Transitional Protection Payment reduced

Hi, after mandatory transferring from ESA to UC June 2025, we had to move this February to a two bedroomed property for health reasons. We have recently had the yearly rental increase and I have noticed because we are being paid the extra rent amount we are now being paid less transitional payment because of this. I have checked the statement thoroughly and that is the only increase we have had is the rent and the amount of the decrease is exactly the same as the rental increase. The protection will eventually be eaten up by rental increases. I thought we had the provisional protection so we would not lose out when transferring to UC. Having to pay £98.00 council tax monthly from paying £0 and now this. I wonder could you look into this for me please?

Hi Allison Allford

I think what needs to be checked out is this large increase in Council Tax. This has happened to a lot of other Benefits claimants and law firms are currently acting for them in taking the Councils to court. What makes it more complex is that each Council is allowed to draw up its own Council Tax system. Does your council area have a CItizens Advice or other Welfare Advice Office that would be familiar with the local Council and how it extracts the Council Tax?
The reduction in Transitional Protection where there is a rent increase is supposed to happen. UC was designed under previous Tory governments and my ministers such as Ian Duncan Smith with the aim of reducing the Benefits bill. Sorry for the bad news.

If you have trouble with the Council Tax issue you could let me know your Council and I could try and find their new policies following Managed Migration.

David