Esa to Uc and deductions

[Nospot]

Hi there, I have just recently been moved from support group esa to Uc. I had my first payment yesterday and I am really scared because I have gone from £240 a fortnight to £132 per month after deductions. Off the top of my head I think it said I was entitled to £360 per month universal credit before deductions but they have taken out the following.

£80 per month for lodger in mu spare room (was allowed to earn this on esa without deductions and to avoid bedroom tax)

£63 a month for advance payment

£47 a month for tax credit overpayment ( I have no knowledge or idea as last time I had tax credits was in 2015)

I used to be on high rate dla but didn't renew my claim in 2014 as I felt guilty that I had what some people work full time for so made do with Esa but now on Uc I have no idea how to make do with £30 a week.. I used to have some court fines and rent arrears taken directly from my esa so once they have been dealt with I'm going to me left with half of that as well. Any advice apart from making myself another statistic of austerity?

[Nospot]

Just thought onto of the €32pw From Uc I will still get the £20pw from the lodger but that just covers the gas and electric and that seems to be the cost of giving up my privacy and space. Please don't think that I'm not greatest to live in a country with welfare support I'm just shocked at the sudden drop and even more scared about the future.

[Nospot]

Sorry if I offended anyone with what I said about making myself a statistic. It will not be the fault of anyone apart from my own..

[Amethyst]

lol.... no one will be offended.

You should get on to the tax credits people about that overpayment ... seems like a big chunk on the teeny amount of UC you are getting so certainly wants checking out and seeing if you can have that element reduced .... and the repayment of the UC advance seems quite high proportionally too - are there specific rules on period of repayment on advances?. It does seem a massive drop even without those extra deductions being taken.

I used to be on high rate dla but didn't renew my claim in 2014 as I felt guilty that I had what some people work full time

Please don't do this again... have what you are entitled to, it will always be taken away with the other hand over time so there should be absolutely no guilt involved whatsoever.

[des8]

Also I understood that UC does not take a non dependant's (lodger) rent into account as income, but it does have an effect on council tax somehow. Suggest you get some independent advice perhaps from CAB