Migration Success

I thought I would give details of my successful journey migrating from Support Group of ESA to Universal Credit.

I had the exact same fears, anxieties,dreads etc that many forum members have posted.

My final date to migrate was June, however after receiving ESA payment I decided to make the claim the exact same day.

I phoned Citizens Advice Help to Claim Service to assist me with UC claim.
The lady was very knowledgeable, calm, reassuring etc and answered all my questions.
She suggested if I had basic internet skills that I should
attempt to do the claim online myself.

Shaking like a leaf, I took the plunge and made the claim on my own.
I phoned the Help to Claim Service during this process for a couple of questions that I didn't want to answer wrongly or with not enough info.

I'm aware that we are all different but I can honestly say that the process was very straightforward, no questions to try catch you out etc.

The system appeared to no I was in ESA Support Group and a notice came up that I didn't need to provide fit notes.

Also the system showed me there and then my claimant commitment which as this forums moderators have said that claimants in support group will have no work related activity.
(Trust me I have checked and double checked that this was actually correct).

Perhaps, the only minor glitch was in the ID verification which was definitely my fault.

I used my Passport and Driving Licence for id, however i used both upper and lower case when entering some of my details.

You must fill in these details exactly as they are shown on your ID otherwise it will be rejected. But you have, I think 4 chances to enter correctly.

My UC claim was then up and running.

The next day, worryingly I received a text message to check my UC journal which I did.

The journal entry was for me to attend at local jobcentre to confirm my identity and to take along some ID from a drop-down list.
My elation from making UC claim on my own to reading UC to do list entry, my mood just dropped like a stone.

I phoned Citizens Advice (again) for some advice and they informed me (just like the mods on forum) I could request a phone interview or home visit.

I decided to bite the bullet and attend face to face at local jobcentre to confirm my identity.

The lady was very nice, knowledgeable, treated me with respect, no finger wagging. Explained everything to me,.answered my questions

I asked for fortnightly payments and for housing costs to be sent directly to Housing Association.

Informed me that my only claimant commitment was to log into my UC account at least once per week.

I can honestly say when I left jobcentre I found a quiet place and started crying.

They were happy tears and a massive relief. Months and months of fear, worry, anxiety about migrating to UC was over for now.

If I can give any advice it is to be prepared, don't try second guess what might happen, what might be asked, be truthful and don't worry about making a genuine mistake as these can be rectified.

Have all your paperwork beside you when making claim ie bank statement, your ID, proof of rent from your housing provider it all makes it much more manageable in my opinion.

Hopefully my journey, my experience will help others in similar circumstances .

Good Luck