Another Person Migrating From ESA IR To U/C Questions

Starbright2

My electric went off in the living room Elec man said it's a faulty breaker, he didn't have one so tried to put a different one in but that didn't fit so I'm getting elec from a extension lead from the kitchen! Only just got online.

I've had a message in my journal:

Hi XXXX,

The transitional protection element will be calculated once ESA have responded to our requests for information. 
The 'transitional' amount tops up your Universal Credit award so you are not substantially worse off when you move onto Universal Credit.
We are still awaiting the transfer of your ESA details.
As soon as we receive your previous ESA Work Capability Assessment decision we will recalculate your UC award and release any arrears due to you.

Regards,
UC Case Management

Starbright2

I have the TE I just asked him about the health element. 

Ho Hum... goes to put the kettle on again 

Newcad

Yep as suspected delays from ESA.

PS. Hope you get the electrics sorted out soon.

Starbright2

Going back to your post @HillStreetBlues, (or anyone else who wants to reply) do I have to do this calculation every AP?

And if not how much higher that the amount I told them I have does it need to go before I do notify them please?

Thank You

HillStreetBlues

Starbright2 said:

Going back to your post @HillStreetBlues, (or anyone else who wants to reply) do I have to do this calculation every AP?

And if not how much higher that the amount I told them I have does it need to go before I do notify them please?

Thank You

You need to calculate capital out at the end of every AP and report any chance if it affects your benefit entitlement.
If a person capital remains under £6k then no update is needed. Once it goes over £6k then needs reported. The deduction is £4.35 for every £250 (or part of).
If the deduction remains the same then reporting isn't needed even if the capital has changed
Example: A person has £6,100 capital, so there is a £4.35 deduction, if next AP the capital is £6,200 then no need to report capital as the deduction remains at £4.35. But if capital increase to £6,300  then it would need to be reported as the deduction would  increase to £8.70

A person can report changes every AP even if it doesn't affect the UC amount if they so wish, but it's only legally necessary if it changes entitlement.

Starbright2

@HillStreetBlues

Thank you so much, I never knew that at all so incredibly grateful for letting me know, you can get yourself into so much bother without trying with benefits! 

I've saved your first post about it & this one in an email so I remember how to do it every month. 

Starbright2

There seems to be a grey area on what people can spend their benefits on. I've been reading other peoples posts & some people say it's totally up to you to spend the money however you want to, other people say if you buy lavish things they might question it.

Which is right or is it just a grey area no one knows the answer to

HillStreetBlues

Starbright2 said:

There seems to be a grey area on what people can spend their benefits on. I've been reading other peoples posts & some people say it's totally up to you to spend the money however you want to, other people say if you buy lavish things they might question it.

Which is right or is it just a grey area no one knows the answer to

It depends on your capital, if £6k or under you can spent it how you want there can never be Deprivation of Capital as spending that money doesn't increase benefit entitlement. Once over £6k then there can be DoC so how money is spent can be looked into.

Spoonie_Turtle

Also there is no grey area if you are spending your income from that month (or the previous month, technically).

It's only if you have capital above £6k and are spending from that, per the previous post.

Yamor

Probably worth saying though that if you currently have, say, £5k, but you know you will be getting, say, another £5k next month, so you go and spend £4.5k now in order to ensure you remain under £6k next month, then that could easily be deprivation.