UC Managed Migration - A few questions

Hi there

I just received my migration notice. I tried Google and ChatGPT and now I'm trying the better brains at B&W with the hope you can help me navigate the complexity.

Currently I'm on IR-ESA (support group, disability premiums). I'm also on PIP (full rate for both components). From my rough calculations I'm going to be a lot worse off on UC. I appreciate there are "transactional protections" though these do seem transient.

1. How long are UC migrations claims taking roughly at the moment? I appreciate the guide is approximately 5 weeks. Would it be wise to prepare for a backlog and an additional delay?
2. It seems to me like "transactional protections" are just going to be progressively whittled away over time. I read on B&W that even benefit increases for a new tax year will be deducted from transactional elements. I would normally have 3 benefit increases in April (ESA, PIP and Housing Benefit). Small as they are, they were welcomed. Does UC increase similarly in April or should I brace myself for an incremental deterioration in my income over time?
3. My rent is currently paid in full directly by Housing Benefit to my housing association. What will the new arrangement be on UC? Is Housing Benefit a legacy benefit and therefore will also be stopped 2 weeks after my claim?
4. Following on from this is the amount of UC allocated for rent comparable or equal to that which was allocated for Housing Benefit or will there also be a gap?
5. I am currently getting Council Tax support. Will I have to reapply?

I've found your guides (comprehensive as always!) and did scan them quickly but I couldn't find the answers to my questions (my apologies if I missed the answers). I will read through the guides thoroughly over the next few days.

Thanks in advance for your help.

J

Thanks for the comprehensive reply David.

I tried to ask ChatGPT for some further clarification on transistional protection. It gave me 2 different conflicting answers so I'm asking the better brains at B&W again.

- I understand that my existing premiums will be eroded over time. In order to work out how fast this will happen can you tell if me my transitional protection element will be reduced when my annual rent increases and therefore my UC increases? ChatGPT said yes and then no for this. Additionally when my PIP increases in the new tax year will my transistional protection element decrease? If neither of these increases will affect my transistional element then I'm assuming (all things remaining the same) the only thing that will reduce it will be the annual increase in April and presumably any Cost of Living winter fuel payments etc. Is that right? My existing premiums make up about 40% of my ESA which is a big loss if this is not converted to UC, but if that is reduced over a number of years that will be easier to bear.
- My second clarification concerned the shortfall between the point my legacy benefits stop and UC starts. You mentioned that "UC is digital so it commences from the day that you submit your online application" and then payment occurs approximately 5 weeks later. As legacy benefits stop 2 weeks after a UC claim is made and the first UC payment is made 5 weeks after a claim is made there should be a shortfall of about 3 weeks. Shall I assume from this that whilst there will be a delay in payments due to the changes in payment timing there won't be a shortfall in the actual payments themselves and that those 3 weeks will be covered in arrears?

Thanks for your help

J

Hi David

I haven't had chance to read the guides you shared yet. I've had appointments today and as my symptoms have been flaring up I needed to rest after that.

I will definitely be reading the guides and digesting the new rules but I need to do that in stages unfortunately which will take me a bit of time. Having a few key questions answered ahead of my study has helped me plan what I need to do, when by and has also taken the immediate uncertainty out of the process. I appreciate your help in that.

Thank you for your time.

Best wishes

J