First universal payment has left me short

Vavalgia

Hey all. My wife and I were forced over to universal credit from some legacy benefits. Today we were told how much we will recieve (this is our first payment) . Adding today's amount with the rest of our benefits we are about £230 worse off this month. This is our first payment which from what I understand covers our assessment period. My account shows one deduction of £354 for carers allowance which I recieved over that period. And I still recieve it as I type and will continue to recieve carers allowance.

Is this payment low because it's my first and they took in to consideration the last of the legacy I recieved during that assessment period meaning next months will be higher.

Or am I going to be £230 worse off always?.

Ive called universal credit they couldn't help, I left a note in my journal and it's still gone un-answered. 

Can any one help. We can't survive loosing so much. 

Muttleythefrog

I think for anyone to make sense of things you'll have to spell out what you were getting in benefits before the move to UC and what you are getting now including the details from that UC statement on your account which will break down the payments and deductions. Detail anything in the UC statement you think is wrong or missing too. (I am wondering.... are you or wife also getting ESA and has the LCWRA component been added to UC if relevant?)

Vavalgia

This is how I've worked it out. I've rounded the amounts but this is pretty much it. 

Legacy benefits over four week period

Child tax credits £540

Income support £726

Carers allowance £328

Child benefit £231

Housing benefit £655

Total £2480

New benefits over 4 week period 

Universal credit £1683 (includes carers
 entitlement of £198 and a deduction of 354 for my carers allowance) 

Carers allowance £328

Child benefit £238

Total £2204 

Difference 

-£231

kaMelo

You need to breakdown the UC payment into their elements, I suspect transitional protection has not been applied yet but without knowing what elements you have on your claim it's difficult to say.

marcia_

 When we claimed the first payment was very low. I checked the elements we had been given and discovered they had missed off transitional protection and one carers element. I sent a journal message pointing this out and the correct amount was changed within 2/3 days 

Rubyroobs

Is the rent element there on your claim? 
If you have a disabled child is there an additional element for their disability?

Newcad

It looks to me that there is/may be a TE included there already.

But as said we need a proper breakdown of the UC elements, and any deductions, to be able to give any meaningful comments.
For instance are there any dedcutions for savings over £6K, or for a UC Advance, or for ........?
Without that full breakdown of the UC payment then we are just guessing.

sheramber

Break down the £1683

Muttleythefrog

As above... still not enough detail... high risk of garbage in garbage out. Copy paste the text of the UC statement financial details/elements (minus any personal identifying info obviously) if wanting further advice I think otherwise we're fighting shadows.

Alice_Holt

Vavalgia said:

This is how I've worked it out. I've rounded the amounts but this is pretty much it. 

Legacy benefits over four week period

Child tax credits £540

Income support £726

Carers allowance £328

Child benefit £231

Housing benefit £655

Total £2480

New benefits over 4 week period 

Universal credit £1683 (includes carers
 entitlement of £198 and a deduction of 354 for my carers allowance) 

Carers allowance £328

Child benefit £238

Total £2204 

Difference 

-£231

           You need to break down the £1683. 

          Standard allowance ?
          Housing element ?
          Child element ?
          Disabled child element ?
          Transitional Protection (TP) ?

           Any deductions other than CA?
          Have you had a UC advance?

       This is all detailed in full on your UC statement.  We can't help you if you don't supply the required info. 

    The only UC element you have told us about is the carers element.

   You also need to tell us about your circumstances.  Who do you care for?  Child ? Wife?  What disability benefit do they receive and at what level?
Ages of children would be helpful.
How many bedrooms?  Social housing or private rent?
Does anyone in the household work? If so the amount of earnings?

When you say 'forced' onto UC, was this managed migration? And did you apply for UC within the time limits given (in order that TP would apply)?

If you put your details into a benefits calculator, this will:
i) indicate the level of info required to check a UC award,
ii) give you an indication of the various UC elements payable,
iii) but it won't (I think) show if TP is payable 

If your UC payment breakdown is not showing any TP element, that could explain the shortfall. If so, that's what you want to ask specially about on your UC journal.