Anyone have experience moving from ESA to Universal Credit in the WRAG?

lifeofbrian2007

I am worried about moving to Universal Credit from the Work Related Activity Group of ESA. I would like to hear people experiences to either put my mind at rest, or prepare me for the worst. 

Thanks

poppy12345

lifeofbrian2007 said:

I am worried about moving to Universal Credit from the Work Related Activity Group of ESA. I would like to hear people experiences to either put my mind at rest, or prepare me for the worst. 

Thanks

Unless a change of circumstances prompts a move then it's likely going to be another few years yet before you need to apply for UC. When you do apply, which ever group you're in for ESA at the time then this will be honoured in UC. WRAG will be LCW with no extra money if your claim for ESA started after April 2017. Support Group for ESA is LCWRA which pays an extra £343 (as of April 2021) per month.

Robbie64

In an ideal world, a transfer from ESA to UC should be straightforward and your WRAG status should trasnfer with you. In practice I have heard that people have sometimes waited an assessment period or longer from the WRAG status to be transferred over. I believe it's because the legacy (ESA) benefits computer system and the UC computer system can't directly talk to each other so the WRAG (or Support Group for someone in that group) status has to be checked by someone.

As for whether this means a fit note may temporarily be needed, I don't know. Someone may be able to advise you of this.

If you are about to transfer over then be prepared for a little bit of disruption. If you are just curious about the transfer process then, as poppy12345 has posted, it is possibly some way off before compulsory migration happens.

poppy12345

Robbie64 said:

As for whether this means a fit note may temporarily be needed, I don't know. Someone may be able to advise you of this.

Feed back from other members have suggested that they do ask for a fit note BUT my thoughts on this is that doing so could prevent another WCA.