moving home

JaneCowell

Good morning,

I'm moving home in 2 months time and I claim support group ESA contribution based and PIP.

When I update them with my new address will ESA move me to UC? Will PIP move me to UC?

Also my PIP is awarded for 2 years (until Sept 2024) does this mean I'll be reassessed then? Or changing my address might prompt this?

Same with ESA, do they reassess and how often?

Basically I'm freaking out about how ill be affected by moving home and I'm obsessing about it.

It's only moving home nothing else has changed.

Help on this matter is very gratefully received.

Thanks,

Jane

Kimi87

Both PIP and CB based ESA are outside the Universal Credit system. 

As for reassessments, a change of address is very very very unlikely to trigger one for either benefit. 

Are you claiming housing benefit and moving to a new local authority area? 

JaneCowell

I'm not claiming housing benefit.

I'm moving from Wales to England.

Albus_Scope

Heya @JaneCowell and welcome to the community!

PIP won't change to UC, it's a totally separate entity.  As for your UC questions, I'm not 100% sure of the answers, but I'm sure one of our very knowledgeable regulars will be along shortly with the answers you need.  

Kimi87

JaneCowell said:

I'm not claiming housing benefit.

I'm moving from Wales to England.

If you aren't claiming housing benefit then again your move won't trigger a change over to Universal Credit. 

JaneCowell

Thanks everyone.

I'd heard ages ago that change of address is change of circumstances so would trigger move to UC.

But if you're saying that these benefits aren't under UC then it doesn't matter?

Can anyone answer my other question about ESA and reassessing? How often and what does it involve... does it involve new evidence from health professionals?

Many thanks

Kimi87

As you are not claiming hb then a change of address does not trigger a move to UC for you.

PIP and CB ESA are outside of the UC system because UC is means tested and your benefits are not.

ESA will be reassessed at some point but no one can tell you how often. Even the date on the ESA system is only a guide- your ESA will continue to be paid as usual. ESA awards are ongoing. There are also massive backlogs anyway with ESA reassessments. 

When it is time for your reassessment, you would need to fill out the ESA50 form they send, most people then have an assessment either by phone or in person. Paper based assessments are possible but rare. You can submit up to date medical evidence as part of the process if you want to.

I am not experienced with PIP, but I believe you will be contacted a few months prior to your award end date for a reassessment. 

poppy123456

A move to UC is only triggered for certain changes of circumstances and in your case, it’s not one of them.

For your PIP if you were awarded by DWP then you will be contacted about 8 months before your award is due to end, so I would guess it will be sometime around January 2024. 

JaneCowell

Thanks everyone for your answers. Just been looking at my pip award and it's actually for 5 years so I'm getting worried a bit early. 

Thanks for reassuring me about ESA and address changing. Makes sense about not being means tested