Migration letter received!

Marsha2007

Hi, I, today, have received the dreaded migration letter. I know I've probably asked this before but I'm very confused about it all. 

My husband is on Esa Cont (Support Group) and we get WTC/CTC and Housing Benefit. I work P/T so don't get carers. I understand the WTC/CTC/HB but confused with the Esa. I've read that Esa gets added onto universal credit but then gets taken off. Does that mean he doesn't receive any money at all for it? Why would it be taken off? Also he gets it in to his bank X2 weekly and I get the WTC/CTC in mine. Will this still happen or, if he gets anything, will it all get lumped into one payment into my bank? 

I'm really confused with the Esa part!! Any words of wisdom will be much appreciated. Layman's terms please, my menopausal brain can't cope with anything too complicated! 

Rubyroobs

As he is in the support group of ESA he will get the LCWRA element added into your claim alongside other elements. If he gets PIP daily living and you provide 35 hours of care for him a week then you can claim UC carers element of UC regardless of earnings. His contributions based ESA continues to be paid alongside UC ( at the current rate) but is deducted in full  from UC at an averaged monthly rate. 

Newcad

To simplify it just for the CB ESA part.

Contribution Based ESA will be paid fortnightly just as it is now.

But what is paid fortnightly as CB ESA will then be deducted £ for £ from the monthly UC payment.

So you still get the money - just paid at different times and not paid twice.

Marsha2007

Thank you Rubyroobs for replying. I do care for him and he gets full PIP both care and mobility. I read that I could have the carer element on UC even if I wasn't receiving CA. I was just really confused about how it's all paid as I was under the impression that it's all paid in one lump sum, but I'm assume that's not right then and he'll still get his Esa himself, but then that is taken off the UC!

It's all really confusing, I consider myself to be generally savvy, work in an environment where I help and advise people, but Im finding it really hard to understand it all! Luckily places like this are always available to ask for help, I feel for those who aren't able to do that.

All I have to do now is work out when I'm going to put the claim in. My deadline is 22nd Jan, so if I apply in December it may be impacted by the Christmas break and take even longer? I know I'm going to worry about leaving it too late but I may wait until the first week in January! 

Newcad

We cross posted so see what I said above.

It can sometimes help to look at each bit seperately rather than getting confused by everything at once.

Marsha2007

Thank you both, I think I understand it!! I hate all this! 

Spoonie_Turtle

Marsha2007 said:

All I have to do now is work out when I'm going to put the claim in. My deadline is 22nd Jan, so if I apply in December it may be impacted by the Christmas break and take even longer? I know I'm going to worry about leaving it too late but I may wait until the first week in January! 

The only potential thing that could be impacted by Christmas / New Year would be getting all the elements confirmed for your first payment.  But even if they didn't get it fully right for the first month, you'd be backpaid what you're owed probably the next month.

The way UC claims work is you start the claim by pressing submit on the claim form.  One calendar month later is the end of the first assessment period, they work out what you're entitled to (well, the computer system does automatically) and you get paid 5-7 days later.  So if for instance you claimed on the 5th Jan, on the 4th Feb the assessment period ends and they work out what your UC will be, based on the elements you're entitled to and the income you've received during that calendar month.  Your assessment period dates would then stay the 5th-4th every month.

It is best to claim not near your wages payment date of you are paid monthly, in case early payment or late reporting make the system deduct two payments of wages in the same assessment period.