Experiences of managed migration from TCs to UC

wizzler

We’ve just received the migration letter. Wondering if anyone out there can feed back their experiences of the process? My husband is self employed with extremely variable income across the year… Whilst the theory is that we get transitional protection for 12 months, does it really work like that when some months he’ll bring in 0 whereas in others he’ll do pretty well. Over the course of the first 12 months will we really be no worse off?! From what I’ve read, seems unlikely… 

CGG_3

We are in the same position.  We have savings over £16K and are undecided whether it will be worth our while applying for UC, having had the migration letter saying to apply before 2 February 2024.  I don't work now due to ill health. I claim PIP, (High mobility, lower care).  My husband is 63 and  claims Carers Allowance for me.  He has been a self employed builder for donkeys years, but prioritises my care above work now.  He still completes a tax return each year for the work he does.  We currently get WTC.  That is it, as far as any benefits.  He won't be in a position to up his work load if UC say he should.  We live simple lives, within our means.  Savings are mainly from inheritances.

Spoonie_Turtle

CGG_3 said:

We are in the same position.  We have savings over £16K and are undecided whether it will be worth our while applying for UC, having had the migration letter saying to apply before 2 February 2024.  I don't work now due to ill health. I claim PIP, (High mobility, lower care).  My husband is 63 and  claims Carers Allowance for me.  He has been a self employed builder for donkeys years, but prioritises my care above work now.  He still completes a tax return each year for the work he does.  We currently get WTC.  That is it, as far as any benefits.  He won't be in a position to up his work load if UC say he should.  We live simple lives, within our means.  Savings are mainly from inheritances.

They won't; as a carer he won't have any work-related requirements.

peteuk

CGG_3 said:

We are in the same position.  We have savings over £16K and are undecided whether it will be worth our while applying for UC, having had the migration letter saying to apply before 2 February 2024.  I don't work now due to ill health. I claim PIP, (High mobility, lower care).  My husband is 63 and  claims Carers Allowance for me.  He has been a self employed builder for donkeys years, but prioritises my care above work now.  He still completes a tax return each year for the work he does.  We currently get WTC.  That is it, as far as any benefits.  He won't be in a position to up his work load if UC say he should.  We live simple lives, within our means.  Savings are mainly from inheritances.

Apply what’s the worst they can do, say no!  Your savings of over 16K will be disregarded for the first year. 

wizzler

Thanks for your comments. Yes we also have savings over £16k which are mostly derived from an inheritance. From what I’m reading, though the capital savings are disregarded, for 12 months there is still a notional income from them that isn’t…? Any benefits experts out there know if this is correct? Anyone with experience of how it’s all going to work? My husband does have a limited capacity for work due to the after effects of radiotherapy for cancer, but reading through the rules and regulations suspect that his condition wouldn’t tick enough of their boxes for the limited capacity for work rules. 

Shirker_Bee

This is interesting. I had radiotherapy for cancer this year - continued to work. 

In August 9 hour surgery to remove a cancerous tumour from my bowel. I was back in work full time in the September. Was told this week the cancer has spread to my kidneys. Still in work full time continuing BAU. 

So can you tell me what side effects your husband has that gave him “a limited capacity for work”?

After 47 years of paying in to the system, it might be time to let the benefit system take the strain. 

poppy12345

Shirker_Bee said:

This is interesting. I had radiotherapy for cancer this year - continued to work. 

In August 9 hour surgery to remove a cancerous tumour from my bowel. I was back in work full time in the September. Was told this week the cancer has spread to my kidneys. Still in work full time continuing BAU. 

So can you tell me what side effects your husband has that gave him “a limited capacity for work”?

After 47 years of paying in to the system, it might be time to let the benefit system take the strain. 

It would have been better to start your own thread with your question because it gets rather confusing when asking questions on other peoples threads.

If he's receiving treatment such as chemo or radiotherapy or likely to receive it within the next 6 months then he'll automatically qualify for LCWRA/Support Group. See link. https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/universal-credit-uc/uc-faq/limited-capability-for-work-related-activity

If you don't already claim Universal Credit, whether there's any entitlement will depend on your joint circumstances, assuming you live together. It's means tested so if you have savings/capital of more than £16,000 you're excluded from claiming.

He can also claim New style ESA, which isn't means tested. It's based on his NI contributions in the previous 2 tax years. (2020/21 and 2021/22 now) Please note that this changes on the first week of Jan to 2021/22 and 2022/23. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-style-employment-and-support-allowance#how-to-apply This can't be paid at the same time as SSP.

If both the above are claimed together the ESA is deducted in full from any UC entitlement.

