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

HillStreetBlues

saintscouple said:

Pheww..... the identity interview went a lot better than expected, and was reassured of the process.

For me I like how UC works, I found the process very easy and I like the monthly payments & statements.
The one thing I dislike is I'm now £30 a week worse off than if I had being able to stay on ESA.

saintscouple

That is unfortunate. 

I won´t know what my first payment will be until the 10th Aug and haven´t a clue what to expect. 

The housing association is starting to send letters informing me of the monthly rent and advice to set up a direct debit on the day i get paid my UC.

Had our first meeting with our work coach last week - Fit note wasn´t required for me, being on ESA, and she has arranged for the monthly meeting to be by telephone..... I don´t know if that will continue for me as I should be placed in the LCWRA group, being i was in support group for ESA...... and whilst the wife presented a fit note for this month, she will claim to be my carer for the next assessment period, so no meetings for her. 

One bit of good news is ESA have finally notified me they will be making the extra 2 week payment to me next week. I thought it would have been sooner, seeing my claim started on the 8th July, but glad to be getting it. Same with the 2 weeks extra HB... but the previous housing association i was with are taking their time giving that to me.... they confirmed they have it, and the amount owed to me... but dragging their heels in actually releasing it. 

KxMx

The appointments won't continue for you and that one will be cancelled once your ESA status is confirmed internally. 

At this stage work coach has to set up another appointment as the computer demands it basically.

I had the same when I went through natural migration. 

saintscouple

KxMx said:

The appointments won't continue for you and that one will be cancelled once your ESA status is confirmed internally. 

At this stage work coach has to set up another appointment as the computer demands it basically.

I had the same when I went through natural migration. 

Thank you, i´ll keep an eye on my account - the work coach did say that she had to put something, so was that i had to spend an hour a week looking for work, the minimum the computer would accept. 

TimeLord1

I have known people to take an ESA85A to confirm ESA entitlement even though assessments were overdue. It states (I advise the client meets the criteria for Limited Capability for Work Related Activity as they have a Severe functional disability) and was accepted. I think that was Citizens Advice telling people to do that.

saintscouple

A further update, my wife has submitted a fit note, and today, a week before our first payment is due, there is a note in the journal advising they are sending her a letter and a UC50 questionnaire to complete. 
She is very nervous and reluctant to go for a work assessment if required.

May i ask if she declares she is my carer after our first payment has been given, would there be any comeback on her still needing to complete the form?
Also if she doesn´t complete the form, how much could we potentially be losing a month? 

She had a very bad experience with a pip assessment, thus her reluctance to go through something similar again.  

Thank you

poppy12345

saintscouple said:

A further update, my wife has submitted a fit note, and today, a week before our first payment is due, there is a note in the journal advising they are sending her a letter and a UC50 questionnaire to complete. 
She is very nervous and reluctant to go for a work assessment if required.

May i ask if she declares she is my carer after our first payment has been given, would there be any comeback on her still needing to complete the form?
Also if she doesn´t complete the form, how much could we potentially be losing a month? 

She had a very bad experience with a pip assessment, thus her reluctance to go through something similar again.  

Thank you

As your UC already includes the LCWRA element for yourself then you will not be any better off by your wife going through the WCA herself, even if found to have LCWRA. This is because you can only receive 1 LCWRA element per claim. 

Earlier in the thread it was advised that your wife claims carers element at the start of your 2nd assessment period. You won't be any better off because the carers element amount will just reduce your Transitional element by the same amount but as a carer she will have no work commitments. 

saintscouple

poppy12345 said:

saintscouple said:

A further update, my wife has submitted a fit note, and today, a week before our first payment is due, there is a note in the journal advising they are sending her a letter and a UC50 questionnaire to complete. 
She is very nervous and reluctant to go for a work assessment if required.

May i ask if she declares she is my carer after our first payment has been given, would there be any comeback on her still needing to complete the form?
Also if she doesn´t complete the form, how much could we potentially be losing a month? 

She had a very bad experience with a pip assessment, thus her reluctance to go through something similar again.  

Thank you

As your UC already includes the LCWRA element for yourself then you will not be any better off by your wife going through the WCA herself, even if found to have LCWRA. This is because you can only receive 1 LCWRA element per claim. 

Earlier in the thread it was advised that your wife claims carers element at the start of your 2nd assessment period. You won't be any better off because the carers element amount will just reduce your Transitional element by the same amount but as a carer she will have no work commitments. 

Thank you so much, won't worry her then, carers it is

saintscouple

I had another message this morning in my journal to say i am claiming ESA and that money will be deducted from my UC if i continue to do so. 

Phoned ESA and they explained whilst the income related had stopped i was now on dual benefit, UC and contribution based ESA. 
I don´t get any more money, just it´s distributed differently... my contribution based ESA will be paid every 2 weeks, whilst my monthly UC payment will have the ESA payments deducted from it.

Not sure if there is any benefit being on new style esa as well as UC, but been told that is my situation. 

poppy12345

Even though the ESA is deducted in full from UC it's still worth continuing with the claim because NsESA isn't means tested like UC and could come in useful in the future. Also for ESA you will receive class 1 NI credits but for UC it's just class 3.