UC migration on behalf of mother - grateful for any advice.

Hi,

Sorry if this is a confusing query I just have a huge month coming up and I want to make sure I’m on the right track.

I live and care for my mother and she has received the UC migration notice. I have approached CAB explaining our circumstances and they have helped to make a plan, which involves calling the help to claim line next week.

During the check in with CAB they have also offered support and help to apply for PIP on my mums behalf too, which is amazing as I have been struggling through on my own with it for a few months now. All being well we should be applying for this within this next month for her!

I am on new style esa in the LCWRA group and have been for over a year. In August of this year I was awarded PIP, enhanced daily living and standard mobility (all thanks to your amazing forms and support!) but the claim started in March 2024 for records sake.

My mother receives legacy ESA but is in the LWCRA group. She also receives HB with non dependent deductions taken from the HB due to me living with her. I think she also gets a small amount of council tax support. I have ultimately worked out that she wouldn’t be entitled to any “transactional protection” as she is due to receive more on UC than she does with her current legacy benefits.

I know that once we have called the help to claim line, her ESA claim is closed and her UC claim will begin. We are planning on doing this after her next ESA payment, which will at least cover her for the following 2 weeks. After the call, I believe we have to separately inform/call the local council for the housing benefit and council tax to be updated.

It was in the forms somewhere that I then read that her housing benefit would not receive a “non dependent deduction” if the non dependent received PIP. This would be great moving forward into her UC claim, as I cover the deductions currently, but we’re now both worried that they may penalise us for not informing them of my PIP award sooner? Technically it has only been 3 months of receiving PIP, but the claim was backdated to March so that would make it 9 months. Very anxious about this as it’s something I’ve missed, I really didn’t realise it would be considered a change of circumstances otherwise would have informed them on her behalf.

I am also really worried about how my mum will adjust from fortnightly payments to monthly, and about debts that may accrue in the transition. I have read that she might be able to get an advance payment, and then delay the repayments of this for 3 months. Does anyone have any information on how to ask UC for that or how long that may take?

Also just to clarify that she would be responsible for contacting UC through her journal? is this an app or website that will be given to her? There are often times that she cannot communicate with anybody, so I just wonder how an appointed situation would work with her new claim.

I have also read horror stories of LCWRA recipients not being automatically placed into the same group on UC. I did then also read that they’ve been trying to rectify whatever error was causing this, so it’s hard to know what the current situation is.
Is it still currently the case that they are requesting fit notes from people? I’m trying to think ahead about what we need to do and ask for, and will try to book a GP appointment this week so we have everything to hand.

We’re both exhausted and triggered by the entire thing, and as her only carer I need to somehow get it together for the both of us as we’ve barely even started!

Any help, guidance or advice will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks so much in advance!

Hi David!

Thank you for this. I also hadn’t seen the extra form B&W have provided on the esa migration - so feeling a-bit more confident since going through it all.

I contacted my landlord for clarity on his details for the UC claim, and he’s started mentioning raising the rent to market value (possibly £150/200 increase per month). Is this something he can do mid year or is this something that can only be done at the new tax year (ie April)? I also wonder if he will be okay to raise it by this much in one go too?

Sorry to come back to the HB issue - I wondered if anyone had any advice!? It was in the forms somewhere that I then read that a housing benefit claim would not receive a “non dependent deduction” if the non dependent received PIP. I am a “non dependent” as I am not on the tenancy agreement as liable, and I have been in receipt of PIP since August, but it was backdated to March 2024. We are yet to still inform HB/the council that I have been granted PIP, and we’re now worried about any possible issues it may create.

Does anyone have any ideas about how to approach this? Would it be best if I contact HB before she starts her UC claim, or let them know as part of the migration?

So sorry for so many questions again! If this isn’t the right place to ask, I can go to CAB for some guidance but thought it was worth a try. Thank you for your time and energy.