£300pm better off on UC?
Kris35
Posts: 143
Forumite
Hiya. I've been in the Support Group of ESA for a few years now and recently applied for Universal Credit. It's a welcome relief of course but I don't understand why I'm £300 a month better off on UC? My rent is £720 and when I was on HB I only got £400 pm so had to pay the rest out of my ESA. UC are paying £520 towards my rent but I'm still getting more than when on ESA. Does this sound normal?
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Comments
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With the recent benefit rate changes, yes this does sound normal.
Some of the Local Housing Allowance rates have significantly increased. And the Standard Allowance was increased and with the LCWRA amount, you would see a large increase on your previous ESA award..
Use a benefits calculator such as Entitledto website and it will confirm the amount.The comments I post are personal opinion. Always refer to official information sources before relying on internet forums. If you have a problem with any organisation, enter into their official complaints process at the earliest opportunity, as sometimes complaints have to be started within a certain time frame.1 -
Those in the Support Group for ESA are better off claiming UC LCWRA (providing they are not claiming SDP) even before the increases happen for UC due to Covid19.Do be aware though that the increase in Standard allowance and LHA are only in place for 1 year.1
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Just checked and this is what I'm getting:
£550.02 for housing.And £409.89 standard allowance.Limited capability for work and work-related activity is £336.20.
Is some of this only temporary then, because there's nothing in my account that says this?0 -
The standard allowance is temporarily increased (until April next year). I'm not sure about the housing element, and LCWRA will not drop.
Edit: though I've just seen poppy said the housing element is a temporary increase too. It doesn't say anything in our accounts but the increases are temporary to support people through the economic impact of the pandemic.1 -
Huckster, thanks. I used that calculator and it says I'm entitled to 311.61 a week. So, this is much better because when I was on ESA I was on around £930 pm. I am so grateful for this money I can't tell you as I was struggling.
Thanks spoonie and Poppy.0 -
It’s surprising messing round with the benefits calculator
these days you are often better off on lower income working part time rather than full time1 -
poppy12345 said:Those in the Support Group for ESA are better off claiming UC LCWRA (providing they are not claiming SDP) even before the increases happen for UC due to Covid19.Do be aware though that the increase in Standard allowance and LHA are only in place for 1 year.
Thanks.0 -
Kris35 said:poppy12345 said:Those in the Support Group for ESA are better off claiming UC LCWRA (providing they are not claiming SDP) even before the increases happen for UC due to Covid19.Do be aware though that the increase in Standard allowance and LHA are only in place for 1 year.
Thanks.
It's not their responsibility to tell you whether or not you'll be better off claiming a different benefit. That's your responsibility. Blaiming DWP isn't going to help you claim that money i'm afraid because unfortunately, you won't be able to claim it regardless of what you try. You weren't entitled to that extra money at the time because you were claiming ESA and housing benefit.
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Kris35 said:poppy12345 said:Those in the Support Group for ESA are better off claiming UC LCWRA (providing they are not claiming SDP) even before the increases happen for UC due to Covid19.Do be aware though that the increase in Standard allowance and LHA are only in place for 1 year.
Thanks.
[Whether it ought be part of their remit or not is a separate matter.]1 -
Spoonie_Turtle said:Kris35 said:poppy12345 said:Those in the Support Group for ESA are better off claiming UC LCWRA (providing they are not claiming SDP) even before the increases happen for UC due to Covid19.Do be aware though that the increase in Standard allowance and LHA are only in place for 1 year.
Thanks.
[Whether it ought be part of their remit or not is a separate matter.]0
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