Moving from ESA to UC sometime this year

[Arcticwolf]

DWP plan to switch me from ESA to UC sometime this year, but I'm anxious about the move and the potential challenges. 16-hour workdays are not feasible due to my health issues, and I need to work to support my mental well-being. I'm struggling to understand how to handle the UC rules. Like I know you can work as many hours as you want but don't know the money side of it like ESA it gave me a clear answer of you can't earn more than 183 pounds a week I'm really confused about it all due to my poor mental health problems and half way through other appointments and my autism.

[Spud-u-Like1982]

I'm in the same boat as you. I've not been notified yet, but I will be moved from National Insurance Contributions ESA to Universal Credit. As far as I can tell, provided they have proof your condition is severe enough, you shouldn't have to work. I used to work for ESA, then Universal Credit and none of us had a clue about Universal Credit, because there were so many components to it. The rules might have changed sine I worked for them.

The best advice I can give would be either to phone them and query it, or alternatively contact your local citizens advice bureau, as they can help advise you on your rights and possibly other people to contact who can provide assistance. There are going to be hundreds of thousands of people in our situation and many of them with conditions that will greatly limit their understanding of things, so there must be failsafes in place. Like yourself, it's affected my anxiety just hearing about the changes to it.

You're not alone!

[Arcticwolf in reply to Spud-u-Like1982]

Been thinking about contacting the local citizens advice bureau. but because i have not switched over yet i don't feel like contacting them. I know I don't have to work but it helps me mind in a way that it makes me forget all the crap im going thourgh with my mental health at the moment. But at the same time stand guide advisor told me I'm not even fit to look for work at the moment and she's had to refer me to her safeguarding officer.

[DrSarahmac]

hi. My daughter went from working tax credit to UC about five years ago and like you I was terrified because of all the scare stories. It took a while and the forms are very long and detailed but actually we were treated well and got a fair decision that had a positive financial outcome.

I used a charity that supports benefits claimants. It’s called Turn2us. They have guides that show you in detail what to include in each section (depending on your circumstances) to make sure you get the points you are entitled to and from there the right level of benefit.

It’s daunting but not the ordeal I was expecting. Keep a copy of the forms you complete though. If you do have a telephone call you need to know what you’ve written. We had a call with a GP to clarify a few things and she was extremely kind and supportive.

Ask to also claim for LCWRA (limited capacity for work and work related activity) they don’t tell you about that, but it’s an extra payment if you’re unable to work more than 15hrs a week

My daughter gets the single person benefit £393 a month, LCWRA £416 a month, and housing benefit for her rent £600 a month (over 35yrs old rate - varies by region). She can earn up to £379 before they start to reduce her benefits. For every pound over that she loses 55 pence. It is calculated each month so it doesn’t matter if earnings vary.

She has a learning disability and physical impairments

Hope that helps.

[Arcticwolf in reply to DrSarahmac]

I will be 35 this year and I want to be a forklift driver. and Drsarah that is the information i want. i want to know what i can earn before they can start taking money off me. So how do i ask that question to the people in my area? because I'm wary they may think I'm trying to play the system even if i go to my local citizens advice bureau.

[DrSarahmac in reply to Arcticwolf]

I don’t think you need to ask. Your local council should publish the “local housing allowance” rates on their website.

[Chocolate-heals-all]

my son went straight on to UC and very quickly got assessed as having limited capability for work-related activities. He can work as much as he likes as long as he doesn’t earn more than a certain amount.

Because of minimum wage legislation you need to be clear about which of your roles are voluntary and totally unpaid and which roles are paid. Otherwise HMRC will accuse you of working below minimum wage and will try to collect taxes off you and can say you’re above the earnings limit even if you got no pay. I think there is a category of work which is called therapeutic. The gov dot uk web site has the information on what constitutes voluntary work. The key is that you can simply decide not to show up. But that is old legislation.

I recently read a guide about being migrated. It said if you now don’t have to send in “fit notes” then your status of having limited capability for work-related activity should be carried over automatically. You need to follow their instructions carefully because there’s a top-up you get if the new level of benefit is lower than what you’re getting now, but only if you migrate at the time they tell you to. You should get an advocate from Mencap or a mental health charity. It’s really complicated.

There is something funny about housing benefit as well, and you should get advice about that. Shelter probably know what you need to do. It might depend on the type of housing you’re in. In our LA, some people had to apply for a discretionary grant to cover a gap of two weeks that comes up during the migration period

[Arcticwolf in reply to Chocolate-heals-all]

There is protection now in place so that my old money is protected. Last time i delt with mencap we had a row. I also get housing benefit and im in supported living but have my own flat/space joined onto the main house. I also don't have to send in sick notes either.

[Chocolate-heals-all]

I hope it goes well for you.

[MikeRose]

Talk to your local Citizens Advice who should introduce you to their "Help to Claim" service; citizensadvice.org.uk/benef...