Working Tax Credits migration self employed disability

[Lucybeary]

Hi all
I'm wondering if you can help me just get a bit clearer about the whole process of migration. Especially as it applies to my case.

I have been self employed for 5 years. It's organised and I do make a profit but that doesn't mean I earn enough or the MIF. That might seem odd but technically profit is different.

Either way I have to migrate but I have a mental block about the whole thing and I've got to start my application.

I have chronic health conditions and I generally have worked 16 hours or less per week but make just below the MIF, only just. I think they will see me as gainfully self employed? I'm organised, with accounts, business plan, etc.

I just want to know what to expect. I'm worried because I really could not do any more work at the moment, though that might change down the line. Am I right in thinking that the first year won't matter anyway as there is a migration protection? The helpline mentioned a protection but I don't know how long that's for.

I need to let them know about my health conditions but does all that have to happen straight away with the first application online? Or is that a next step that I needn't worry about before the deadline?

I'd be grateful for any advice. I don't have a partner who lives with me and child is now adult so that's not an issue now. Thanks for any help, I'm so muddled. :-)

Having read that through I just want to add that I am working really hard, it didn't sound like it when I said I couldn't take on any more work. I probably can soon and depending on what it is, but in general I'm not well most of the time and am actually working it's just there's only so much you can do when you are managing health conditions which take up a huge amount of time also. I hope that gives a balanced picture. I want to earn more, I'm just a bit afraid of being plunged into a new system that I might not have properly communicated my difficulties to or that works very differently.

Anyone able to share any experience? My deadline is Friday. Thanks to anyone who can assist, I just want to know what to expect in terms of the process. :-)

I can't answer all your questions but I do know that transitional protection lasts 12 months so you shouldn't be worse off in that time.

Are you claiming PIP? That's likely to have an impact on your assessment.

As you are moving as part of Managed Migration the MIF would not be not be imposed for the first year. PIP won't impact your Universal Credit claim. If you have a Work Capability Assessment and are found to have limited capability for work or work related activity the MIF won't be imposed after the year ends. I would advice that you contact the Help to Claim Service run by Citizens Advice on 0800 144 8 444 for advice.

Thanks to you both. So if I get on with my application I don't need to worry about the form yet, the UC50, the health form? Will they tell me when I have to do that once my application is in?

also wondering if I need to talk about my health in the first year, I mean I will tell them but do I have to go through all the assessments then in my first year or afterward when MIF disregard ends?

I appreciate your replies thankyou

UC are now asking me to get a fit note.

Does anyone know whether I need to see the doctor for this. It might sound stupid but I haven't had to ask for one for about 7 years since being self employed and I don't know how it works now. I've got health conditions which have been managed by doing 16 hours or less per week

Do you have to get the fit note from the doctor and for how long would they need it for, my health problems are not likely to improve or get worse (unless made to do more than I can)

I thought I would be filling out a form, telling them about my health and then they would decide what they needed from the doctor.

Can anyone advise who's been through this? thankyou

Yes, you need to get it from the GP.

UC are going to ask you to get 2-3 fit notes before they accept your disability/ health condition as impacting your claim long term so get the GP to do short length notes and get it over with.

Thanks GermanBite

I'm just trying to get my head around this. I'm asking for fit notes from the doctor because I cannot do work that I'm not actually doing anyway. It seems.. No idea what to say to the doctor.

I understand that they could say that if they are paying me then I need a fit note to say why I can't get that money elsewhere, but it's just confusing when I've not even had a meeting with them, no idea what I would get anyway or if it's needed.

I suppose I could tell the doctor what I've put on my form and explain I've been told to come to him / her to get a fit note. Still scratching my head, for what.

Your GP will have needed to do this for other patients. Explain that you're moving to Universal Credit and have been asked for a fit note. They should be used to the system.

Yeah, it's just hoop jumping I'm afraid. You can't be referred for a health assessment until you've handed in fit notes for 30 days (well actually you can buy most work coaches don't know that and it's usually not worth having the argument)

Thanks GermanBite and Nonametonight

I did a lot of reading last night. My only concern now is that when the doctor says I'm able to work partially, then that will be seen that I can do work related activity with the job coach. That would really set me back as it would be in addition to what I'm already doing. I'm able to do a lot of work related activity, just not anymore than what I'm currently doing as that's already a struggle and it would set me back. It's about repeatedly doing some of the activities which would trigger my fatigue and anxiety relapse, it's not that I can't actually do them at all. Oh well I'll just have to go through the process.

In most of the UK, it's unlikely you'll be expected to do anything at the jobcentre if you're found to have lcw

The lcw/ra test is mainly based on a set of legal descriptors so your doctors note shouldn't have much impact on whether you're awarded lcw or lcwra status

thanks I was imagining them trying to do the work capability assessment on the basis of what the doctor said. I see now that this would come later.

does anyone know if there's a limit to what you can earn if you were in LCW or LCWRA?

The work I do pays a bit more than NMW so even on a bad week of less than 16 hours I will earn something. I am just wondering if those earnings would stop me being considered for these work groups when it's my health, and the hours that's difficult for me, not so much the income, there is likely to be something in a week.