Another Deprivation Of Assets question!

HillStreetBlues

There will be a bigger difference between  ESA & UC when the April uplift takes affect
Monthly ESA will work out at £414.05 & UC £424.90, that will allow up to £6,500 in capital

Altior

This is tougher than my old job!

It would end up being better that PPA does terminate after 12 months of ESA even if the tribunal was pending in the end. But these remain if buts and maybes, I'm hoping that FfW isn't a realistic prospect, but from I read, the initial judgements can be very inconsistent. 

I did start to pay down some CCs today, just the teeny balances. And ironically enough got a new 0% BT offer for 19 months. They are just teasing me. 

Yamor

There are three possible results of your WCA. Going through all three possibilities:

LCWRA:
It will be important to claim UC on or before 5th April 2026 to lock in the higher LCWRA rate.
Although you may not get anything from UC prior to the LCWRA decision being made, once it is made, you will get UC backdated from the date of your claim, as the UC will include the higher LCWRA element from the start.

LCW:
No point in claiming UC until ESA runs out after 12 months, but no harm.

Fit for work:
No point in claiming UC until ESA ends (either at 12 months or at date of decision that you are fit for work, whichever is earlier), but no harm.


As such, you might as well claim UC as soon as possible for the possibility that you will be found to have LCWRA.

By the way, the three month waiting period for LCWRA on UC will not be relevant for you. If you are found to have LCWRA in your ESA claim, then you can get LCWRA in UC immediately. And if you are not found to have LCWRA in your ESA claim, then you won't get it in UC either.

Altior

Thanks Yamor!

It returns to the biggest dilemma of them all. To claim UC I'll need to have closed down all of my stoozing and used up genuine capital to overpay mortgage. But if I don't get awarded LCWRA, I'll have needed all of that capital! 

It's not great that I have not had any contact from the DWP yet even though I am months past what they call the assessment phase. Aside from asking for another fit note. 

Muttleythefrog

It's not great that I have not had any contact from the DWP yet even though I am months past what they call the assessment phase. Aside from asking for another fit note. 

Hence my firm advice to contact Serco (if that's the assessment provider relevant in this case) by email. If they do have your case they could potentially give more info on timeline or status. I would do that every couple of weeks until you do get meaningful information. It would be very unusual for a new claim to not face any referral to the Assessment provider for at least paper based opinion so I would expect it to come to their hands at some point.

Altior

Muttleythefrog said:

It's not great that I have not had any contact from the DWP yet even though I am months past what they call the assessment phase. Aside from asking for another fit note. 

Hence my firm advice to contact Serco (if that's the assessment provider relevant in this case) by email. If they do have your case they could potentially give more info on timeline or status. I would do that every couple of weeks until you do get meaningful information. It would be very unusual for a new claim to not face any referral to the Assessment provider for at least paper based opinion so I would expect it to come to their hands at some point.

Thanks, yes I did look into that but apparently they will only discuss specifics around a case on the phone or via post. Email apparently only if it is a formal reasonable adjustment. I can call them of course but was going to give it another few weeks. After this latest little twist I will now probably give them a ring tomorrow. 

Altior

The latest twist.

I called Serco today, explained my situation, that I had claimed ESA in July, sent the ESA 50 in Oct. And my understanding was it should take 13 weeks, and we're way beyond that. The agent said they had received my ESA 50 in October and how could she help. Well, I'm wandering where I am in the process now and do you have an approximate waiting time? The agent then said would I like to book an appointment now, she has some available. Er, yes I would. 

So now I have a telephone WCA booked in for this month!

I got the distinct impression that this would not have happened if I hadn't made the call. Which is so bizarre. But with big thanks to @Muttleythefrog for the prompt, I now have some progress. 

Muttleythefrog

Makes me wonder if they've somehow forgot... new claims should be priority for assessments and that seems a long time to wait. Strange how they were able to offer assessment on prompting for information. But then we are talking about one of the companies notorious for wider failings and incompetence in government contracts. If you have assessment this month I think it reasonable to assume you'll get decision in February. I would request copy of the assessment report (from DWP) the day after assessment as usually they're quickly transmitted unless held up for audit.

KxMx

You can't request a copy of an ESA or  UC assessment until after the decision has been made.

They are different to PIP where you can get it before the decision. 

Muttleythefrog

KxMx said:

You can't request a copy of an ESA or  UC assessment until after the decision has been made.

They are different to PIP where you can get it before the decision. 

Ah yes... I think this was discussed a while back... but I can't recall finding any official guidance or rules and historically you definitely could get it before while there are reports of people who did manage to obtain although not typically with ease. Many reporting problems getting the report even after decision received. I definitely would pursue especially given the inconsistent responses to guidelines.... examples like PIP who say they can't give decision over phone typically will, in UC Decision Makers take decision after the event not with assumptions ahead of such but I've experienced otherwise even right after an agent has said no decision can be taken.