First UC statement can't be right...

LonelyFatGuy

Got my first UC statement, (having been 'migrated' from the income-related element of ESA;  still in receipt of contribution-based ESA) but the entitlement and deductions are the same number, £650.95.  So I'm not entitled to anything...?  Obviously can't be right.


Standard Allowance:    400.14
Housing:    250.81

Total entitlement of  650.95

Contribution based ESA deducted:    -609.05

Which only leaves 41.90, which they will pay to my Landlord...  Leaving me a 208.91 rent deficit that I didn't have a few weeks ago when in receipt of full housing benefit, and apparently no money to replace the amount that I lost because IR ESA is ending... 

So now I'm to be worse off, with mounting rent arrears that I didn't previously have...?

Also, no money was added as per the 'If you have a disability or health condition' section on gov.uk.

https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit/what-youll-get#:~:text=If%20you%20have%20a,%C2%A3158.76

What should have happened here...?  And how can they mess up so badly?

KxMx

They have not added LCWRA element. This increases your award before deductions by £423.27. 

When you migrate from ESA, they have to confirm your status with UC. This is a laborious process due to the ancient computer system used by ESA (rumoured to date back to the 1980's).

Further complicated by the increasing number of migrations now all letters have been sent as of 30 September, due to the Government speeding up from the original end date of 31 December. Leading to backlogs in ESA staff sending the information and UC staff processing.

Add a Journal note (using the payment option) highlighting that LCWRA element has been missed. 

Then it will be a waiting game. 

You will know when this has been sorted as a letter will be added to your Journal stating the amount owed due to underpayment. The money will then be paid within a few working days and a new version of the statement will be added. 

Newcad

Are you in the Support Group of ESA?  or are you in WRAG?
(How much ESA were you getting before claiming UC?)

If you are Support Group then there is a LCWRA element of £423.27 missing from your UC statement.

That is not too unusual for the first month of UC, we see it a lot - it can happen because it can take time for ESA to confirm that Support Group status to UC.
(When it is confirmed then the LCWRA element will be backpaid to the start of your UC).

If you are Support Group then put a note on your Journal (use 'Payment' when it asks what you are writing about) stating that you believe that a LCWRA element should have been included on your UC statement.

If you are ESA WRAG, then have you been claiming ESA since before April 2017?

And just in case: You don't mention it but are you also getting PIP (or DLA) and so were entitled to the Severe Disability Premium with your ESA?

KxMx

@Newcad The NS ESA deduction is £609.05, so OP must have been getting Support Group. 

Newcad

Thanks @KxMx I had realised that after posting.
So now it's just a question of if there was an SDP, if so then a TE will also be missing.

LonelyFatGuy

@Newcad

Support Group
£161.75 per week total before this change  (£323.50 paid fortnightly)
No PIP / DLA

First of all thanks, and greetings from another member of 'the old forum'.

It is of course good that the statement isn't accurate, but even with the added £423.27, I'm still losing money.  

If my calculations are correct, I'm now burdened with a rent deficit of £36.45 per month, and I've completely lost the income-related element of ESA, which I make out to be £91.87 a month.  (based on £21.20 per week 'Disability Income Guarantee' from an ESA letter that I have).  

So a total of £128.32 a month worse off...?

Maybe I'm just not fully understanding this yet, but it seems that they have not only ended IR ESA and Housing Benefit, they have failed to replace that money anywhere else.  Far from being a 'migration', it seems to represent nothing more than a huge benefits cut.

Are people that are not 'lucky' enough to be in the Support Group just being evicted all over the place then...?  How is £41.90 a month meant to cover anyone's rent...?  It doesn't cover a single week in this one-bed flat.

KxMx

Your award is incorrect because the LCWRA element hasn't been added. 

Once it has, your UC award will increase by £423.27 before deductions.

So looking at your figures the statement will be:

LCWRA element £423.27
Standard Allowance £400.14
Housing Element: £250.81

Total before deductions £1074.22

£609.05 New Style ESA deduction

(don't forget your income is now UC plus New Style ESA)

Leaving a UC award of £465.17
£214.36 after HE. 

Add that to your New Style ESA, this gives a total income of £1074.22 a month.

Less Housing Element, this gives you an income of £823.41 a month.

Compare that to your monthly previous ESA award of approximately £700, you are better off after migration. 

poppy12345

UC that includes the LCWRA element pays more than ESA Support Group when ESA doesn’t include the SDP. 

Spoonie_Turtle

Did you claim Housing Benefit before? 

If so, if you are losing money overall, can other members advise whether OP should be receiving a transitional protection to make up the difference between UC and previous ESA+HB?

LonelyFatGuy

@KxMx

I can only apologise for my apparent inability to successfully add three numbers together;  my calculations didn't include the housing award.  

Seems like a case of being close to £30 per week better off then.

As a result of the benefit changes though, I now have to live in fear of ever losing the Support Group entitlement, because that would put me in a situation where this first incorrect statement applies, and I'd be close to £300 worse off a month.  

Muttleythefrog

LonelyFatGuy said:

@KxMx

I can only apologise for my apparent inability to successfully add three numbers together;  my calculations didn't include the housing award.  

Seems like a case of being close to £30 per week better off then.

As a result of the benefit changes though, I now have to live in fear of ever losing the Support Group entitlement, because that would put me in a situation where this first incorrect statement applies, and I'd be close to £300 worse off a month.  

My head a bit scrambled today... but wouldn't you have been vulnerable prior.. if you lost SG entitlement then prior to UC you'd have lost ESA completely... or been put in WRAG