Universal Credit

Hi Mods, and all,

Firstly, we hope you had a great Christmas and wish you all a Happy, Healthy, and Peaceful New Year.

We have a question we hope you may know the answer to please. As UC is now in our area, if we were to move home, would our ESA be treated as a ''New Claim'' as we would have a new address, or would it simply transfer over to our new address?

Hopefully, you may know the answer Mods.

Thanks for everything in the past and good luck with the fantastic work you all do on behalf of us all.

Kind regards
Bill and Mrs Bill

Hi Bill (and Mrs Bill,

Thank you for your good wishes and Happy new year to you both.

Providing you are moving within the same area (or another UC credit area) you will undergo an automatic transfer to UC.

Although it should be an automatic transfer as the UC Regulations recognise an existing award of ESA, this is not always the case due to the poor training of DWP staff. If you encounter any problems, it would be wise to get immediate face to face advice from a trained adviser.

Please note, that once you are on UC there is no way back to so called legacy benefits, and as a 'natural migration' there is no entitlement to Transitional Protection.

Lisa

Hello Lisa and Gordon,

Thank you both very much indeed for your replies. As we do get HB we will no doubt be transferred to UC with all the problems that will no doubt cause.

So, just to clarify, we are currently getting HB and will also need HB when we move. We are moving within the same LA, so that should mean a straightforward 'transfer' and not need for us to apply as a so called 'new claim'. Have we understood you guys correctly?

Thank you both once again.

Bill & Mrs Bill

Apologies for the confusion Bill, my mistake...

A claimant on HB moving within the same LA will not automatically undergo a 'natural migration' to UC at this time.

Only claimants who receive HB and move into a full service UC area (different LA) will be automatically transferred.

From what you have written, you will not have to make a claim for UC.

Lisa

Hi Lisa,
Many thanks for this we now understand fully. Thank you for you help and your time.
Best wishes
Bill and Mrs Bill