There's also PIP, which is a disability benefit that isn't means tested. (assuming you're not living in Scotland) Whether there's any entitlement to this will depend on how his conditions affect him. https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/Global/Migrated_Documents/adviceguide/pip-9-table-of-activities-descriptors-and-points.pdf

Shirker_Bee

Poppy ma’am thank you for the explanation and links

wizzler

Shirker_Bee said:

This is interesting. I had radiotherapy for cancer this year - continued to work. 

In August 9 hour surgery to remove a cancerous tumour from my bowel. I was back in work full time in the September. Was told this week the cancer has spread to my kidneys. Still in work full time continuing BAU. 

So can you tell me what side effects your husband has that gave him “a limited capacity for work”?

After 47 years of paying in to the system, it might be time to let the benefit system take the strain. 

I am sure you are aware that cancers come in all shapes and sizes. I am sorry to hear about your experience and wish you well.
He had intensive radiotherapy to his head and neck which has resulted in his jaw crumbling through a side effect called oesteoradionecrosis, so basically his jaw bone is dead and keeps falling out in bits. He has a permanently open wound in his mouth and permanently broken jaw. The jaw will continue to crumble until they manage to fit him in for surgery. Been waiting for surgery 2 years. He has to have morphine patches for the pain, and is unable to eat properly. The good news is that the radiotherapy along with chemo killed the cancer. The bad news is pain, and loss of function. He lives on build up drinks.  His job involves teaching and speaking. He can only manage 5 hour working days as the pain and his jaw means he can’t cope with more.

wizzler

poppy12345 said:

Shirker_Bee said:

This is interesting. I had radiotherapy for cancer this year - continued to work. 

In August 9 hour surgery to remove a cancerous tumour from my bowel. I was back in work full time in the September. Was told this week the cancer has spread to my kidneys. Still in work full time continuing BAU. 

So can you tell me what side effects your husband has that gave him “a limited capacity for work”?

After 47 years of paying in to the system, it might be time to let the benefit system take the strain. 

It would have been better to start your own thread with your question because it gets rather confusing when asking questions on other peoples threads.

If he's receiving treatment such as chemo or radiotherapy or likely to receive it within the next 6 months then he'll automatically qualify for LCWRA/Support Group. See link. https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/universal-credit-uc/uc-faq/limited-capability-for-work-related-activity

If you don't already claim Universal Credit, whether there's any entitlement will depend on your joint circumstances, assuming you live together. It's means tested so if you have savings/capital of more than £16,000 you're excluded from claiming.

He can also claim New style ESA, which isn't means tested. It's based on his NI contributions in the previous 2 tax years. (2020/21 and 2021/22 now) Please note that this changes on the first week of Jan to 2021/22 and 2022/23. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-style-employment-and-support-allowance#how-to-apply This can't be paid at the same time as SSP.

If both the above are claimed together the ESA is deducted in full from any UC entitlement.

There's also PIP, which is a disability benefit that isn't means tested. (assuming you're not living in Scotland) Whether there's any entitlement to this will depend on how his conditions affect him. https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/Global/Migrated_Documents/adviceguide/pip-9-table-of-activities-descriptors-and-points.pdf

The managed migration letter telling us to move from tax credits to UC is clear in stating that we will have transitional protection and that we can make a claim if we have capital or savings over £16k. I  am therefore keen to understand the details of the transitional protection. The transitional protection is for 12 months.
i have investigated a little further and as I understand it, the savings we have that are between £6k and £16k will we treated as if we are receiving income from the capital. It effectively means a £174 deduction from the award per month. (Not sure where I’d get an interest rate that amounts to £174 per month on a savings of £10k but who am I to question!) However anything over £16k is ignored… which really surprised me and seems very illogical. 

I have yet to understand transitional protection stuff but feel that I need to in order to work out what we should be doing!  

HillStreetBlues

wizzler said:

The managed migration letter telling us to move from tax credits to UC is clear in stating that we will have transitional protection and that we can make a claim if we have capital or savings over £16k. I  am therefore keen to understand the details of the transitional protection. The transitional protection is for 12 months.
i have investigated a little further and as I understand it, the savings we have that are between £6k and £16k will we treated as if we are receiving income from the capital. It effectively means a £174 deduction from the award per month. (Not sure where I’d get an interest rate that amounts to £174 per month on a savings of £10k but who am I to question!) However anything over £16k is ignored… which really surprised me and seems very illogical. 

I have yet to understand transitional protection stuff but feel that I need to in order to work out what we should be doing!  

If a person has £20k  £4k of it is ignored (the sum over £16k).  The £16k isn't ignored. The reason for being ignored is UC would end it if it wasn't.