Universal Credit Managed Migration - I'm on the sick but they want me to work

AMJF

I received the letter about legacy benefits ending and that I have to sign on to Universal Credit via managed migration a few weeks ago.

I have been on Income Support and then ESA for the better part of 20 years (since 2005) because I've been on mental health medication, but in that time I have been volunteering at charity shops and charity organisations, three of them, so as to keep busy and not feel like a scrounger. This enables me to do limited work and keeps me relatively fit. In that time, I've developed physical ailments as well, like bad knees, acute urinary retention (I cannot pee without catheters) and a hiatal hernia (acid reflux).

I am now 52, approaching 53, and when I filled out the online UC form, I told them I was able to look for work because I was referring to the voluntary work, not a more demanding paid job that would put a strain on my health, and now they're preparing me to look for a paid job, but I'm not ready.

I haven't seen my "work coach" yet for a face-to-face, but maybe then would be a good time to mention my long-term health problems? I've tried to notify them via the journal on the UC website, but it doesn't make it easy.

Any advice you can give?

marcia_

AMJF said:

I received the letter about legacy benefits ending and that I have to sign on to Universal Credit via managed migration a few weeks ago.

I have been on Income Support and then ESA for the better part of 20 years (since 2005) because I've been on mental health medication, but in that time I have been volunteering at charity shops and charity organisations, three of them, so as to keep busy and not feel like a scrounger. This enables me to do limited work and keeps me relatively fit. In that time, I've developed physical ailments as well, like bad knees, acute urinary retention (I cannot pee without catheters) and a hiatal hernia (acid reflux).

I am now 52, approaching 53, and when I filled out the online UC form, I told them I was able to look for work because I was referring to the voluntary work, not a more demanding paid job that would put a strain on my health, and now they're preparing me to look for a paid job, but I'm not ready.

I haven't seen my "work coach" yet for a face-to-face, but maybe then would be a good time to mention my long-term health problems? I've tried to notify them via the journal on the UC website, but it doesn't make it easy.

Any advice you can give?

 Which group were you in on your ESA? 

AMJF

marcia_ said:

 Which group were you in on your ESA? 

I was on WRAG.

marcia_

AMJF said:

marcia_ said:

 Which group were you in on your ESA? 

I was on WRAG.

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/universal-credit/what-youll-need-to-do-on-universal-credit/universal-credit-work-related-activity-group/

"You might need to look for work or prepare for work as part of getting Universal Credit. What your work coach asks you to do depends on which ‘work-related activity group’ (sometimes called a ‘conditionality group’) you’re in. If you’re in the wrong group, you can try to get it changed"

KxMx

In the WRAG you are expected to undertake work preparation activities.

They cannot however force you to apply for jobs, and cannot be sanctioned if you refuse to do that.

huckster

Work preparation appointments are once a month in the Job Centre to discuss steps that can be taken to move towards paid work.

If you are volunteering for charities, what about paid work with a charity. Helpful website below.

Work for UK Charities: Find a Career with Meaning | CharityJob

KxMx

It's not as simple as saying get a paid charity role instead. 

Most charity work is undertaken by volunteers, and by volunteering there is much less pressure and strain on the unwell person, compared to being well enough to maintain a paid job. 

Volunteering is much more casual than paid work and each has an entirely different impact on the individual in terms of stress and exacerbated ill health. 

Newcad

Hi @AMJF

I migrated from ESA WRAG and am currently on UC LCW.

Because I first claimed ESA before April 2017 I do still get paid the LCW Element of UC, currently £158.76 a month.

As you say that you had ESA before April 2017 they you should be paid that element too,

You will be expected to do Work Related Activites, but you are or should be already doing those for ESA WRAG.
(No doubt your voultary work is part of that).
What you currently have on your ESA 'Work Related Activity Plan' (ESA49) should be about the same for your UC Claimant Commitments.
In fact if you kept a copy of your ESA49 Work Plan then you could show it to your UC Work Coach, don't assume that they will know what your ESA plan was because they won't.

When I migrated myself the main difference I found was that instead of going to the jobcentre for a Work Focused Interview once every 6 months with ESA now that I'm on UC I have a WFI every 3 months.
You may have to go every month to start, but after you have attended one or two they should change it to 3-months, and they'll often ask if you want to do them by phone rather than trailing down to the JC

AMJF

Newcad said:

Hi @AMJF

I migrated from ESA WRAG and am currently on UC LCW.

