Triggers for a move to UC

HI Ken,

Neither of these circumstances will trigger a change as neither are new claims to benefits, just changes to an existing award.

Please find attached a document from Newcastle City Council which highlights the circumstances which would trigger a change.

Stewart

Hi Stewart,

Thanks very much for that, its really useful.

In neither case would a UC transfer be triggered (and I’m guessing we’re talking about full service areas here - I’m a bit vague on English ones what with being up in sunny Glasgow).  The basic rule is that it is a new claim for a ‘legacy’ benefit that triggers a transfer. The only change of circumstances which would trigger a transfer are those which mean a new claim has to be made, eg if you have your first child so would have claimed CTC, if you’re ESA claim ends and you would have claimed JSA or you move from one LA to another and would need to make a new HB claim. So, for example, if you’re claiming irESA as a single person and your partner moves in, this would mean a change of circumstances for irESA such that the award is superseded to include the extra amount for your partner not a transfer to UC.

As to whether local JCPs understand this is a different matter, given some of the cases we’re hearing about ... no publically available comprehensive guide I’ve seen as yet.

Thanks a lot to you too Henri.