TP on UC and a new heath assesment if on ESA?

blackstar

Hi all,

We got our migration letter last week. So yesterday switched over UC.

If someone is in the support group of ESA contribution based I was told that you are automatically switched over and you don't need to be assessed to get ESA on UC. But on the UC page it says

"Health

You said your health affects you at work or prevents you from working. You might need to have an assessment before we can consider if you will get extra money for this."

2nd question is if we are better off on UC and we don't get TP even though our migration letter promises TP and can apply even if having savings over 16k does that mean we also won't get TP for savings over 16k and we therefore won't get UC at all? 

Also if we do how are savings over 16k worked out? Do they still deduct isnit £3 50 for every £250 over 6k so if you have say 17k they still deduct £3.50 between the 16k and 17k?

Newcad

That is all pretty standard, 

ESA:

In a migration where ESA is involved* you will probably also be asked to provide Fit-Notes.

If you are migrating from ESA then you won't need to be reassessed, and you don't need to send and Fit-Notes.

It's just that the UC computer doesn't know at first that you are migrating from UC and so trots out what it would do for anyone new claiming (ie for someone who isn't migrating).
It all gets updated/corrected in a week or two when UC get confirmation from ESA.

(They are supposed to be changing how it works so that you don't get those confusing messages, but that hasn't happened yet).

Transtional Protection:

The UC Transitional Element is calculated on what benefits you were receiving before you migrate to UC, nothing else.
If you get a TE then it will be included in your UC entitlement each month ongoing.

Note that your UC entitlement is not necessarily the same your UC payment, there may be deductions to be applied before payment.

Savings/capital:

If you have over £16k at migration from Tax Credits then you can still get UC for 12 Months.
However the savings deduction for between £6k and £16K in savings/capital will still apply.
The deduction is currently £4.35 for each £250 or part of £250 over £6K that you have
For those migrating from Tax Credits with above £16K that will mean a total deduction for saving of £174 a month from the UC entitlement.

*PS. If you currently have savings over £16K and are getting ESA then that must be Contributions Based or 'New Style' ESA.
Those are not migrated into UC and stay seperate, the LCW or LCWRA status will be added to UC too.
However you don't get paid twice, what you still get paid from ESA will be deducted from the UC each month.

blackstar

Thanks I would like to add something to my journal to ensure they are aware that I currently get ESA contribution based support group. What could I say do you think? 

Also you mentioned my CB ESA support group will remain seperate?

Will it just show I still continue to get ESA CB support group and it will remain seperate just as it is now? And it will have added to my account LCWRA bur ofcourse I won't get paid double? 

What will it be called that I will get? LCWRA?

Spoonie_Turtle

To your journal you could add a message saying that you claim ESA and are in the Support Group, perhaps include the date of your WCA decision, and ask them please to confirm this on the ESA system.

You will be eligible for the LCWRA element from the start of your UC claim, although whether it's actually paid in your first payment depends whether they confirm it in time.  (If not you'd be paid backpay if they miss it the first month.)

So you'll receive your ESA payments fortnightly as you already do, then UC payments monthly with a deduction for ESA (and any other relevant deductions e.g. for earnings).

blackstar

Thanks spoonie. In my case which of the following is true? Or are both true? Being on contribution based esa support group.

Under regulation 19 it states that my LCWRA award will transition from ESA to UC without the need for a sick note or a form. 

My Contribution Based Support Group ESA should continue to run seperate from Universal Credits. Please confirm this on the ESA system.

Spoonie_Turtle

Both are true.

However before UC have confirmed your LCWRA status, the system may automatically spit out a message saying you need a fit note, because you'll have reported a health condition when you claim. 
Despite any messages like that you won't *need* a fit note, and the journal message you send saying about claiming ESA is to prompt them to get on with confirming it.

blackstar

Can I ask so we just applied to migration to UC from tax credits last week after the migration letter.

I think our child tax credits have now immediately stopped as can't see any more payments when I login as it won't let us see anything. Please see photo. 

I've heard that tax credits pay you 1 month in advance and UC pays you in arrears ie when you get paid you get paid for the last 1 month. 

So there's something called the advance payment to cover the 1 month with no UC and no CTC. 

So what is the advice? 

If we take the advance payment is it like a loan where you get say £5 deducted every month from UC till it's paid back? 

Will our first month payment be affected by the advance payment and if so how?
How do they know what to pay you in the advance payment as our Statment is not ready until Oct 2nd I think and first payment Oct 5th?
If we applied for an advance payment today when is it likely to be given? Thing is that if we don't get the advance payment we will always be behind financially for 1 month as our CTC is very important. 

blackstar

 just checked to see if we can get an advance. Our ID had been confirmed so maybe they haven't checked yet we are entitled to UC? But why it's been 3 working days already? 
There's nothing on the to do list and my wofe did the ID check at the end of the application she had to do loads of questions and t said her ID was verified but for me said I had to goto the JC. So I did couple of days ago with my ID and got verified then. Confused..

huckster

Tax credits end from date UC claim made.

There will be other processes still to complete after ID confirmed, before advance will be available. I suspect there is a verify capital action on the UC service centre side of your claim, as you had savings over £16k which needs to be cleared first. If an advance is an urgent requirement call 0800 328 5644.