New Style ESA and UC questions.

Dear Forum,

Last January I had to transfer from Working Tax Credits onto UC and was advised that I needed to go onto NSESA due to multiple health problems struggling to work as a property Landlord with 1 HMO property.

I was informed prior that I would receive transitional protection for 12 months, which was useful as straight away my benefits were being cut due to equity in my rental property.

Whilst I sorted this out I got a form UC50 which I filled in and sent off a few days after receiving it, and after waiting about 8 weeks with no answer I chased this up, but was told that my claim hadn't been actioned due to returning the form back late.

I couldn't understand this and spent hours trying to resolve and even got my local MP to chase on my behalf, which I was grateful.

Another few more weeks passed and I was told that I had been put into the support group.

As I was on transitional protection I didn't expect any increase in my benefit payments as I was still getting what I received from WTC £684 per month, which I believed would drop to around £500 in February 2025.

Unfortunately for me, in February and going forward I know receive nothing, as the form was I believe for LC for Work and not NSESA, even though on the Gov.uk website it says you will be given a UC50 form for NSESA if your also claiming UC.

It has been such a stressful process being forced to go onto UC and I have repeatedly ask on my Journal about my claim for NSESA or am I just filling in forms and wasting Doctors times to get sick notes.

In the pass few weeks I have managed to slowly navigate this minefield to be told that I have never claimed NSESA, so have started a new claim, to be told that I don't qualify as need to pay a top up for NI contributions at level 2 which I have now done.

I have read that voluntary NI class 2 will be stopped as my earning as a Landlord are approximately £8k per annum, but was informed last week that I need to re-apply again or my current claim won't be able to start until 6 weeks after my NI was paid.

I have tried to ask if my income will be too high to get NSESA, but can't get any answers. I'm obviously very angry that I believed the UC50 form I filled in was for a benefit that whilst getting, I don't believe has given me any extra financial support.

I have explained that my job as a property Landlord is my only work, but its not classed as a business its classed as an investment so equity is what I need to live off since becoming ill and unable to work - been signed off since January 2024, but means nothing to me as have to put my self through hell to try and manage property which is impossible to sell in the current climate.

My UC Journal shows payments due throughout 2024 / 2025 as £858 - £174 due to equity to bring my payment inline with my transitional protection, but an advisor has informed me that the capital disregard period expired on 03/01/2025 and from 04/01/2025 your capital, including equity in a property should be taken into account.

My question here is that if my equity was disregarded for a 12 month period and my benefits were more than what I was getting on WTC, would I have not been entitled to this amount.

My biggest issue throughout this, has been my Council Tax, as on WTC my equity in property was disregarded, so was paying approximately £14 pm, then on UC a few months into my claim, I was informed that I now need to pay £270 towards Council Tax.

I have over the past year sold all my assets except a rental property that I can't sell and have not taken a salary from this property as I'm trying to save to carry out essential works to help it sell.

Currently have £405 every 4 weeks from PIP, but have been waiting over 2 years for my claim for higher rate due to my multiple conditions getting worse, but can't continue to be supported financially from my mother and sister.

I'm just getting more and more worried, which with someone with a heart conditions is not healthy.

Thanks for any advice, will try to go to CAB tomorrow, but can never plan my days / weeks ahead as always tired or in pain, sorry for the long post, but it helps to get it off your chest.