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Original poster

Anyone still on legacy benefits and dreading going on Universal credit?

3 replies

DreadingUC · 07/12/2023 15:30

I'm in the support group of ESA and got a letter saying I would soon move over to UC.

I'm so worried I will be worse off and I'm really worried about getting paid once a month.

Right now I get CTC weekly and ESA fortnightly so I never have to wait long until I get something in the bank. I'm so worried about running out at the end of the month.

OP posts:
IncompleteSenten · 07/12/2023 15:39

I'm not sure how it will work, sorry. Will they just stop paying you the weekly amount and make you wait a month?

That would be a big problem if you've got a very low income. Can you ask them how it works and whether there's a different way round that so the switch from weekly to monthly doesn't leave you penniless in the short term?

Beyond that though, you should start planning now to get used to a monthly budget instead of a weekly one. If you spend too much at the beginning of the month then there's nothing left for the end but if the money you're getting is about the same then it's about portioning it up. Do you have a second bank account and if not could you open one? That way you could transfer the uc over and transfer the weekly amount back each week while you get the hang of monthly planning iyswim.

TigerRag · 07/12/2023 15:47

You'll get a two week run on of benefits.

You can in some situations ask for fortnightly payments.

Original poster
DreadingUC · 07/12/2023 15:59

IncompleteSenten · 07/12/2023 15:39

I'm not sure how it will work, sorry. Will they just stop paying you the weekly amount and make you wait a month?

That would be a big problem if you've got a very low income. Can you ask them how it works and whether there's a different way round that so the switch from weekly to monthly doesn't leave you penniless in the short term?

Beyond that though, you should start planning now to get used to a monthly budget instead of a weekly one. If you spend too much at the beginning of the month then there's nothing left for the end but if the money you're getting is about the same then it's about portioning it up. Do you have a second bank account and if not could you open one? That way you could transfer the uc over and transfer the weekly amount back each week while you get the hang of monthly planning iyswim.

Yes I've started doing this as I was on a prepayment meter for G&E and have moved to monthly bills. So I opened up a 2nd account and transfer £30 everytime I get money so I have enough for the bill at the end of the month.

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