Another Person Migrating From ESA IR To U/C Questions

Starbright2

I put

I am migrating from ESA support group I was told it would be helpful to you to mention it here. I hope that's OK

Starbright2

I've just had an agent book me into a job centre appointment to confirm identity despite me putting a journal message saying I can not get to a job centre because of my illnesses.

What do I do now please?

Thank You

Edit:

I've just written this on my journal:

Hello,

An agent has booked me an appointment at the local job centre to verify my identity. On my Universal Credit application I have listed the 11 chronic physical illnesses that I live with that make it impossible for me to attend any appointments. I did put a message on my journal saying I cannot attend any appointments at job centres. If you re book me for another day I will not be able to attend. Please can you verify my identity with a phone call which you can do, 

Starbright2

Email & journal updated. Job centre appointment cancelled & a phone appointment has been made for Friday 30th of May at 9.30am with Jack 

YAY 

Starbright2

Jack called. He said not many people at all pass verifying their identity through a phone call but we will try & if I can't then we will go through what happens then.

First question I didn't know so thought I wasn't going to pass but the following three questions I did know so thankfully I did verify my ID.

He asked me if I wanted to be paid U/C every two weeks instead of every 4 I said yes please he's requested that their end & asked me for a reason to fill out I said so I can pay bills sooner instead of waiting every 4 weeks. 

He asked me if I wanted the loan explained it I said when I got the letter I filled up my fridge/freezer & kitchen cupboards so I will try & do without one, If I need one I will apply on the website he gave me the cut off date I can apply for one. 

He asked me if I wanted the housing part to go straight to my landlord instead of me because that's how it's been paid. I asked if it would hold things up so he said the first payment may not be paid. So I said I have to pay my landlord every week anyway because I've got one bedroom too many, so I've left it so I get the housing money.

He asked if I have any questions I asked what happens now, he looked through & said that they are waiting on old style ESA to tell them what group I'm in, and as I am a transfer it will be kept the same. He said I see no appointments coming up for you & no commitments. So he said on the 24th of June I will eb told what I will be paid & paid on the 28th of June which I already know. 

He then went through some of the different sections on U/C. 

And that was that  passed the first hurdle 

KxMx

If you didn't already know, on the 28th June you will receive half your monthly payment, with the other half following 14-17 days later. 

Starbright2

Thank you KxMx I didn't know that. Then would it stay every 14 days or between 14-17 days each time 

It's OK I've just looked on my U/C account & it says on there that you will be paid the same date every month, so no need to answer that question whatever date I get the second payment that will then become my payment date every two weeks as I understand it

KxMx

The first payment will be on your payment due date, with the second following 14-17 days later each time. 

Newcad

Hi @Starbright2 A couple of things to mention:

First:
A warning about the transfering of your ESA group status - it may not be confirmed in time for your first UC payment and if not then it will be backpaid later when it has been confirmed.
There is currently a backlog and delays in getting ESA status confirmed, That's because they increased the number of migration notices being sent out but didn't allocate more staff at ESA to process all the extra forms they now need to send to UC to confirm status/group.
(DWP say they are 'pulling out all the stops' to clear the backlog before it gets worse - whatever that means?)

Second:
A slight correction to how the 2-weekly payments work at the start of a new claim.
Even though you have opted for '2-weekly' payment your first payment due on June 28th* (see below) will still be for a full month.
Your second UC payment will be on July 28 and will be for half your monthly amount, the other half will be paid 15 days later.
Then half a month paid on August 28th, with the other half 15 day later.
And so on.

See: https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit/how-youre-paid
(It talks about 2-weekly payments 'If you live in Scotland' but it applies if you get 2-weekly in the rest of the UK too).

*June 28th is a Saturday, so you'll actually get your first UC payment on Friday 27th.

Starbright2

Yes I saw your post about the ESA backlog   being one of the 800,000 people sent the letter I'm hoping that because I only waited 3 weeks I'm one of the first out the gate. 

Thanks Newcad, I pulled my calendar up & followed the dates & I've put them on there & I understand the pattern of payment now.

Very pleased the first payment is a full payment 

Newcad

Starbright2 said:

Very pleased the first payment is a full payment 

Well maybe not FULL if they haven't got the SG>LCWRA element confirmed in time but I know what you mean.

Regardless of the possible LCWRA delay  there should be a full months housing element in that first payment.