ESA or Universal claim? 30 November 2022 at 9:18PM in Benefits & tax credits 6 replies 169 views

OceanView

Hi wonder if anyone could please give a little advice my daughter has worked for last 7 years and is currently unemployed and also has a fit note until mid Jan 23 due to illness, we are unsure whether to claim esa or UC, we are aware on ESA it will pay a contribution towards NI but are not sure to claim one or other or both, we have tried to understand the benefits calculater but are struggling understand the questions 
Any help would be gratefully received 
Thanks 

poppy12345

She can claim New style ESA with a fit note if she's paid paid the correct amount of NI contributions in the previous 2 tax years. It is not means tested so savings/capital do not affect the amount she's entitled to. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-style-employment-and-support-allowance

She can claim UC if she doesn't have savings of more than £16,000. If she lives with a partner they will need to claim as a couple and their joint circumstances will be taken into consideration. If she needs to claim help with any rent then she will need to claim this for the rent (providing she doesn't live at home with you) unless she lives in either supported or temporary housing and then she will need to claim housing benefit.

If she claims both the above together then the ESA will be deducted in full from any UC entitlement.

xxxxxxxx

Claim both, UC is worth £1 a month more than ESA, which means, if any "cost of living payments" should come around again from the government she would be entitled to get those.  Claiming both guarantees her the best outcome.

Make sure she declares her illness on the application form for UC and puts in the date of her fit note. and she renews her fit note as when they expire and she uploads pictures of each fit note to ESA (they should tell her how it works I don't know how) and she reports each fit note on her UC account.  

She must also understand they are 2 different benefits and any changes must be reported to each benefit separately. UC via journal, ESA via telephone.

For ESA she will need an SSP1 from her employer and she cannot claim ESA until her SSP has finished, she can claim ESA from the day after the last day of SSP.  
For UC she can just claim during the SSP period.

OceanView

Hi Poppy12345
thank you cor your reply
Yes she has paid the correct amount in last 2 years
she has a mortgage on her house and lives alone
she has no savings
we just tried the calculator again and it’s seems UC would be just £1.24 per week it seems hardly worth claiming really
Best regards

OceanView

xxxxxxxx said:

Claim both, UC is worth £1 a month more than ESA, which means, if any "cost of living payments" should come around again from the government she would be entitled to get those.  Claiming both guarantees her the best outcome.

Make sure she declares her illness on the application form for UC and puts in the date of her fit note. and she renews her fit note as when they expire and she uploads pictures of each fit note to ESA (they should tell her how it works I don't know how) and she reports each fit note on her UC account.  

She must also understand they are 2 different benefits and any changes must be reported to each benefit separately. UC via journal, ESA via telephone.

For ESA she will need an SSP1 from her employer and she cannot claim ESA until her SSP has finished, she can claim ESA from the day after the last day of SSP.  
For UC she can just claim during the SSP period.

Thank you so much
on that basis I will make sure she does claims both benefits
great advice thank you

xxxxxxxx

Also when paid any amount of UC  like £1 per month, she can get free prescriptions free NHS dental and optician treatment.  

And UC cannot be backdated but ESA can be backdated up to 3 months as long as SSP had finished

OceanView

xxxxxxxx said:

Also when paid any amount of UC  like £1 per month, she can get free prescriptions free NHS dental and optician treatment.  

And UC cannot be backdated but ESA can be backdated up to 3 months as long as SSP had finished

Thanks again!