Uc migration letter

kimp22

Hi I have received the dreaded letter and have to apply before October. But I have no clue about uc.

I currently get 

housing benefit £106 a week
ctc £250 a week
cb £40 a week 
carers allowance £360 monthly
esa £350 every 2 weeks 

we receive high rate care and lower mobility for my son and my husband gets high rate both on pip .

what do I need to do before applying and any advice on how to do it best . 

Not looking forward to it 

thanks Kim

poppy12345

Assuming your husband is the main claimant of the ESA claim? If so then he needs to make sure he reports his health condition when he claims UC. They will ask him to provide a fit note but this isn't needed. If he's in the Support Group for ESA then he'll be entitled to the LCWRA element from the start of his claim. 

Once he has access to his journal he should put a message on there to tell them he's in the Support Group because they will not know this when you do claim. ESA will then send his details across to UC but this can take a few weeks. 

You will each need to start a claim and then one of you will receive a linking code to use to join both claims together. You will need to make sure you report being a carer. Carers element will be include in your claim. 

Once you submit your claim Income Related ESA and housing benefit will continue for 2 weeks. Tax credits will stop. 

If any part of his ESA is contributions based this will continue but be deducted in full from any UC entitlement. Carers allowance will also be deducted in full. 

CB isn't part of UC and continues as normal.

kimp22

Thanks for the advice . 

There is a reference number on the letter we both received one separately.
will I be able to ask for it to be paid fortnightly to make things slightly easier 
thanks kim

peteuk

kimp22 said:

Thanks for the advice . 

There is a reference number on the letter we both received one separately.
will I be able to ask for it to be paid fortnightly to make things slightly easier 
thanks kim

UC is paid monthly in arrears, so the date you apply becomes the start of your first assessment period, this will run until the day before in the next month.  E.G. 03 Sept - 02 Oct.  Your payment will be approx 5 to 7 days later (depending on weekends/Bank holidays). 

You can ask for an advance which will then be taken back from your UC claim.   If your use to budgeting fortnightly you can set up a bank account for it to be paid in to, and then released fortnightly to your main account. 

mandco

You must apply by the deadline but can do so anytime before that. Your 1st payment is then due approx 5 weeks later -for example if you apply on the 1st sept your payment date will be around the 8th oct and then it’ll be the 8th each month after so consider dates when making your claim.they will tell you your payment date once you summit your claim and how much you are going to receive a few days before the payment is due.

You can apply for an advance to help tide you over till then once you’ve submitted your claim via your online account - it will tell you how much you can apply up to and give a choice of repayment options to chose from. Payment is made in a few days if accepted 

if you get housing benefit you should get a payment via uc each month which you’ll need to pay to your landlord directly yourself. If you are with the council / Ha they should send you a letter stating theyve been told your moving to uc and how much you’ll need to pay them each month - this figure will likely be higher than your standard rent as it usually includes a payment towards clearing the arrears as hb stops being paid 2 weeks after you claim uc. 

Child benefit & carers allowance will be paid as usual 

be aware you may end up with a tax credits overpayment that will need to be paid back - I wasn’t aware of this I only found out when I queried the over payment letter but apparently tax credits is paid 1/2 in arrears and 1/2 in advance -I  was advised this will be taken from my uc payments once the final amount is confirmed by tc. 

I’ve recently migrated and I’m due my 1st payment this week but they’ve messed up my claim leaving me seriously short and despite messaging them via my journal as I was told to so far I’ve had no reply so I’d recommend trying to put a little bit aside to cover any essential bills if at all possible between now & when you claim just in case there are any problems.

HillStreetBlues

If you live in Scotland you can get paid twice a month.

poppy12345

HillStreetBlues said:

If you live in Scotland you can get paid twice a month.

An Alternative Payment Arrangement (APA)  can be requested anywhere in the UK now and not just Scotland. You will need good reason though. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-alternative-payment-arrangements/alternative-payment-arrangements

HillStreetBlues

poppy12345 said:

HillStreetBlues said:

If you live in Scotland you can get paid twice a month.

An Alternative Payment Arrangement (APA)  can be requested anywhere in the UK now and not just Scotland. You will need good reason though. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-alternative-payment-arrangements/alternative-payment-arrangements

Just to make clear to OP, don't  ask for a APA in Scotland  as that can be refused, ask for Scottish Universal Credit Choice as that can't be refused.

kimp22

Should I contact my housing about moving over to uc and can I ask for the rent to be paid straight to them.

thanks kim

kimp22

Just checked the letters and it’s says I have till the 25th of October . I received a letter from child benefit asking for information about my oldest going to college which I don’t have till next week . If I wait till middle of September before I make the claim will it be ok.

regarding the advance how much on average should I ask for or do I need to cover the month in essential bills .
I will try not spending much now and buy a few extras if I need to wait 5 weeks but it’s a long time .

i just can’t seem to get my head around it all 

kim

poppy12345

kimp22 said:

Should I contact my housing about moving over to uc and can I ask for the rent to be paid straight to them.

thanks Kim

You don't need to contact them. My daughter's housing element is paid straight to social housing landlord but that's because they asked for that. I think you can ask but not 100% sure on that but others will know. 

kimp22 said:

Just checked the letters and it’s says I have till the 25th of October . I received a letter from child benefit asking for information about my oldest going to college which I don’t have till next week . If I wait till middle of September before I make the claim will it be ok.

regarding the advance how much on average should I ask for or do I need to cover the month in essential bills .
I will try not spending much now and buy a few extras if I need to wait 5 weeks but it’s a long time .

i just can’t seem to get my head around it all 

Kim

Providing you claim by 25th October that's fine. How much advance payment you ask for is entirely up to you but your Income Related ESA and HB will continue for 2 weeks. You will also have your carers allowance money because that's not part of UC but it will be deducted in full from it.