WTC migration to UC - questions re transitional protection & stopping UC

Hi all,

Just some questions re my upcoming migration to UC from Working Tax Credit (WTC) as I don't want to end up in another mess alongside my current PIP one. I'm aware most advisors won't advise on WTC and that's fine, as my questions are mostly about UC

I received the migration letter from DWP a while ago, the deadline for me to apply for UC is April 6.
I understand if I do this, it gives me 12 months transitional protection (TP) for having savings over £16K and an additional top up to ensure I still receive my current WTC amount, for 12 months.
I currently get WTC with disability element as I have a basic PIP award.

I was looking into UC and discovered I need to 'apply' or confirm my finances with them every month, to continue receiving UC. I guess I have to do this online? I didn't know this before so just wondering what else I need to know/don't know.

I don't have a health assessment and believe I need one to keep receiving UC with the WTC disability element amount, however does TP mean the DWP cannot make me undertake any new health assessment in the following 12 months? Or they will lay off me for 12 months due to TP? Is there anything else they can throw at me during these 12 months? Readers of my PIP thread will understand I don't have much time or energy to deal with anything other than another possible PIP appeal, therefore I don't really want to get dragged into other things that the DWP will likely throw at me, when they see I'm challenging the recent PIP decision.

My plan was to claim UC for the 12 month TP period, and then stop claiming when the TP ran out. I have no intention to formally apply for UC or any other benefit especially after everything I'm going through with PIP.

On this subject, am I right in thinking all I need to do for the UC claim to stop is enter that I have savings above 16K for the 13th month and then they will automatically throw me out/close the claim? I hope that's the case as I don't want to have to jump through further hoops to close the UC claim. I just want it to stop and for them to shut everything down, and ideally delete my details of claim, although I doubt they'll do the latter.

Thanks so much for anyone's insight

There is also the 'assumed income' rule to consider.
Any capital/ savings you have between £6,000 and £16,000 is treated as if it gives you a monthly income of £4.35 for each £250, or part of £250, regardless of whether it does or not. That means they assume you get £174 per month from your savings.
The documentation around this is rather confusing, but could mean that they give you TP but then take off the notional £174 so you end up with less than you were expecting.

Thanks Gordon, much appreciated

I guess that I don't need to supply a Fit Note if transitional protection applies for 12 months? Otherwise what is the point of TP? Surely it will only be after the 12 month period when TP expires that I will need to supply a Fit Note/go through the LCWRA, which I don't want to put myself through as I'm happy for my UC entitlement to 'expire' after the 12 month TP period?

I'm happy for anyone to link me to further guidance inside or outside of this website if there is any

Thanks Dancer, very helpful

I guess though this means there is no point to the TP, as it is meant to effectively 'top up' your benefit to what it currently is, for 12 months. And part of TP means you can have savings above the £16K threshold for the 12 months and again they can't penalise you for that.

Be interesting to hear from anyone who has been penalised in this way while under the TP arrangements, as I'm fairly sure the DWP can't do that, according to their own guidelines.