Universal Credit switch

[Kay1953]

I applied for U C on 21st August after receiving a migration letter and before the deadline.
I get Income related ESA every 2 weeks. I recieved an ESA payment on the 2nd of September. I am due another payment on the 16th of September but I have been told I won't recieve this. I will get a U C payment on the 27th of September. In the meantime, I can get an advance which I have to pay back
I really don't understand why.
Could anyone please explain it to me?
Thanks.

Because you’ve switched to UC so the ESA stops. I’m not sure what you’re not clear on. If you’re short, take the advance and repay it when the UC comes in.

I get what you mean. until quite recently I used to support people switching to uc from esa etc. It's something I've wondered why as you have no choice but get into debt as you are without money for at least 2 weeks during the switch. Which can be quite stressful for people especially those with mental heath issues.

Speak to ESA you should get 2 week run on after you submit your claim for UC

Assuming your ESA was wholly made up of the Income Related* version and you've successfully proved your ID then what you say is correct in the sense that that is how it works.

Technically ESA stopped effective 20 August. The payment in September was a 'run on' of 14 days ESA. This is 'free money' to help tide you over the wait until 27 September.

It looks as though you got the sequencing right in that you claimed UC immediately after a payment of ESA so that the run on arrived 14 days later. That still leaves you with about 10 days longer than you would have on ESA with no cash.

Unfortunately, if you are unable to manage that then taking a (repayable) advance is the solution DWP offer.

Working in this area we're finding that people are also getting behind with rent. There's a 14 day run on in Housing Benefit but once that's paid there are 2-3 weeks before UC kicks in. People are therefore falling into arrears and it seems landlords, including Councils/RSLs are seeking to recover those arrears leading to acute stress.

If ESA included a Contribution Based element that will continue as a fortnightly payment and convert to 'New Style' ESA. The name change doesn't make much practical difference although the letter advising the change puts the wind up people by referring to a Claimant Commitment.

Thanks everyone.
Pink delight - I'm unsure as to how I'm going to pay my bills on the 16th even I won't receive any money until the 27th.

With the advance payment, no?

The only way to do it if you can't get by and cannot borrow from relatives is to take an advance.

Apply for the advanced payment they offer you.

Apply for the advance for your bills? They do make it clear you only get a 2 week run on not 4 weeks, otherwise your uc would be deducted from the esa as uc is paid in arrears.

UC is paid in arrears I'm afraid. I'm so sorry you didn't know this. You can have the advance payment (debt) but it'll be taken out of future payments.

For anyone else, save up a month's tax credits etc before your UC switch. I squirrelled away the money over a couple of years. That way you can refuse the UC debt. It was quite satisfying telling them no.

That's the way to do it but trying to save out of ESA, which is typically around £160/week, is very difficult. More so if the Migration Notice was your fist inkling that it was to end.

If you're in Support Group with no Severe Disability Premium you're actually going to be a bit better off on UC. The extra money for having Limited Capability for Work Related Activity in UC is about £20/week more than the sum of the Support Component and EDP/Disability Income Guarantee in ESA.