Changing to UC and savings question

Hi David

Just an update...I phoned the benefits inquiry line on Wednesday, they didn't have an answer for me and said they would get someone else to call. I didn't hear back so I phoned again today and they said they couldn't say if my savings would be disregarded or not and that it is up to the decision-makers on the UC team. Not sure what else to do now.
Thanks again.

Hi David,

sorry for the delay, my CFS/ME has been flaring up.

I email the housing benefits people, thought it might be better in writing as you once mentioned and they got back to me today with this:

Good afternoon



Thank you for your enquiry.



Your Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction (HB & CTR) has been in payment based on your entitlement to income related Employment Support Allowance (ESA). In most cases ESA income related and therefore by default HB/CTR can’t be paid when capital levels exceed £16,000.



In cases where the capital source was a payment made due to a DWP error then the capital can be disregarded. On this basis your ESA and HB/CTR have remained in payment.



As you are shortly migrating over to Universal Credit (UC) you will need to declare your capital and also its origin to Universal Credit so that a decision can be made by them regarding your ongoing entitlement. I note that you have also queried this with ESA and they have passed your query over to UC.



Your CTR assessment will need to be amended in line with your UC award when this is finalised, so we will be bound by their decision.



I hope this helps, however if you prefer to speak to an assessor you can call us on the number below.



Kind regards

OK cool, good. That's a relief then, been so worried. Much better reply from them than from ESA and UC departments. Maybe I'll try emailing more often because they have to sit down and write a proper reply as opposed to 'ugh, not sure' on the phone.

Should I make a note of the words 'official error' on the UC form online? I filled in most of it just need to enter my bank account balances now.

Thanks again, David.