Migration from benefits to UC questions? Saving etc?

Spoonie_Turtle

That's weird that you got two completely different results. 

But yes the first one will be for the first year, because the savings over £16,000 are only disregarded for a year.  Transitional protection of the actual UC payment amount lasts indefinitely, until it is eroded.

If you want, one of us can try and do a basic manual calculation (without any transitional protection aside from knowing savings over £16k disregarded) but we'd need to know:

- Whether at least one child was born before April 2017
- If you rent, the weekly amount shown if you do this calculator: https://lha-direct.voa.gov.uk/ if it's private rent, or your whole rent if it's social plus whether you have any spare bedrooms
- Wife's monthly take-home salary
- Any pension income of any kind?

The disability benefits are not taken into account as income, just to be clear, and neither are the extra Child Benefit and other Scottish payments.  (ESA is, because it's classed as an income-replacement benefit, whereas the other disability benefits are for the additional costs of disability.)

blackstar

Thanks Spoonie, if you can and maybe another do a calculation for me I would appreciate it alot as honestly I have certain disabilities which make it hugely difficult for me to do these and probably why I got different results. Shall I post the information required to do the calculations or PM them to you? I'll do this this within next hour.

Also is it only the Tax credits we will loose when we have to migrate into UC?

Will we still keep my CB ESA support group, my DLA ( soon to be Scotlands Adukt disability payment). Our chilrens Child Disability Payments, Scottish child payment, child benefit? 

Thanks

poppy12345

blackstar said:

Also is it only the Tax credits we will loose when we have to migrate into UC?

Will we still keep my CB ESA support group, my DLA ( soon to be Scotlands Adukt disability payment). Our chilrens Child Disability Payments, Scottish child payment, child benefit? 

Thanks

Yes, it's only Tax Credits that will end. All of your other benefits are not part of UC.

Spoonie_Turtle

blackstar said:

Thanks Spoonie, if you can and maybe another do a calculation for me I would appreciate it alot as honestly I have certain disabilities which make it hugely difficult for me to do these and probably why I got different results. Shall I post the information required to do the calculations or PM them to you? I'll do this this within next hour.

Probably easiest to post the info on the thread if you're okay with that, then others can do their own calculations and make sure we all get the same answers (I have made mistakes before and undoubtedly I will again, particularly with brain fog!).

blackstar

- Whether at least one child was born before April 2017
- If you rent, the weekly amount shown if you do this calculator: https://lha-direct.voa.gov.uk/ if it's private rent, or your whole rent if it's social plus whether you have any spare bedrooms
- Wife's monthly take-home salary
- Any pension income of any kind?

We have two children both under 10.
One receives high for both mobility and Care.
Other child gets middle care and lower mobility. This is the Scottish Child Disability Payments. 

I went on the ha-direct website but I don't know how many bedrooms we are entitled too so can't progress with that and the other question asks the month and year our housing benefit started but we don't get housing benefit
Our rent is to a private landlord which is £643 per month and it's a 3 bedroomed. 
We are band C. 

Wife's monthly salary after tax etc...this is what goes into the bank account is £1,985.

No pension at all. Wife pays into a pension though work, think its about £1,100 per year. 

I get ESA Contribution based support group.

We get tax credits at £188 per week which includes all the various Disability premium things which is why it is the amount it is. 

I get DLA lower rate mobility and middle rate care.

Scottish child payment whixh is £25 a week per eligible child, payable every four weeks for both children.

Child benefit paid by the DWP.

Thanks all

Spoonie_Turtle

There's a bedroom calculator at the bottom of that LHA page https://lha-direct.voa.gov.uk/bedroomcalculator.aspx

Children under 10 so I'm assuming at least one of them was born before April 2017?

Spoonie_Turtle

Okay so before rent help, this is what I have so far:

£578.82  Standard Allowance 

£315.00  Child 1* 

£269.58  Child 2 

£456.89  Disabled child higher 

£146.31  Disabled child lower 

£390.06  LCWRA 

£185.86  Carer 

Rent ?

Total: £2342.34 + RENT

Deductions:

ESA  £259 x 26 / 12 = £561.16

Wages £1985 - Work allowance £379 = £1606

x 0.55 = £883.30

Savings 10k @ £4.35 per £250 = 40x£4.35=£174

Σ = £1618.46

UC = £2342.34+RENT - £1618.46
= £723.88 + RENT

(*if child 1 was born before April 2017, otherwise they'll get the lower amount)
Higher/lower Disabled Child additions based on the rates of SCDP they get.


To find the monthly rent amount:  Weekly amount x52 ÷12
Just leave the date on the LHA calculator as December 2023 so it gives you answer.


Again this is for the first year, whilst your savings above £16.000 are ignored.  But it's looking like you'll be better off each month by just under your allowable rent amount, so maybe you will be able to save quicker after all.

blackstar

Yes both were born before 2017 thanks

blackstar

Thanks for this that's really helpful.

Sorry rent is £643 per month.

So in layman's terms how much per month will we be better of for the first 12 months while savings are over 16k?

What will our income be after the 12 months if our savings are still over 16k?
Would it basically be what it is now without the tax credits? Or maybe something I might be missing? Anything else we will loose apart from the tax credits?
Will all other benefits just remain as they are after the first 12 months on UC and during the first 12 months of UC? 
I thought my ESA Contribution based support group would become be incorporated into the UC and changed to a slightly different name. I hope it doesn't and it always remains as it is so long as I am still eligible ofcourse.

Also how can we avoid in the meantime our tax credits ending and having to switch to UC before the migration letter? That would be terrible and would want to avoid this. For instance of we managed to buy a house before getting the Migration letter wpuld this mean our tax credits would end and we would have to claim UC?

Thanks again. That's so helpful and kind of you. Been so stressed over this. Feel like we have had the rug pulled under our feet to be honest. 

Spoonie_Turtle

I don't know if your whole rent will be covered, that's why you need to check the LHA calculator (and just leave the date as December 2023, the wording for it simply hasn't been updated but it'll still give you the right info). 

And with both kids being under 10 I think you'll be entitled to the 2 bedroom rate.

[I can't find it out for you without knowing your postcode, and you definitely don't want to post that on the thread.  You are welcome to PM it to me if you wish, though.]

blackstar said:

What will our income be after the 12 months if our savings are still over 16k?
Would it basically be what it is now without the tax credits? Or maybe something I might be missing? Anything else we will loose apart from the tax credits?
Will all other benefits just remain as they are after the first 12 months on UC and during the first 12 months of UC? 

Yes, everything else will stay the same.