Savings and cost of living

Hi s for whom I an a career has had a back payment after a tribunal and

Along with cost of living payments this has put her over 6000 because she said did not realize that it is only exempt for 52 weeks and believes she was mislead covid did not help
ESA has been reduced but should the cost of living payments be exempt
She now has just over 7000
She is due a migration to UC by next week and has applied for and extension but the keep saying leave it until a month before then 2 weeks now try on the 7th April,
dead line 10th
Except one UC operative said no no extension apply now watch the video what's your excuse extension is only for the very sick !
There are 2 main issues I can see

Is the cost of living payments exempt in which case the reduction in ESA is too much and will effect UC


Have DWP purposely miss lead her about extension or was the one operative not understanding..

Thx.