Being moved onto Universal Credit

[Maurice_Mencap]

Some old benefits, like income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) are ending. People on those benefits will need to move to Universal Credit to keep receiving benefits.

The Department for Work and Pensions are sending out letters to people who are affected by this change. This letter tells you when and how to apply for Universal Credit.

Mencap has also got some information on the process and what you'll need to do once you receive a letter, take a look at the website here: mencap.org.uk/help-and-advi...

There's also an easy read guide you can share, and details of where you can get extra support if you need it as well.

[deborahcoxsuckle]

My backwards son is currently on income based ESA. When he moves over to UC how would he manage their online journal and signing the commitments to obtain the benefits, he lack mental capacity with his finances and has a deputyship who are social services in Wakefield. I heard if you lack capacity you don't have to sign the commitments. Is this true?

[Bergersil400 in reply to deborahcoxsuckle]

Hi

I can't speak for your son but my daughter also has no capacity and when she moved into supported living 2 years ago, she had to move onto universal credit to receive the housing benefit, as the supported living complex she lives in is privately owned.

It wasn't straightforward, but I got the UC agents to come to the house where they checked all the paper work and meet her. I seem to remember signing some documents on her behalf.

We were able to apply on her behalf for the benefit and once we applied was straightforward. As her appointee I was able to create a login & I manage the journal If I have any queries I state who I am and put in her name. In the early phase especially when the housing benefit being assessed I would speak on the phone to an agent.

Each year if there are any changes in the rent I have to attach the relevant paper work to enable her to get the increase in her benefit.

Most of the time it runs like clockwork and gives you relevant information within the journal.

The quicker you apply the quicker the transition & my daughter actually gets more money on UC too.

Good luck.

[DancingSquirrel in reply to deborahcoxsuckle]

Hi

I am a support worker and write messages on the journal on behalf of several people I work with using their log in details. It doesn't matter who ticks the boxes/writes the messages - it just makes the system work. You can make clear in the journal it's you writing it on her behalf and that's fine. The people I know couldn't look for work either though they may have some more understanding - but as long as fit notes are provided for as long as needed then it's fine. (After a time someone may be assessed as having Limited Capacity for Work Related Activity, so no longer needed).

[Chocolate-heals-all in reply to deborahcoxsuckle]

Hi Deborah!

I think that your son has probably already undergone a work capability assessment (because you say he’s on ESA, now) and will probably retain his status as having “limited capability for work and work-related activities” which means he won’t have to do a job-seeker journal. Otherwise the DWP will re-assess him.

I’m guessing that his deputy will have to do the leg work and manage his migration to UC. Under UK mental capacity legislation, a person’s mental capacity to make a decision depends entirely on the context of that particular decision. So that would mean that your son would have to sign any agreement that he can understand - given the support of those around him. If he can’t, the deputy can sign on his behalf.

[MaxandCyd83]

Hello, many thanks for the heads-up. Will look out for the letter.

[Chocolate-heals-all]

Hi Maurice thank you! My friend got migrated. She got bad advice. Apparently one loses two weeks of Housing Benefit, with the transition, because it switches from payment in advance to payment in arrrears, or some such thing, and the local authority only do a transition grant if you apply exactly at the right time with exactly the right documentation. So she ended up missing the transition grant and getting into rent arrears which she is now repaying slowly and painfully. It’s really important that people get advice if they’re being migrated and receiving housing benefit. It may be that this isn’t a problem for people in supported accommodation.

[Maurice_Mencap Partner in reply to Chocolate-heals-all]

Sorry to hear about your friend's issues with being migrated, it's a real minefield if you don't get the right support and advice for sure. That's why we've put up the information on our website to hopefully help people avoid any problems.

[Spedyrecovry50]

hi. what if you are on contribution based esa. do you still have to migrate. also does being in the support group make any difference. thanks.

[Maurice_Mencap Partner in reply to Spedyrecovry50]

Hi Spedyrecovry50 , I'm not sure about contribution based ESA I'm afraid - our Learning Disabilty Helpline advisers would probably be able to say for sure though. You can speak to them free on 0808 808 1111 or by email on [e-mail]

[Spedyrecovry50 in reply to Maurice_Mencap]

thank you.

[AMPJAP]

there is very good guide printed by a website called benefitsandwork .co.uk to get the comprehensive you have to join but the website can point and direct you towards the correct way of filling in the U/C form it’s also the best forum for answering every type benefits questions. I can also recommend a book called the

Disability Rights Handbook apply on line it’s the bible of knowledge of all benefits!!! Again there is a cost although reduced for carers and disabled persons