Legacy benefits

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Everyone talks about keeping the uplift in universal credit but is anybody doing anything about those of us through no fault of our own, and mainly the disabled who haven't been transferred to UC by the DWP yet as it's difficult for them who are getting absolutely no increase whatsoever all the way through this dreadful pandemic. 
Most of us were locked alone with additional expenses. Or is this another case of those of us who need help the most.... get the least, well actually no additional support t all
Does anyone care? Probably not 

NedS

No one is being transferred onto UC by DWP - it is your choice if you want to claim UC or not. If you are entitled (savings of less than £16,000), you can make a claim for UC and benefit from the higher amounts. It is your choice. DWP are not likely to apply any uplift to legacy benefits.

Is there a reason you have not claimed UC?

poppy12345

I'm one of those that still claim legacy benefits but i hoestly can't see anything happening with any extra money. In all honesty i saved money during lockdown because there was no where to go to spend my money.

Just to point out "no one has actually been transferred" to UC by DWP because you don't automatically transfer. The only ones that were invited to apply were some from the pilot area in Harrogate.

Those that are still on legacy benefits could claim UC theirself, if they will be better off and some are, some aren't.

KxMx

Yes, there is a court case upcoming:

https://www.disabilitynewsservice.com/universal-credit-basic-fairness-20-uplift-case-given-high-court-go-ahead/

It's all very well and good saying you saved money etc.

Someone in my exact circumstances (ESA IR SG) but on UC LCWRA got the money and I didn't.

That is discrimination and thankfully the judge that gave approval for the case to be heard at the high court agreed. 

calcotti

KxMx said:

Yes, there is a court case upcoming:

https://www.disabilitynewsservice.com/universal-credit-basic-fairness-20-uplift-case-given-high-court-go-ahead/

It's all very well and good saying you saved money etc.

Someone in my exact circumstances (ESA IR SG) but on UC LCWRA got the money and I didn't.

That is discrimination and thankfully the judge that gave approval for the case to be heard at the high court agreed. 

But someone on UC LCWRA gets more money than someone on ESA SG anyway even without the uplift (unless the ESA claimant gets SDP). Inevitably when things change some people win and some lose and that isn't considered discriminatory. No one is required to stay on legacy DWP benefits if they wish to change.

Anyway it seems this will now be argued out in court.

Nannytone

The reason for the Universal Credit uplift was the help low paid working people. The only Legacy benefit that some working people are still claiming is working tax credit, and they are also receiving the uplift.
The fact that it was paid to everyone that claimed universal credit was just their good luck.

It isn't discriminatory because anyone claiming Legacy benefit could have transferred to universal credit at any time

Spoonie_Turtle

Nannytone said:

The reason for the Universal Credit uplift was the help low paid working people. The only Legacy benefit that some working people are still claiming is working tax credit, and they are also receiving the uplift.
The fact that it was paid to everyone that claimed universal credit was just their good luck.

It isn't discriminatory because anyone claiming Legacy benefit could have transferred to universal credit at any time

Not entirely true - those receiving the SDP were not allowed to until January 2021.  However I believe those people still received more money than someone with the exact circumstances on UC with LCWRA, even with the uplift to UC.

calcotti

Spoonie_Turtle said:

Nannytone said:

The reason for the Universal Credit uplift was the help low paid working people. The only Legacy benefit that some working people are still claiming is working tax credit, and they are also receiving the uplift.
The fact that it was paid to everyone that claimed universal credit was just their good luck.

It isn't discriminatory because anyone claiming Legacy benefit could have transferred to universal credit at any time

Not entirely true - those receiving the SDP were not allowed to until January 2021.  However I believe those people still received more money than someone with the exact circumstances on UC with LCWRA, even with the uplift to UC.

Exactly - the reason that group was excluded from UC is because they would be worse off.

Pok3mon

There is very little in the way or restrictions now so why would people need the extra money still?

Spoonie_Turtle

Pok3mon said:

There is very little in the way or restrictions now so why would people need the extra money still?

Lots of people still on furlough, lots of people still looking for jobs, lots of types of businesses cannot reopen and many that can have decreased revenue still - what the government says is safe and what people (customers) feel is safe are not necessarily the same.  Plenty of self-employed people - especially those in the hospitality, arts, and events which still have restrictions - have very little income from their work. 

(Musicians especially have been absolutely hammered with Brexit as well, nothing to do with covid but a double whammy with the timing, little to no income then on top of that it's expensive and complicated to even be allowed to travel to the EU for work.)

Pok3mon

Spoonie_Turtle said:

Pok3mon said:

There is very little in the way or restrictions now so why would people need the extra money still?

Lots of people still on furlough, lots of people still looking for jobs, lots of types of businesses cannot reopen and many that can have decreased revenue still - what the government says is safe and what people (customers) feel is safe are not necessarily the same.  Plenty of self-employed people - especially those in the hospitality, arts, and events which still have restrictions - have very little income from their work. 

(Musicians especially have been absolutely hammered with Brexit as well, nothing to do with covid but a double whammy with the timing, little to no income then on top of that it's expensive and complicated to even be allowed to travel to the EU for work.)

But they will be on UC so wont affect them. Again unless you are socialising everything is normal.