, so living with parents does not count.

Single claimant in ESA Support Group is about £100 better off on UC.
ESA £128.45/week = £556.62/month.
UC = £654.12
Above figures for someone aged 25 or over.

Spoonie_Turtle

calcotti wrote: »

Single claimant in ESA Support Group is about £100 better off on UC.
ESA £128.45/week = £556.62/month.
UC = £654.12
Above figures for someone aged 25 or over.

Oh that's good to know. One of the good aspects of UC then

calcotti

Spoonie_Turtle wrote: »

Oh that's good to know. One of the good aspects of UC then

The other aspect which is much better for people who become ill while in employed work is that UC can be used to top up SSP whereas ESA can only be claimed after SSP entitlement has ended. This means a UC claimant can get LCWRA element (if they are assessed as meeting the conditions) while still getting SSP whereas an ESA claimant would have to wait another 28 weeks before getting into ESA Support Group.

pinkjune

I have applied for it and it said in the To Do section that I will need a fit note, and to also book an appointment with job centre, which im doing tomorrow. Do i still need to provide fit note or do I go to my job centre appointment and ask all this? I've never been in work due to my illness

pinkjune

No I didnt put any housing costs in I put living with family on the benefit calculator

pinkjune

yes better on UC if you don't have SDP in ESA. if you do have SDP you're worse off

calcotti

pinkjune wrote: »

I have applied for it and it said in the To Do section that I will need a fit note, and to also book an appointment with job centre, which im doing tomorrow. Do i still need to provide fit note or do I go to my job centre appointment and ask all this? I've never been in work due to my illness

You need to obtain a Fit Note fro your GP. As per my previous post they shouldn’t be asking for this because you are already in ESA Support Group but because they've asked you’ll need to provide one to ensure your claim is processed properly.