ESA migration to UC and New-Style ESA

Hi

I'm so confused! I thought I had this figured out, but I'm lost again.

I've been receiving Income Related ESA in the Support Group since 2021(ish). 86.9% was contributory ESA and then I got a 13.1% 'top up' labelled income-related.

(I also receive PIP and Housing Benefit.)

I'm now migrating to Universal Credit and am awaiting my first payment. I had figured out all my elements, so I knew what to expect:
Standard Allowance
Support (LCWRA) group
Housing (to replace HB)
Transitional Protection (since UC total was less than the ESA entitlement)


I've now received a letter saying that because I'm migrating to UC, I'm also being moved from Income Related ESA onto New-Style ESA. No problem - everything I've read says that this makes no difference and my UC payment just gets reduced by the amount my New-Style ESA award is. So it's the same money, but now I get 3 different payments - fortnightly from NS-ESA and monthly from UC (seems inefficient to me, but it's a government and I'm grateful for the social safety net!)


I haven't previously researched New-Style ESA, but it looks like all the same elements and rates as IR-ESA - Standard allowance, Support group, Enhanced Disability Premium, Severe Disability Premium.


However, between the Transitional Protection topping up the UC award and the NS-ESA decreasing the UC award, are these not just cancelling each other out??! My calculations are showing that my UC entitlement basically just replaces my Housing Benefit.

Am I correct?! Or am I utterly lost?

Oh, I didn't realise New-Style ESA didn't have premiums! It makes a little more sense now.

So moving from IR-ESA onto NS-ESA means losing £102.35 from the 2 disability premiums but the UC LCWRA element plus the UC Transitional Protection makes up that difference.

I think I have out straightened out again and my spreadsheet fixed. Thank you so much for your help, David!