Is anyone here claiming Universal Credit due to illness/mental health issues?

[Trying2Heal]

I feel like my life's gone down the toilet these days. Only a couple of years ago I was a happy person with a thriving career and great home. An abusive relationship, nervous breakdown later my life is a wreck. I had already overcome extreme childhood abuse and growing up in the care system. A relationship with an abusive maniac undid all the therapy I'd done over the years.
Anyway, I'm now mentally only semi-functioning and was put on Employment and Support Allowance in the "Support" group because the assessor seems to think I'm too much of a basket case to even be able to look for work.
Moving forward I'll need to apply for help with housing costs when/if I get a flat and my support worker advised me to switch over to Universal Credit to qualify for help with housing

I've been put in the ESA "Support" Group for 2 years and my support worker says this will automatically transfer over to UC.

Has anyone actually gone through this process though? A move from ESA to UC? Does it leave you with no money coming in at all for weeks on end?

My life is already smashed to pieces, being unable to even afford food and basics would be the final straw.

You should get a two weeks run on of ESA when you switch to Uc and also you can take an advance payment of Uc to tide you over the five week wait. Your support group ESA status should automatically transfer over to Uc under the transitional rules but sometimes it takes a while so don't bank on getting the extra £342 LCWRA element of Uc straight away. You may be lucky and get it added on quickly. If you choose to take the Uc advance then it has to be paid back a little at a time over 12 months so your monthly Uc would reduce a little due to that. Do you live with family at the moment?

If they do not add the LCWRA element, leave a note on your online journal stating that you believe that regulation 19 should apply ( transitional rules). Sometimes you need to quote their own regulations at them when things get missed ! On your first statement you should have a standard element for yourself, LCWRA element and rent element and child element(s) if you have kids.

@Babyroobs. I had been living in a home in my partner's name and it's a domestic abuse situation. The relationship's now over and he's being investigated by the police.

With regard to the LCWRA, even if it takes a while to come through, will it be backdated from whenever my ESA claim stops?

[quote Trying2Heal]@Babyroobs. I had been living in a home in my partner's name and it's a domestic abuse situation. The relationship's now over and he's being investigated by the police.

With regard to the LCWRA, even if it takes a while to come through, will it be backdated from whenever my ESA claim stops?[/quote]
Yes it will be back dated. Sorry to read what you are going through.

@Babyroobs Thank you