Question About Moving From ESA to UC

Jonj1611

I don't really understand it all to be honest. Here is the calculation they used for universal credit : 

Universal Credit payment summary (monthly)

Standard allowance£334.91

Housing£507.13

Disability or health condition£132.89

Total before adjustments£974.93

Taken off for earned income (your salary)£0.00

Taken off for unearned income (benefits and savings)£0.00

Total adjustments£0.00

Total payment for the month£974.93

Universal Credit payment detail (monthly)

Maximum Amount

Standard allowance£334.91

Child element (for 0 children)£0.00

Additional amount for disabled child or qualifying young person£0.00

Limited capability for work element£132.89

Limited capability for work and work-related activity element£0.00

Carer element£0.00

Childcare costs element£0.00

Universal Credit Maximum Amount (excluding housing costs)£467.80

Housing Costs

Eligible rent£585.00

Cap rent£585.00

Housing costs contribution£77.87

Total Universal Credit Maximum Amount (including housing costs)£974.93

Earned income

Net earnings£0.00

Minimum Income Floor£0.00

Does Minimum Income Floor applyno

Work Allowance£344.00

Pension Contributions£0.00

Statutory Sick Pay£0.00

Occupational Sick Pay£0.00

Occupational Maternity Pay£0.00

Statutory mat/pat/adoption pay£0.00

Earned income brought to account£0.00

Total income

Unearned income£0.00

Less unearned income disregards£0.00

Earned income brought to account£0.00

Earned income after 55.0% taper£0.00

Total income for Universal Credit£0.00

Universal Credit

Maximum amount£974.93

Less total income for Universal Credit£0.00

Universal Credit award (before adjustments)£974.93

Universal Credit reduced to zero at net earnings of:£2,116.60

Direct payment of housing costs to landlordno

Above benefits cap?no

Exempt from benefits cap?no

And here is the original housing benefit calculation :

Housing Benefit Applicable Amount

Personal allowance£77.00

Client work related activity component£30.60

Total applicable amount£107.60

Housing Benefit Earned Income Disregards

Total earned income disregards£0.00

Housing Benefit Other Disregards

Total other disregards£0.00

Housing Benefit Income

Client income from other sources£0.00

Partner income from other sources£0.00

Client income from non-state pensions£0.00

Partner income from non-state pensions£0.00

Less other disregards£0.00

Assessed income for Housing Benefit£0.00

Excess Income for Housing Benefit

Assessed income for Housing Benefit£0.00

Less total applicable amount£107.60

Excess income-£107.60

HB non-dependant deduction

0 non-dependants on Pension Credit, aged under 25 and on Income Support/JSA or full-time student, or ignored for other reasons£0.00

0 non-dependants over 25 on Income Support or JSA, or aged 18 or over and working less than 16 hours£0.00

0 non-dependants earnings under £149.00 a week£0.00

0 non-dependants earnings £149-£216.99 a week£0.00

0 non-dependants earnings £217-£282.99 a week£0.00

0 non-dependants earnings £283-£376.99 a week£0.00

0 non-dependants earnings £377-£468.99 a week£0.00

0 non-dependants earnings £469 or more a week£0.00

Non Dep:1 - Non dep deduction: £51.85 from £237.50 earnings:£51.85

Total HB non-dependant deductions£51.85

Housing Benefit Award

Rent (maximum HB)£134.63

Less total HB non-dependant deductions£51.85

Eligible Rent£82.78

Less 65% Excess£0.00

Housing Benefit£82.78

I should add that we have a private landlord and the house is 3 bedroomed but will only be using 2 

calcotti

The difference is that for Housing Benefit your son is expected to contribute £55.85/week which is equivalent to £242/month. On UC he is only expected to contribute £77.87/month. 

For UC you are shown as getting help with rent of £507.13/month whereas your HB is only £82.78/week equivalent to £358.71/month

That's a gain of £148.41/month.

Between the ESA and UC everything else is equivalent.

Jonj1611

Thank you, appreciate the explanation.

I can't find any straight forward guides on how to move from ESA to UC though. Do I contact ESA? Or UC? Or is it done online? Sorry if this has been answered elsewhere. Thought it would be a bit more clear cut than it seems to be. Unless I am completely missing it

Spoonie_Turtle

If you wish to claim UC that is done online.  Once you have submitted the claim it stops all legacy benefits (although I believe there is now a two week run-on).
https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit/how-to-claim

poppy12345

Yes your ESA and housing benefit will continue for 2 weeks once you claim UC. Your first UC payment will be 1 month and 1 week after you first claim. You can request an advance payment but you will need to repay this back and your future UC payments will be reduced.

calcotti

Jonj1611 said:

I can't find any straight forward guides on how to move from ESA to UC though. Do I contact ESA? Or UC? Or is it done online? 

You do not need to contact ESA. When you claim UC they will tell ESA and HB.

Jonj1611

Sorry for the late reply, I don't seem to get notifications of replies.

Ok so my ESA will be carried over to UC automatically? I don't need to go through another assessment or go back to the assessment phase or anything?

Jonj1611

I think what I am asking is there are some misleading guides out there which is why I came here to be honest, I know I will get a knowledgeable answer rather than trusting my luck with Google.

One "guide" I read said that I would need another doctor note if I claim UC but I have already had the assessments and been on ESA for many many years so would I need to get another one or do they automatically pick up I have ESA? 

Also and finally you will be glad to know I am fairly sure my current ESA review date was due in January, what with covid I am expecting a few months at least before I need a new assessment/review but will the fact I need a review/assessment affect me getting limited capability for work on a UC claim when/if I move over? (Hope that made sense)

poppy12345

Your ESA WRAG will transfer with you when you claim UC but it may take a little while longer to add this element to your claim. They may ask you for a fit note when you claim. I beleive that reviews for WCA have been put on hold at the moment.

calcotti

Jonj1611 said:

One "guide" I read said that I would need another doctor note if I claim UC but I have already had the assessments and been on ESA for many many years so would I need to get another one or do they automatically pick up I have ESA? 

Although it shouldn't be necessary, it seems that having a Fit Note when you make the UC claim can smooth the process because it can take a while for UC to get the information from ESA.