uC migration

Hi. I have recently migrated to UC from IR ESS support group. I had a letter saying my ESA is ending and my last ESA payment will be on the 10-7/25. So I phoned up the DWP yesterday as I was due a payment today and they said yes, but it would be UC instead. So this morning I checked my bank balance and nothing has been paid in. I phoned the DWP and was told very brusquely that I won’t get a payment until the 2nd August. That’s almost a month since my last payment. Is this right? I’m at my wits end with all this. I’m so confused. When I tried to ask where the months shortfall would come from. She just repeated herself and said my payment would be on the 2nd August and my statement will be ready on the 29th July. Whatever that means and to ring back then. In the meantime I’ve gone without a payment for this fortnight. Is this right? Many thanks.

Hi harmony1

Yes it is correct, we always advise claimants to apply for UC just after their ESA has gone into their bank a/c, you have to get the timing right.

UC is paid monthly, from the information you have supplied I would say your assessment period is 27th June to 26th July, you then get paid 7 days later 2nd August.

What many claimants do is to ask for an advanced payment, to tie them over. The advanced payment will be recovered from subsequent UC payments, usually within a maximum of 24 months.

Gary