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UC possibly higher than legacy benefits - what to do?

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3 weeks 2 days ago #308923 by quer
Hi,

I've been helping a friend with their migration from ESA and Housing Benefit to UC. After a bit of a false start (the first payments included no transitional protection or housing element) they eventually adjusted the amount, so it now includes the standard element + LCWRA + housing element + transitional protection.

But we've just been doing the maths and it seems like they are now getting more in total per month than they did when they received ESA and Housing Benefit. Have we missed something? Should we contact the UC helpline? Should we ask in the journal for a breakdown of how they calculated the amount?

Obviously, it's nice to get more money, but they're worried they'll be asked to pay it back or get into trouble.

Thanks in advance!

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3 weeks 1 day ago #308937 by David
Hi quer

You and your friend could try analysing the reason why this is happening by looking at the amounts in the UC statements. Here are some instructions from CPAG on how to do this ---
cpag.org.uk/welfare-rights/tools-templat...ersal-credit-account

Let me know how you get on.
David

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2 weeks 1 day ago #309128 by quer
hi again,
We have looked throught the statements, but it's still not clear why they're getting more in total per month than they were before.

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2 weeks 1 day ago #309147 by latetrain
Hi quer

If your friend was not in receipt of any disability premiums with their legacy benefits then they will be better off claiming UC and receiving the LCWRA element.

Claimants receiving EDP + SDP with their ESA will be worse off claiming UC.

Gary

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1 week 5 days ago #309213 by quer
Thank you for the response!

However, they were receiving disability premiums with their ESA... but they're still better off with UC (when you include the transitional protection).

Obviously it's nice to be better off (!) so they don't want to complain, but equally they're worried about getting into trouble or it turning out to be an overpayment they then have to pay back!

Should they tell UC that they think they might be being overpaid?

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1 week 4 days ago #309273 by latetrain
Hi quer

If you go to the home page on UC and then click on latest payment or even previous payments it will give you a breakdown how they have worked out your friends UC award. and the elements used in working out the applicable amounts.

Gary

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