ESA + HB moving HA to a different area - when to apply for UC?

Newcad

Yes that all sounds good.

Claim UC on your tenancy start date, that's the date that you become liable to pay rent at the new place.

There is no need to tell ESA or HB, that will be done automatically because those benefits migrate into UC.
Waiting to declare your partner as being a carer I'm not too sure about, but the others say that you should delay that.

You do have to inform PIP yourself of your change of address, that isn't done automatically because PIP stays outside of UC.
(I don't think that you need to tell the Assessment company as you have already had your asessment so they shouldn't be posting anything to you now).
I would make sure that you have a mail redirect in place, just in case the assessors or PIP (or your old council) do send anything to the old address.

You should tell your old Council about your change of address so they can close your Council Tax account there, and register with the new Council for Council Tax and any CT Support there.

I hope that your move of home (and move to UC) goes smoothly, and that you'll be happy in your new place.

Yamor

I don't really see any reason why you can't already claim UC now - you will still be entitled to a transitional SDP element, and it brings forward your entitlement to more housing support (as the rent in your new place is higher, and UC will give that rate from the start of your claim even if you only move there later on during the first AP).

Definitely don't report that she is your carer until the second AP. Reporting it earlier would mean you are only entitled to the lower transitional SDP element rate of £140.97, whereas waiting would mean you're entitled to £475.79.
It's true that the addition of the Carer Element later (which is worth £198.31) would reduce that £475.79 to £277.48, but that is still clearly more than £140.97.

Whatever happens, don't claim after the Monday, because then you won't get the two-week run-on of HB.

saintscouple

Thank you both so much, we´re pretty much there then,
I have put a 6 month redirect on so won´t miss any post. 
Will let PiP know the change of address after we have moved. 
I have informed both councils of the move for council tax purposes. 
Back to UC - we won´t claim carers for my wife during the first assessment period, will only do this in the 2nd assessment period. 
Will she get any demands for a fit note, and if so should these be obtained or happy to ignore?

Phew.... now just all the tenancy, eletrical checks, key swaps, removals, packing, etc.... haven´t even started lol

Thank you all once again, you´ve shone a lot of light

saintscouple

Yamor said:

I don't really see any reason why you can't already claim UC now - you will still be entitled to a transitional SDP element, and it brings forward your entitlement to more housing support (as the rent in your new place is higher, and UC will give that rate from the start of your claim even if you only move there later on during the first AP).

Definitely don't report that she is your carer until the second AP. Reporting it earlier would mean you are only entitled to the lower transitional SDP element rate of £140.97, whereas waiting would mean you're entitled to £475.79.
It's true that the addition of the Carer Element later (which is worth £198.31) would reduce that £475.79 to £277.48, but that is still clearly more than £140.97.

Whatever happens, don't claim after the Monday, because then you won't get the two-week run-on of HB.

Thanks again for the invaluable advice,

I have just tried to start a claim, but it won´t let me put a future date in when asked what date have i moved in to the property - so will have to leave it till the 8th July... but still i can answer all the other questions and just come back to that one on the day. 

poppy12345

The reason it won't accept that date is because it's in the future and you can't do that for UC because it won't accept a future date. You can still claim now but you would need to report the changes on 8th July that you've moved house. 

saintscouple

poppy12345 said:

The reason it won't accept that date is because it's in the future and you can't do that for UC because it won't accept a future date. You can still claim now but you would need to report the changes on 8th July that you've moved house. 

Thank you Poppy, I'll just complete it on the 8th to keep things simple as poss.

I just read that interviews are required. Do you know how soon these take place, and can yiu request a telephone interview?

With ESA I only had assessments every few years....I'm guessing UC is completely different 

Thank you again

Newcad

Its exactly the same assessment done by exactly the same people.

I had my last one in 2019 when I was on ESA, in 2022 I moved myself to UC, I haven't  been called for a reassment yet.

If you did have to go to the jobcenter every 6 months that will be every 3 months with UC but can usually be done by phone if you want or need that.

I'm just on a bus going down to the jobcentre now for a Work Focused Interview, but my last one 3 months ago I did on the phone

Spoonie_Turtle

You will probably be required to attend an appointment to confirm your ID, and possibly another one to discuss your commitments - if you're in the Support Group for ESA (sorry I can't remember, don't have the energy to look back through the thread) then it'll literally just be something like 'I'll check my journal and let UC know of any changes'.

HillStreetBlues

Spoonie_Turtle said:

You will probably be required to attend an appointment to confirm your ID, and possibly another one to discuss your commitments - if you're in the Support Group for ESA (sorry I can't remember, don't have the energy to look back through the thread) then it'll literally just be something like 'I'll check my journal and let UC know of any changes'.

And also to show housing costs (tenancy agreement).

saintscouple

Thank you all, 

I´m pretty much set and will leave you alone now - just have to trust the process, but you guys haven given me a great head start - thank you again