ESA to UC question

I haven't been on here recently. Just hoping this question is OK as I can't see UC in the drop down.

I am trying to help my adult son who lives quite a distance from me in the UK with transferring to UC from ESA. He has the letter and needs to do it before April 1st. I have sent him your book to read, and am reading it myself and working through some of the problems he may have.

He lives alone and has severe mental health issues with recent attempts at suicide with very little mental health support other than an appointment due which has been moved until Feb 6th. I am hoping to get him to tell the DWP that he has Complex Needs, though it seems he can only do that once he has sent off the online form.

I am worried about how it will pan out as he saves nothing. Should he stop some of his direct debits if they are likely to wipe out all his money and leave him with no food to 5 weeks? He gets his housing and Council Tax paid at present, so my main worry would be his fuel payment which is a lot on DD. I can't see British Gas being very sympathetic to his situation of having no money, but don't want them to gobble up what little he has to get through.

I am advising him to send his UC online form just after his ESA comes in, and the week after his PIP too hopefully, and then he will also get 2 weeks run on I believe for his ESA (Income related). At least he should have some money then, but may need a loan too.

Hi

I've just been doing similar calculations myself. It's confusing, because the 'ESA payment' that is received relates to the previous fortnight.

Also, the information available online all says the same exact phrase, but it isn't very specific!

From what I've worked out for me, I need to submit my paperwork as soon as possible after receiving a PIP payment *and on the same day as an ESA payment.*

So e.g. if you get PIP paid on 27th Jan and then ESA paid on 4th Feb, submit your UC form on the 4th Feb.
The ESA payment on 4th Feb will cover weeks starting 20th & 27th Jan.
Then they owe you two additional weeks of ESA, to cover weeks starting 4th & 10th Feb. This payment should arrive on 18th Feb.

But working out the best timing for submission depends on when in the month the Direct Debits go out of the account and when your various income payments are due.

I threw everything into an Excel spreadsheet and played about until I got the right outcome. But I'm an Excel geek. A calendar may be sufficient.

Perhaps that will give you a starting point, at least.

Actually, I see that the loan can be quite hefty but it has to last and pay for things over 3 weeks and that is if there is no delay to your claim, and that is an unknown factor when you make the loan decision.

I know he has to pay that back, but given that we know there could be things that go wrong en route to the end, it seems the safest option if he is not to run out of money.

Having now read the B and W booklet thoroughly, I see there are the other things to take into account in making the decision, ellesbelles036 as you point out - ie when the DDs go out, if they go out together, and when you get ESA and PIP if you get that too. Plus of course the 2 weeks run on for the ESA then.