Derry mother who works part-time issues warning after being left with no benefits for two months due to Universal Credit

Derry mother who works part-time issues warning after being left with no benefits for two months due to Universal Credit
https://www.derrynow.com/news/derry-mother-works-part-time-issues-warning-left-no-benefits-two-months-due-universal-credit/226906

Job centre staff are very keen to get people off legacy benefits and onto UC despite no change in circumstances because it's easier for them. A claimant can choose to close a legacy benefit claim and move to UC but it's not a good idea unless the claimant can definitely survive for at least 6 weeks without either any money at all or only the money coming in from their job. I can see a great many people being "persuaded" by job centre staff to close their JSA, ESA and/or tax credit claims despite it not being in the claimants' best economic interests.

https://www.turn2us.org.uk/Benefit-guides/Universal-Credit-transitional-protection/What-is-Universal-Credit-transitional-protection

Transitional Protection is an extra 'transitional' amount which tops up your Universal Credit award so that you are not worse off when you move onto Universal Credit.

Transitional Protection is only for some people and it is not available to anybody yet.

Transitional Protection will only be available to people who are moved over to Universal Credit even though nothing has happened which makes them start a new benefit claim. These people are called 'managed migrants'. There will not be any managed migrants until the Universal Credit full digital service is available in all areas. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is planning to start 'managed migration' in July 2019.

If you have a significant change of circumstance which affects your Universal Credit claim you will lose your transitional protection amount immediately.

These significant changes are:

   a partner leaves/joins your household
   your earnings drop beneath the level expected of you in your claimant commitment (for three months in a row)
   your Universal Credit award ends
   you or your partner stop work

Further information at:

http://www.cpag.org.uk/content/ask-cpag-online-when-does-natural-migration-universal-credit-happen