Transitional protection payment when migrating from ESA to UC

parent13

Hi I am the appointee for my daughter who does live in Supported Living.  I have just completed the swop over to UC for her as she is unable to do this.  We have no problems with Housing Benefit as this is paid by the Local Authority.  However, on my daughters first statement the amount she has been awarded is lower than what she was getting on ESA.  The transitional protection does not seem to have been applied.  I have gone on her journal and requested this be looked at and explain why it is lower as I checked before completing the online switch with Citizens Advice and the Turn2u calculator which both agreed the amount she should get and that being the same as ESA.  I was wondering has anyone else had this problem and how long did it take to sort and did it get sorted?  Her original migration letter said that she had until 6th November 2025 which we are well before that.  But will this affect her getting the transitional protection if it takes too long for a response?

KxMx

Unfortunately no one can give you a timescale as there are many variables. It might be days, it might be weeks. 

You'll know when this has been sorted as a letter will be added to her 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 added. 

As she submitted the application before her deadline date the TP is not at risk in any way.

Spoonie_Turtle

Lots of people have had the correct calculations take longer than the first month.  It won't affect her eligibility for transitional protection and entitlement will be backdated to the start of the claim so they will pay her any money they owe her. 

You've done the right thing querying it - did you send the message as 'payment issue' or some other category?  That's the fastest route but if not they should still see it and act on it at some point, probably the end of her next assessment period.  (Or you can send it again but in that category to get it seen a bit faster.)

parent13

I think I did it under payment issue, but I have just looked and done again just incase.  Thank you for your help.

rarees1

One reason for delays in receiving the correct amount is that, although your award is backdated to the date the application was made, the claim is not actually live until the ID has been approved.  Nothing happens on the claim until this is completed.  Only then is ESA contacted for your daughter's details and often the reply does not arrive before the first payment date.  

Then there are two stages - your daughter being awarded the correct element to her total allowances (from what you say I guess the equivalent of the Support group, i.e. the Limited Capability for Work Related Activity) .  A different team deals with the calculation of the Transitional element.  Make sure that money owed is backdated right to the start of the claim.  So many people are being migrated over, mistakes are being made.