ESA Support Group / UC LCWRA - Permitted Work

Mr.Croesus

Several years ago I was moved into the Support Group from the WRAG. I was never given a reason why, outside of a notification letter. My next review of ESA is in Dec 2021. Can I request the DM report/info that shifted me from WRAG to Support, to begin with?

Next year (due to a housing shift) I will be a 'natural migrant' - grits teeth - into UC. I understand that my Support Group status will transfer over to LCWRA.

I know the rules for Permitted Work under ESA, and the Work Allowance of UC. What I am less clear on is how working is going to risk my Support Group and LCWRA status. 
Whilst I have been looking into very basic work, I have complex severe mental health issues. I am not clear as to whether I will be able to work unless, in some ways, I give it a try. If I were in the UC and lost the LCWRA £ amount due to work, the earnings from the work aren't going to compensate for that.  

Both the ESA and UC seems to have different initial work fitness forms from where the Support Group or LCWRA get determined. How best can I understand these, and how they relate to risks I am putting myself in whilst trying to work under either? 

For both the convoluted question, and for the oversharing I apologise.
All these moving parts are really hard to keep track of and my brain iz-a-Speshal place to begin with...
Any help/guidance/wise words of wisdom from a wizard are all very welcome....(the latter goes to the front of the line).  

poppy12345

You can ring DWP to ask if they still have a copy of the report but as it was so long ago then it may not be available now. I don't know how long they keep things like that for.

Support Group and LCWRA are exactly the same and the work capability assessment form you receive is exactly the same for both. The only difference is one is ESA50 and the other is UC50. Other than it's identical, as is the criteria for both.

Whether the work you contradicts the reasons for your claim will totally depend on the reasons why you're in the Support Group and what work you actually do.

calcotti

I infer you are moving to a different local authority and will need to claim UC to get help with your rent.
Your Support Group status should transfer across as LCWRA.
UC does not have permitted work rules so there is no ‘cliff edge’ where you lose your benefit if you go over the threshold. However if you are clearly doing lots of work that may prompt an earlier re assessment of your LCWRA status.

The ESA and UC forms are the same (albeit labelled differently). Information here https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/employment-and-support-allowance/help-with-your-esa-claim/fill-in-form/ and here https://wcainfo.net/

Note that if your ESA is partly contribution based, that part will continue but will be deducted from the amount of UC payable.

Mr.Croesus

The move will be in the same authority and if it is later than Jan 21 will mean UC claim.

I'd prefer to move prior and keep the SDP for a while (as I move on again in a couple of years). 

As I never got any details of the internal process via which I went into the Support Group...I'll call them on Monday. 
Thanks for all your help. 

poppy12345

Mr.Croesus said:

The move will be in the same authority and if it is later than Jan 21 will mean UC claim.

A house move within the same local council does not prompt a move to UC. A move to a different local council after Jan 2021 means a move to UC.

calcotti

The SDP Gateway currently excludes you from claiming UC and therefore would allow you to claim Housing Benefit from a new local authority if you were moving to one. 
You are correct that the ‘SDP Gateway’ ends in January. However I think you will still be able to stay on Housing Benefitif if you are staying within the same local authority by simply giving them details of your new tenancy and therefore no need to apply for UC if you don’t want to.

Mr.Croesus

OK. Now I am more confused...
The SDP Gateway thing was what I calculating this around. 
I am presently on ESA/PIP but am not on HB in my present circumstances.
I will be moving shortly to a new property within the same authority. 
I had assumed I needed to move before Jan 2021 to avoid having to make a UC claim (as SDP will apply to me). 
You seem to be suggesting because this move is all happening within the same authority, it doesn't trigger a move onto UC? 
1 Have I understood you right? 
2 Can you provide me with any links/info to clarify? 
This is causes a lot of difficulty for me so it was very helpful to get a firm clear picture...

calcotti

My apologies, I just assumed you were already getting HB - I should have asked.
If you are not already on Housing Benefit you are correct that you would need to claim UC after 27 January to get help with rent. Depends what you mean by moving ‘shortly’, 27 January is still 5 months away.

poppy12345

Mr.Croesus said:

I had assumed I needed to move before Jan 2021 to avoid having to make a UC claim (as SDP will apply to me). 

If you're not claiming the SDP at the moment and you move before Jan 2021 then you'll need to claim the SDP before you can claim housing benefit.

If you move after jan 2021 then you'll need to claim UC when you move, regardless of what local authority it is.

calcotti

poppy12345 said:

Mr.Croesus said:

I had assumed I needed to move before Jan 2021 to avoid having to make a UC claim (as SDP will apply to me). 

If you're not claiming the SDP at the moment and you move before Jan 2021 then you'll need to claim the SDP before you can claim housing benefit.

If you move after jan 2021 then you'll need to claim UC when you move, regardless of what local authority it is. 

Thanks poppy, I missed that crucial word ‘will’. Confused because OP concerned about SDP Gateway although it doesn't actually apply to them if not already getting SDP.

Mr.Croesus

So to try to help me understand...
- If I were on HB right now (with SDP),
- I then move after Jan 21 within the same authority that I was getting HB to begin with 
- This move made after the Jan 21 I would make a new or transfer details of the other HB application for, and it would not need a UC application? 

Essentially I want to avoid going on UC. I am in a family home presently, awaiting a health-related service move in due course into a special kind of unit (that I don't have much influence over as to when it happens). I could potentially live somewhere else prior to Jan 21, which would mean that I would be making a housing benefit and SDP application for this. Would this then mean any future move I make within he authority after Jan 21 doesn't trigger a UC application, and I just have to change the HB details when I move?

Apologies if I am asking daft questions in strange ways. It is a baffling system and the reason I am having to move is mental health-related etc. 

I really do appreciate your help and incite on all this far more than you'd wish to know...