Don't Understand Advance Payment in Universal Credit

HillStreetBlues

RealGem said:

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. 

Yes, last day of HB will be the 6th, first day of the HE of UC will be the 7th.
I believe there is a two-week run on for HB that your old council pays, but this isn't certain as there has been disagreement on this. So could you let  us know if you do or do not get that payment (might take a few weeks) as this will help giving advice to others in the same position as you.

RealGem

HillStreetBlues said:

RealGem said:

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. 

Yes, last day of HB will be the 6th, first day of the HE of UC will be the 7th.
I believe there is a two-week run on for HB that your old council pays, but this isn't certain as there has been disagreement on this. So could you let  us know if you do or do not get that payment (might take a few weeks) as this will help giving advice to others in the same position as you.

Yes I will do. 

poppy12345

RealGem said:

I just had a call with UC this morning saying I won't get ANY disability on top unless I go for an assessment.

That's not correct. As has been advised you will be entitled to the LCWRA element from the start of your claim. Have you put a message onto your journal to tell them that you're in the Support Group for ESA? If you haven't then you should do that now. It may take a few weeks for them to receive the information from ESA and update your claim. Once it's done you will need to agree to your claimant commiments again.

RealGem said:

But one person previously told me I would get my Enhanced Disability Premium (or the UC equivalent) automatically. 

As previously advised, there's no disability premiums payable at all when claiming UC so when your ESA ends the Enhanced disability premium will end as well.

Your UC will include the standard allowance, LCWRA element, housing element and any other elements you're entitled to.

UC with LCWRA pays more than ESA Support Group, unless your ESA included the SDP (which seems like it didn't)

HillStreetBlues

I was in your situation and like poppy advises I put a note on my journal stating I will be moved into LCWRA so will have no work commitments.
I had two appointments, first one to show ID and proof of rent,  second one to agree a claimant commitment, but as in LCWRA all that should be in to check journal from time to time and that's it.

Newcad

It is not unusual to be told conflicting things when they are setting up a new UC claim, especialy when 'naturally' migrating to UC from other benefits because of moving house.

Things change as the UC claim gets set up and different elements get added to it at different times.

If you don't know how it works and that what you are told will keep changing in the first month, because things get added to your claim at different times in that first month, then it can be confusing when it is happening

They have to say how things stand on that day, even though they know those things will change before it is all sorted out and everything added that should be added.

Being told that you will need a new assessment is standard - it will won't be needed in the end - but for the moment until they get the paperwork sent back from ESA it's what their computer says so it's what they have to say..
Once they get that paperwork from ESA then your LCWRA will carry over into UC with no need for assessment.

It's a similar thing with your notice about an advance, it is right for the moment, but when the Limited Capability paperwork from ESA is sorted out the amount to be paid will go up and so the advance amount will go up with it, and when the Housing Element paperwork is sorted out they will go up again.

RealGem

poppy12345 said:

RealGem said:

I just had a call with UC this morning saying I won't get ANY disability on top unless I go for an assessment.

That's not correct. As has been advised you will be entitled to the LCWRA element from the start of your claim. Have you put a message onto your journal to tell them that you're in the Support Group for ESA? If you haven't then you should do that now. It may take a few weeks for them to receive the information from ESA and update your claim. Once it's done you will need to agree to your claimant commiments again.

RealGem said:

But one person previously told me I would get my Enhanced Disability Premium (or the UC equivalent) automatically. 

As previously advised, there's no disability premiums payable at all when claiming UC so when your ESA ends the Enhanced disability premium will end as well.

Your UC will include the standard allowance, LCWRA element, housing element and any other elements you're entitled to.

UC with LCWRA pays more than ESA Support Group, unless your ESA included the SDP (which seems like it didn't)

Hi thanks for this. (Sorry I meant LCWRA as being the UC equivalent of EDP). 

And thanks as well @HillStreetBlues and @Newcad

I spoke to two more advisers today. And it is indeed a different story today!

