Universal credit managed migration thread

[ChristmasCatBells]

Anyone else waiting for a migration notice this year?
Looks like they are planning to move people on tax credits only onto universal credit this year but haven't released any detailed timetables about areas.
Thought it might be useful to share experiences and information on here for those affected.

I received my letter: single parent here, receiving spousal support from ex; going to lose 90%of the UC I was getting from tax credits because they count this as unearned (hah) income. This is going to tip me from JAM to potentially losing my home. Going for the 12 month grace period and I honestly don't know what I am doing after that.

Also if anybody else had to provide their bank statements, savings accounts etc how did you do this? Did you print everything out or did you show them online? Surely they realise we don’t get sent paper copies in the post anymore. Thanks.

I'm quite worried by the move, all the calculators show a significant drop in award for us for UC. One of us is on state pension and gets a small private pension of £200 a month. It looks like we are going to be about £500 worse off by the switch - we have a disabled child as well and I can't work out why if I add all the elements up, I get less than the child element would be never mind the disabled child element. I think it must be down to the pensions as income? So they add these things on then take them off again due to income. The other person is claiming carers allowance.

Kiki, are you sure about that? I thought child support (and spousal) were disregarded. In fact I've just googled it and that seems to be the case? Apologies if I've got it completely wrong ... but please do check again.

They disregard child maintenance but not spousal

Thanks for clarifying, @spacechimp79. I was thinking of child support, yes.

Kiki, can you get your maintenance classified as child maintenance?

Yes actually. How do they know what is spousal and what is child maintenance I wonder? Possibly a reference on bank statement

Does anyone know if I can pay more into my pension and how that affects the calculation for UC?

Rummikub yes if you pay more into a pension that amount should be disregarded as income. However in reality universal credit goes on the gifures your employer sends to HRMC. I have heard that they are really rubbish at considering payments into private pensions and people had to get their MP involved. So if you can do it by paying more into your workplace pension that is much better.

Ok great thanks
I was looking at increasing payment into my work place pension

Right I’ve just applied. But it doesn't say I’ve completed. I’ve accepted all the commitments. And there’s nothing in my to do list.

I tell you what I already hate getting the emails and my anxiety is through the roof. I know it makes me sound weak but I am actually a bit shaky!

So that means my assessment dates are 21st to the 21st of every month?

They will likely claw it back.

I had this too. Applied on Sunday. Had my CT payment as usual on Wednesday. I was surprised and worried I've done something wrong. Thoughts anyone?

Assessment dates will always be 21-20th of each month.

It is likely the payment had already been released before you applied. It will likely be an overpayment.

Private and state pensions are deducted in full from Universal credit. Carers allowance continues to be paid separately but then is deducted in full at an averaged monthly rate. You should get a carers element included on the UC claim though.

The earnings thresholds are increasing for everyone soon.

@Babyroobs
Thank you. So hopefully won't get next week.

I have to apply by the 12th Jan. As I get paid on the 15th of every month I was going to apply on the 5th Jan so it never hits a payday, which I think I've read can mess things up.

I'm desperately cutting back on my food to try and squirrel away a few quid for the start of next year.

Got a reply back saying I’ll get my first payment on the 27th October! Is that to cover the previous 5 weeks?

Was tax credits paid in arrears too?

im wondering then that there’s a gap of two weeks without support? Is that right?

Uc covers a month. It's always monthly and paid in arrears. Your Uc assessment period is always a month. Not sure what gap of two weeks you are talking about unless you are referring to the run on of housing benefit ? You can take an advance payment to tide you over the wait if you wish.

Sorry I will try to explain myself better. My last tax credits payment was 8th Sept. but my UC payment is on 27th oct covering the previous 5 weeks (?). So in my mind that means there’s a gap from the 8th to the 21st September that isn’t covered by either tax credits or UC.

Are your tax credits paid monthly ? so if you received a months worth of tax credits on 8th september you are going to have an overpayment to pay back I think as your Uc would have started from the 21st September when you made the claim?

Oh no!! That’s stressed me out even more!

So tax credits paid on the 8th September doesn’t cover 8th August to 8th September? But instead covers 8th sept to 8th October??