Because I first claimed ESA before April 2017 I do still get paid the LCW Element of UC, currently £158.76 a month.

As you say that you had ESA before April 2017 they you should be paid that element too,

You will be expected to do Work Related Activites, but you are or should be already doing those for ESA WRAG.
(No doubt your voultary work is part of that).
What you currently have on your ESA 'Work Related Activity Plan' (ESA49) should be about the same for your UC Claimant Commitments.
In fact if you kept a copy of your ESA49 Work Plan then you could show it to your UC Work Coach, don't assume that they will know what your ESA plan was because they won't.

When I migrated myself the main difference I found was that instead of going to the jobcentre for a Work Focused Interview once every 6 months with ESA now that I'm on UC I have a WFI every 3 months.
You may have to go every month to start, but after you have attended one or two they should change it to 3-months, and they'll often ask if you want to do them by phone rather than trailing down to the JC

I have been through two Work Capability Assessments in the time I've been on ESA, and both times I told them I was volunteering in charity shops or organisations, because I wanted to contribute to society and told them so, and both times they never found me "fit for work", because I was already working for my benefits and not idling around, because to be honest, that would drive me mad, doing nothing.

I think that's the crux of the issue. Getting a paid job is hard due to easy rejection by companies and employers because you "lack the skills" or "you're too old" and most times you never get to the interview stage, and I've never been good at job interviews, and since I found it easy to volunteer for work instead, as they'll take almost anyone just like that, I just settled in as easily as that in charity shops, etc.

Why my anxiety and paranoia and just general poor social skills (I work behind the scenes at the charity shops), it is also less stressful to me to be in voluntary work, although I've noticed that some of my co-workers will say, "if you can volunteer here, get a paid job instead". Well, my lack of confidence hinders that idea. What gets me is that I am working when volunteering, and my benefits could be seen as my "wages". I don't see what the fuss is.

huckster

Benefits are supposed to be safety net only.

Governments of all parties have always required as many people as possible to be in paid employment, so they are paying income tax and national insurance.

There is plenty of help available for those who want to make progress towards paid employment. The current difficulty is that there are not very many jobs available and not many employers who are willing to employ people with disabilities. 

marcia_

AMJF said:

Newcad said:

Hi @AMJF

I migrated from ESA WRAG and am currently on UC LCW.

Because I first claimed ESA before April 2017 I do still get paid the LCW Element of UC, currently £158.76 a month.

As you say that you had ESA before April 2017 they you should be paid that element too,

You will be expected to do Work Related Activites, but you are or should be already doing those for ESA WRAG.
(No doubt your voultary work is part of that).
What you currently have on your ESA 'Work Related Activity Plan' (ESA49) should be about the same for your UC Claimant Commitments.
In fact if you kept a copy of your ESA49 Work Plan then you could show it to your UC Work Coach, don't assume that they will know what your ESA plan was because they won't.

When I migrated myself the main difference I found was that instead of going to the jobcentre for a Work Focused Interview once every 6 months with ESA now that I'm on UC I have a WFI every 3 months.
You may have to go every month to start, but after you have attended one or two they should change it to 3-months, and they'll often ask if you want to do them by phone rather than trailing down to the JC

I have been through two Work Capability Assessments in the time I've been on ESA, and both times I told them I was volunteering in charity shops or organisations, because I wanted to contribute to society and told them so, and both times they never found me "fit for work", because I was already working for my benefits and not idling around, because to be honest, that would drive me mad, doing nothing.

I think that's the crux of the issue. Getting a paid job is hard due to easy rejection by companies and employers because you "lack the skills" or "you're too old" and most times you never get to the interview stage, and I've never been good at job interviews, and since I found it easy to volunteer for work instead, as they'll take almost anyone just like that, I just settled in as easily as that in charity shops, etc.

Why my anxiety and paranoia and just general poor social skills (I work behind the scenes at the charity shops), it is also less stressful to me to be in voluntary work, although I've noticed that some of my co-workers will say, "if you can volunteer here, get a paid job instead". Well, my lack of confidence hinders that idea. What gets me is that I am working when volunteering, and my benefits could be seen as my "wages". I don't see what the fuss is.

 Then there is no reason you can't get a similar job, not necessarily at a charity shop but still behind the scene and you have the experience and reference from the charity shop that qualifies you for the job.
 That is exactly how the DWP will see it and as the poster above says benefits are a safety net not a lifestyle option.