They are aware I was in the Support Group on ESA and say I will be entitled to the LCWRA in UC. So THAT's a relief!

They also said I am not due to be reassessed til at least March 2025. And that it could even be 2026. So it seems I will get the extra LCWRA income without an assessment. Also relieved about that. 

I will only know exactly what I am entitled to on Sept 13th. 

I was also told I would get a run-on of both ESA and Housing Benefit. Fab if true! But I don't want to take that as gospel til I see it in my bank account. I will let you know here as I said above. 

I also got over £1200 as an Advanced payment, but that's for rent too, and of course needs paying back each month. But at least I can eat for the next 5 weeks!

So much less stressed than I was two days ago! 

Will post here either way, if I get the ESA and/or HB run-on.

Thank you for your very helpful responses. 

Newcad

Good to hear that things are coming together as they should do, it can just be confusing as it all slots into place bit-by-bit.
And of course if you haven't read or heard of how it all works, or know sombody who has already done it,  then you wonder what is going on.

From what you say the Housing Element has now been added in, and so you/they are just waiting for confirmation from ESA that you were in Support Group before the UC-LCWRA can get added.
That shouldn't take long, they have had plenty of practice by now and do it quicker than they used to.

RealGem

I only just thought... if my old Local authority continue to pay Housing Benefit for a 2 week run-on, I won't benefit at all will I?!

It'll just go straight to the council, as it always did. Housing Benefit paying Council Housing.

And they might not even let me know about it. 

Not sure of the advantage of this procedure, if the claimant doesn't get it towards the rent on their new place. And why would HB pay for two extra weeks when they know I don't live there anymore?

Anyone know?

Thanks

Newcad

As you were entitled to income related ESA on the date you claimed UC then it will run on for 2 weeks.

As long as you were entitled to HB (for your old place) on the date that you claimed UC that HB will also run on for 2 weeks, and will be paid to you.

The HB situation with direct payments was recognised and in the case of direct HB payments to landlord (in your case the council) then if you have claimed UC due to changing address the run-on is paid to the claimant and not to the landlord.
(The only time the HB run-on could be paid direct to the landlord is if you had claimed UC without changing address, so you would still benefit from it in that case as it would still go towards your rent. That happened with me, I had direct payments of HB and I then claimed UC without changing address so the HB run-on was paid into my rent account).

See: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/moving-from-housing-benefit-to-universal-credit

If your Housing Benefit is paid directly to your landlord

The extra money will usually be paid to your landlord in line with the usual Housing Benefit payment cycle.

If you’ve claimed Universal Credit because you’ve changed address, the extra money will be paid directly to you. This is because the council may not have your new landlord’s details.

RealGem

Newcad said:

As you were entitled to income related ESA on the date you claimed UC then it will run on for 2 weeks.

As long as you were entitled to HB (for your old place) on the date that you claimed UC that HB will also run on for 2 weeks, and will be paid to you.

The HB situation with direct payments was recognised and in the case of direct HB payments to landlord (in your case the council) then if you have claimed UC due to changing address the run-on is paid to the claimant and not to the landlord.
(The only time the HB run-on could be paid direct to the landlord is if you had claimed UC without changing address, so you would still benefit from it in that case as it would still go towards your rent. That happened with me, I had direct payments of HB and I then claimed UC without changing address so the HB run-on was paid into my rent account).

See: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/moving-from-housing-benefit-to-universal-credit

If your Housing Benefit is paid directly to your landlord

The extra money will usually be paid to your landlord in line with the usual Housing Benefit payment cycle.

If you’ve claimed Universal Credit because you’ve changed address, the extra money will be paid directly to you. This is because the council may not have your new landlord’s details.

Ah ok thanks, I was not aware of this. 



I just looked at my bank account and in "Pending transactions" it says I will get two weeks money from EESA tomorrow. So that will be a big help, and a nice surprise! 

I will let you know if I also get a two week run-on of Housing Benefit.

Thank you