Income Related ESA Query (Moving home)

Not_Enough_Sage

Hi everyone. This is my first time posting on a forum, so please be gentle with me. ☺️

My name is Emily. It’s a pleasure to meet you all.

I’m hoping that you lovely people can please help me with an ESA query. 🙏

Following a recent family bereavement, my sister (Katherine) is moving in with me and my mum. 

I have Katherine’s permission to post on the forum and share the relevant details. 

Katherine currently lives in a social housing property in the same village as me and mum.

Katherine receives Income Related Employment and Support Allowance. Katherine is in the support group of ESA because she has limited capability for work related activity. Katherine has Autism and physical disabilities. Katherine also receives PIP (Higher Rate Daily Living, Lower Rate Mobility.)

Katherine is moving in with us in mid September. We had informed ESA of the forthcoming change of address by letter.

Yesterday, Katherine received a telephone from DWP from a lady who said she was phoning about her ESA. The lady gave her first name but no job title. As a person with Autism, Katherine finds phone calls very challenging.🤯 No one was with her at the time to support her. Katherine found the phone call upsetting.

DWP told Katherine that due to Katherine’s change of address she  will also lose the Severe Disability Premium. We expected that Katherine would lose this element because although I receive Income related ESA (I’m in the Support Group) and receive enhanced rate of both components of PIP, mum receives no means tested or disability related benefits. 

The lady told Katherine that Income related ESA no longer exists and that when she moves in with me and mum she will receive Contribution based ESA.

As Katherine’s sister and main carer I am very concerned about this.😥Katherine will lose a lot of money each week but will also lose her passported benefit (Income related ESA) so she will not receive help with health costs e.g. prescription costs 💊, help with glasses 👓 , NHS dental 🦷 treatment etc. I am worried that Katherine will stop accessing the healthcare she needs due to not being able to afford it. Unfortunately, neither mum or I can afford to pay Katherine’s healthcare costs. 

Please can anyone advise me what to do? I plan on phoning the ESA today to ask why they have moved Katherine from Income based ESA to Contribution based ESA.

Should I be asking DWP to put Katherine on a managed migration to Universal Credit? Am I correct in thinking that if this happens then Katherine won’t need another Work Capability Assessment (WCA)? (Her disabilities/ health conditions/ care needs have not changed.) Katherine found her last WCA very stressful and traumatic. It negatively affected her mental health. 

As a family, we are grieving the recent death of my (and Katherine’s) dad due to aggressive pancreatic cancer. 😭I don’t want to do anything that will cause Katherine more distress at this time.

The other option would be to start a new Universal Credit claim for Katherine, but I am unsure about this because it would mean completing a Work Capability Assessment and putting Katherine through all that entails.

Thanks so much to anyone who has taken the time to read to the end of my post. 

Please can anyone advise how to best help and advise my sister through this benefit change?

Please accept thanks from both myself and Katherine for your help with this. 🥰 I would like to advocate for Katherine as best as I can with DWP and would really appreciate any guidance on the best course of action. ☺️

poppy123456

Sorry for your loss! I’m sorry that this person caused so much stress for your sister. Especially when the advice she gave isn’t correct anyway.

When she moves in with you then her housing benefit and SDP will both stop.

She will still be entitled to Income Related ESA but it will be £81.50/week less because of the SDP removal. Changes need to be reported once she moves in with you.

Having entitlement to Income Related ESA means prescriptions/ dental and eye tests will still be free.

However, she could claim UC as the LCWRA element with UC pays more than ESA support group without the SDP. How much more will depend on whether she’s under 25 or 25 and over. If she claims UC then she’ll be entitled to the LCWRA element from the start of her claim.

Albus_Scope

Hi there @Not_Enough_Sage (loving the name!)

Firstly I'm so sorry for your loss, are you receiving any support regarding the loss of your father?

I can see Poppy has rushed in with loads of top advice regarding the benefits, but I just wanted to stop in and say a quick hello.

Not_Enough_Sage

@Albus_Scope @vikki66 @poppy123456

Thank you all for your words of wisdom and for your advice and support. 🥰

We have phoned DWP today and plan to speak to a local advice centre tomorrow.

Katherine and I are very grateful to you all for your kindness. ☺️

Warmest wishes

Emily x

Not_Enough_Sage

@Albus_Scope @vikki66 @poppy123456

Thank you all so much for your words of wisdom and your messages of support and advice.🥰

I have been in touch with DWP today and plan to reach out to a local advice centre tomorrow.

Katherine and I are both very grateful for your kindness. We very much appreciate your positive vibes. ☺️

Warmest wishes to you all.

Emily x