Migration to UC from ESA Support group, must attend face to face appointment at Job Centre

Isadora

Hoping someone can help. I recieved a migration letter requesting I apply for UC. I have done this via phone as my phone screen has broken. I have been informed I now have to attend a face to face appointment at the Job Centre. They have said those receiving Income Related ESA and in the support group are not required to attend the Job Centre but those in reciept of Contribution based ESA must attend. If we are all in the support group with health issues/disabilities that don't require us to seek employment, how can they differentiate between the two groups and decide who should have to attend? The only difference is one benefit is income related and means tested and Contribution based is not means tested. Can anyone please clarify this and hopefully explain as I feel I'm being treated differently just because of my benefit being Contribution based??? This in no way decides if my health is better or worse than those recieving income related ESA and also migrating to UC.

Danny123

I voulentarlly migrated over to UC and done it over the phone .... I was on cbesa with a ir top and in the surport group but never had to go in . Contribution ESA doesn't go over to UC so you should continue to get that every two weeks and they will deduct it from your UC award every month , although I haven't stepped outside the house in 5 years and my mum handled it for me and made them aware of that , so I'm not sure , maybe cbesa claiments do have to go in routinely

Kimmy87

Your CB ESA will convert automatically into New Style ESA, and will be paid separately from UC, fortnightly at a rate of £276.40.

This will be deducted in full (£598 odd) from each UC payment.

As UC is a monthly benefit and ESA weekly, the numbers may initially look wrong, but are in fact right.

As part of this you will be asked to have a commitments interview. This is a formality of you agreeing to keep them informed of any changes.

I suspect that is what this appointment is for.

You can request it is done by telephone as a reasonable adjustment.

Isadora

I am slightly in fact very confused by it all as I have only ever recieved £138.20 pw contribution esa, and housing benefit, nothing more or less for 5 years so not sure why I had to migrate. Anything above £138.20 pw would be a massive help.

How do I request it to be done by telephone as a reasonable adjustment as I have already said to him I will struggle massively to get to the Job Centre.

Thank you for your responses

Danny123

Again my mum done it for me as most days my head doesn't rise from the bed , I think if you have a decent reason they should let you do it by phone

Isadora

Bless you, thank you for your time.

poppy123456

The reason you had to migrate is because you're claiming housing benefit. Is your ESA New style? Rather than the old contributions based. if it is then you could have claimed UC earlier as this would have been a top up to your ESA. If your ESA claim started after December 2018 then it's very likely New style.

If you have no other income then you'll no doubt be better off financially by claiming UC so that's a very good thing. Your UC will include standard allowance, LCWRA element and housing element.

Yes, the appointment can be done over the telephone as a reasonable adjustment. Make sure you also tell them that you're in the Support Group for ESA because they won't know that until ESA send your details across to them.

Kimmy87

Housing benefit is a means tested benefit, so it's being changed to UC. That's why you had a migration letter.

Part of that process means the ESA changes into New Style ESA.

How were you notified about the appointment?

Isadora

By telephone as my phone screen was broken so I couldn't apply online. I did inform him I was in support group, he said those in the Income related esa support group automated automatically do not have to attend but those in contribution based New Style must attend.

poppy123456

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/934191#Comment_934191

That makes no sense. Everyone has to attend their first appointment, whether they are migrating from other benefits or not. As you have health conditions then you can ask for a reasonable adjustment for a telephone appointment.

Isadora

He said only those in the support group and in reciept of Income related did not have to attend. Didn't make any sense to me either 🤦🏼‍♀️

poppy123456

Sounds pretty normal for someone from UC helpline to give such advice. 🙄