ESA SG Migration to UC LCWRA

Amathyst

Hello,

I started my migration from ESA to UC last week (24/09), in my notes I added that I was migrating from ESA SG to UC LCWRA and that if I need an appointment that I'd need an home visit and why.

I have heard nothing at all back from them, no responses to my notes, nothing, is that normal and how long does it usually take for them to get back to you and also do I need to put a note in my journal telling them that I don't have ID so I can't do the online confirmation? I was advised to add a note by CAB stating that I couldn't verify my ID online etc but you already have to select the option to say you don't have ID, so I'm just double checking.

Thanks in advance.

huckster

The only appointment will be to verify ID. And that can be by phone call by asking biographical questions to verify ID. If they cannot verify ID using biographical questions, it could done by visiting officer to your home address as a last resort option

It is not unusual for a journal note not to be responded to within a week or so. But you will get a response.

Amathyst

Thanks for the response.

I see, I've seen people say that they've needed to go into the jobcentre with their ID even when they were in ESA SG and switching to the equivalent, plus to confirm their commitment agreement or whatever it's called.

NedS

Amathyst said:

Thanks for the response.

I see, I've seen people say that they've needed to go into the jobcentre with their ID even when they were in ESA SG and switching to the equivalent, plus to confirm their commitment agreement or whatever it's called.

Whether a face to face appointment is required to verify ID will depend on the individual and what ID they have. If ID cannot be verified online, and cannot be verified over the phone, then a face to face appointment is required. If the claimant is deemed incapable of attending a face to face appointment at the jobcentre, then a home visit by a visiting officer can be arranged where that is appropriate.

Regarding accepting commitments - when you make your claim for UC, they will need to transfer your ESA SG status across to UC. Sometimes this doesn't happen immediately (either because the claimant hasn't asked for it, or because the jobcentre are slow in actioning it), and in the meantime a commitments appointment is booked. Once a suitable commitment has been created, you can accept this online. ID verification and accepting a commitment need to be completed within the first month of the claim before payment can be made.

Amathyst

Hi @NedS when I first started the migration and was able to put notes in my journal I explained that I was in ESA SG and would need to be switched to UC LCWRA , I also request the rent be paid directly to the council and why and I asked for an home visit because people kept saying what I explained further up, but I did do another note and put in brackets if I needed a home visit. The last note was to the work coach.

When my son started his migration from IS to UC it was went smoothly, he was sent an appointment on the same day that he started his migration, a week later he did the interview, he then got his last IS payment and 3 weeks later was paid UC. I thought it would be like that with ESA.

Amathyst

I thought I'd just update this.

It took UC 7 working days to contact me, first of all they didn't check my journal and made me an appointment to attend the job centre, so my son called and I left a message in my journal.. again, I then received a response saying that there is up to an 8 week wait for home visits so they said they would do a biographical phone interview, I thankfully passed that, the woman then said she would book me a commitments interview for 2 weeks later, she said hopefully the details would be sent from ESA by then and that the appointment would be cancelled, the appointment was cancelled the same day and they requested that I sign it digitally (for some weird reason they sent me 2 to sign, one on the 4th and one on the 8th they both said the same thing). The only thing that I'm waiting on is for them to sort the rent element out but I was told it could take them a few weeks.

So far it's gone pretty smoothly. I just wanted to share my experience because I've read people are having bad experiences with it and not many seem to share their good experiences with ESA, UC or PIP etc.

Bagpuss741

Thank you for this, I’ve just had my migration letter and it’s triggered a panic attack.

Amathyst

Ahh, sorry to hear that @Bagpuss741 sending you some hugs.

It appears that the rent element has been sorted out as well. I just need to wait and see what my statement is on the 26th.

In relation to the rent, I asked for it to be paid directly to the council in my journal, I then received a message from who I was told is my case manager saying "Please contact your Social Landlord directly & request they make an application to Universal Credit in respect of having your Housing Costs paid directly to them." I did that and I just had to accept something in my journal and that was it. I then received an amount which seems to have since been adjusted to the correct amount.

I hope that made sense. 

TimeLord1

Very thoughtful of you to help others documenting your experience moving to UC from ESA people do read it even if they're not replying or members of the site. Looks like it's going ok for you. I think it helps people prepare for the unknown and answers concerns they may have. 

Amathyst

Hi @TimeLord1 thank you. That's what I thought, I have mixed mental and physical health conditions myself and struggle with anxiety on a daily basis and overly worry about everything, so I thought it might ease someone else's anxiety and worry if I shared my journey with it, I know not everyone's experience is the same.

TimeLord1

The more people do it like this any problems arise people will be able to help them rather than sitting indoors worrying about what may happen. A good thing all-round. Problem shared is a problem halved or solved.