Don't Understand Advance Payment in Universal Credit

RealGem

Hi

I am applying for Universal Credit, and desperately need an Advance Payment, or I have no money at all. 

I have been told that I won't get UC for 5 weeks. But that I will get 4 weeks money as an Advance Payment. 

And they are saying I will be paying a small amount out of my UC each month, as it is a loan. 

The part I don't understand is...

If I get the money I am owed in five weeks time, then surely I will get BACKPAY, so why would I need to be paying a loan back in dribs and drabs?

Shouldn't they be paying me the five weeks money that I was without, on top of the on-going UC? A lump sum with which I can pay the whole amount of the Advance Payment?

The fact they are saying I will pay a small amount each month makes it sound like they won't be paying me back for the initial five weeks when I had no money. So I am very woried, as the amount is not only a LOT less than I got on ESA + Enhanced Disability Premium (that was approx £50 a week more) but the UC amount doesn't appear to include rent either, and that definitely needs paying by UC.

(PS: the reason I have to claim UC is because I moved house a long way from my previous Local Authority).

Thank you

freesha

Because UC is paid in arrears.

RealGem

freesha said:

Because UC is paid in arrears.

Thank you     

Newcad

If you take a UC advance then you pay it back from your ongoing UC.

When I changed from ESA to UC in November 2021 I took an advance of the Standard Allowance + my LCW element (original claim before Apr 2017 so I still get paid LCW).

I had 24 months to pay it back at £18.75 a month from my ongoing UC payments. So it will have been paid off this November. (I'm not sure off'hand if you can still do 24 months? It was 12 but they changed it for covid).

You don't have to take the full amount offered - my offer also included my Housing Element amount (yours will too although it doesn't yet, that will change once your HE is approved)- you can ask for just what you think you will need until your first UC payment is made.

Or ask for all they offer but the more you take as an advance now then the more you have to pay back each month.

poppy12345

RealGem said:

The fact they are saying I will pay a small amount each month makes it sound like they won't be paying me back for the initial five weeks when I had no money. So I am very woried, as the amount is not only a LOT less than I got on ESA + Enhanced Disability Premium (that was approx £50 a week more) but the UC amount doesn't appear to include rent either, and that definitely needs paying by UC.

If you were in the Support Group for ESA and you claimed UC when you were still claiming ESA then your UC should include the LCWRA element from the start of your claim. It may take them a while to transfer your details from ESA to UC. If you haven't told them already then i'd advise you to put a message onto your journal and tell them that you were claiming ESA in the Support Group.

Your rent will be paid in with your UC known as housing element and this will be extra on top of your standard allowance and LCWRA element.

Your ESA payments should also have continued for 2 weeks when you claimed UC, assuming you were still claiming ESA when you applied for UC.

Once your rent and LCWRA element have been confirmed your AP should increase and you should be able to apply for some extra if you want it.

Just so that you're aware, LCWRA for UC does actually pay more than ESA Support Group, providing your ESA didn't include the SDP.

RealGem

@Poppy12345 -  "Your ESA payments should also have continued for 2 weeks when you claimed UC, assuming you were still claiming ESA when you applied for UC."

I waited to claim today, as I was told by so-called UC experts that my ESA would stop yesterday, because today was when my 4 weeks notice to quit my council flat was up. 

So are you saying if I had applied yesterday I would have been eligible for the 2 week run-on? But because I applied today, I won't be able to? 

As I've moved far away, I was told by an Advice Centre and UC at my old city, that the 2 week run-on could not happen. But I did have to pay 4 weeks rent two weeks ago at the new place, despite being forced to stay at the old flat for 4 weeks. So if I don't get the 2 week run-on, I will struggle more, as I have paid two weeks overlapped rent, and owe money to the people who helped pay my moving costs. 

Thanks

poppy12345

Your ESA wouldn't have stopped because you moved house. Your ESA would have continued. Now you've claimed UC the ESA will stop after 2 weeks.

As you moved house to a different local authority i'm unsure if housing benefit will continue for a further 2 weeks.

HillStreetBlues

Agree with poppy12345 your ESA will continue for two weeks after you applied for UC and it's paid automatically
What date did your Housing Benefit  end on your old property?

poppy12345

RealGem said:

I was told by so-called UC experts that my ESA would stop yesterday,

I missed that. They are not experts. They are call centre staff who have very little benefits knowledge. Never the best place to go for such advice.

RealGem

HillStreetBlues said:

Agree with poppy12345 your ESA will continue for two weeks after you applied for UC and it's paid automatically
What date did your Housing Benefit  end on your old property?

Thanks I had to give 4 weeks notice on my council flat at the old place, and that 4 weeks ended yesterday on August 7th. So I presume they would only pay HB up to then or the 6th. 

RealGem

poppy12345 said:

RealGem said:

I was told by so-called UC experts that my ESA would stop yesterday,

I missed that. They are not experts. They are call centre staff who have very little benefits knowledge. Never the best place to go for such advice.

I was told this by the UC department in my old council hub at the old address. And I thought I was told the same by a UC advisor at Citizen's Advice (but I could have got HB and ESA mixed up in that regard). But I prefer your version; that ESA will lstill continue for 2 weeks with LCWRA. Thanks!


I just had a call with UC this morning saying I won't get ANY disability on top unless I go for an assessment. But one person previously told me I would get my Enhanced Disability Premium (or the UC equivalent) automatically. 

Last time I was assessed it took months to sort out , so I am hoping it does happen automatically. 

Does anyone here know if I have to start all over again?

Thanks