Migration to Universal Credit?

As stated neither of the things mentioned in your post will result in you having to claim UC, the claim for PIP is outside of the UC remit anyway.

Do you live alone? If so, if you do claim PIP and get either of the care amounts then unless someone claims Carers Allowance for looking after you your ESA amount will increase as you will get an additional payment of ESA called the Severe Disability Premium (SDP). That is worth an extra £62.45 per week.

From mid January 2019 if anyone gets the SDP with their ESA then they are actually going to be protected from having to migrate to UC for the foreseeable future. This is because the Government have finally recognised that many people on UC who were previously on ESA are losing out when they lose the SDP (as there's no equivalent amount in UC). Hence why anyone receiving the SDP from January onwards will remain on ESA even if they move to a full service UC area. This also protects their Housing Benefit and also enables the person to claim other "legacy" benefits if needed such as JSA and Income Support.

PIP is there to help meet the additional cost of disability so if your health isn't great you shouldn't feel guilty at applying for it.

As you don't live alone you won't get that SDP element of ESA if you did apply for PIP and got either care rate for PIP. But you will still be better off if you do get PIP. Living on ESA isn't fun, it's not a massive amount so if you feel you qualify for PIP then you should claim it.

bournemouth_bell wrote: »

when was this known,about the SDP?

Im so confused with this all

if im reading right what happens to those that have had to claim UC, through change of circumstance

many thanks

Esther McVey announced back in June 2018 that anyone who has already had to move from a legacy benefit which included a SDP to UC due to natural migration (e.g. moving to a full service UC area and no longer able to claim legacy benefits) will be compensated for the loss of the SDP. The announcement:


https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2018-06-07/HCWS745


specifically paragraph 6:

In order to support the transition for those individuals who live alone with substantial care needs and receive the Severe Disability Premium, we are changing the system so that these claimants will not be moved to Universal Credit until they qualify for transitional protection. In addition, we will provide both an on-going payment to claimants who have already lost this Premium as a consequence of moving to Universal Credit and an additional payment to cover the period since they moved.

The regulations that provide for the above are yet to be brought into law but will debated in the House Of Commons in December and the intention that is already written into the draft regulations is that the above changes will come into effect from 19 January 2019.



A more detailed explanation of all the changes that are to be introduced can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/draft-universal-credit-managed-migration-regulations-2018-ssac-report-and-government-statement/the-universal-credit-transitional-provisions-managed-migration-amendment-regulations-2018-letter-from-the-secretary-of-state-for-work-and-pension

bournemouth_bell wrote: »

thanks rob

i have an interest as im worrying about my ESA medical , it will be in a few weeks and ive convinced myself it will be a disaster

i have Bipolar amongst other things and have been in the support group for 4yrs

if i fail the medical im guessing i will have to apply for UC (full service area)and put in a MC,if that fails i would go to tribune

if i won i cant go back to esa can i?
will i still lose SDP even if i won ?
im on pip enhanced care
i

If you are found fit for work and claim UC you won't be able to go back onto ESA even if the MR or Tribunal goes in your favour, so yes you'll lose the SDP if you're found fit for work.