UC asking to do a new style commitment appointment

rainbowboo

Hello

Just wanted to ask , so we've had to do the migration over to UC , my husband was in the ESA income related support group , we thought that would mean he would go into the , LCWRA group , but he's received a letter from ESA that he is being moved onto contribution based ESA , and I checked the UC journal and he's been booked for a new style ESA commitments appointment, but he didn't ask for this or want this new style one , does he have to agree to it or not ? We are yet to have a payment from UC we find out next week what our award will be.

Any advice would be appreciated

Thank you

Catherine21

Sorry I just follow if you don't mind

hmass01

When we moved over I wrote a note in the journal explaining I was in the support group & when we attended the interview at our job centre we were not asked to sign any commitments.

FOXBAZ69

Hi. I recently changed from ESA Support group to UC and i was put on New Style ESA as well as UC. As far as i understand it, everyone who claims UC but also still gets ESA, it will be the New Style ESA that they are put on, with no other choices. My Support group payments etc were protected so i didn't lose any money. So now i get 4/5th UC payments and the rest is New Style ESA 1/5th approx. I had a phone call about commitments, but it was minutes long, just agreeing to if i get better again I'll let them know etc. I'm not sure but i hope that helps you. David.

rainbowboo

OK thank you , I did put that he was in support group on the journal and when my husband had to have a phone call to do an ID check the man we spoke to said he would be moved over to the LCWRA so I don't know what's happening, very confusing

rainbowboo

Hello

OK, is the commitment phone call basically to let them know if he was well enough to work or not ? Which he isn't at the moment or any time soon either due to mental health issues, so moving forward will they expect him to do work commitment things or look for work?

Thank you

rainbowboo

Thank you all so much for your advice, it's just very confusing to be honest 😕

Kimmy87

This letter means part of his ESA was in fact contributions based.

When someone is on both CB & IR ESA, upon migration the IR ESA ends and is replaced by UC, the CB ESA converts automatically into New Style ESA.

NS ESA will be paid separately from UC, fortnightly at a rate of £276.40.

This will be deducted in full (598.68) from each UC payment.

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

The commitments interview for NS ESA is a formality, his commitments will be to keep them updated with any changes.

He is still automatically entitled to LCWRA under UC, and Support Group NS ESA.

Topcat71

The government has no understanding to the stress and anxiety it causes people when benefits change or appointments are made for review meetings. Apart from fearing your money being stopped you also stress over the appointment itself. If you spend much time away from the workplace or meeting people it is a stressful event going to these meetings. Sometimes days if not weeks worrying to whom you get and to what the outcome will be. It's all very well saying put people in work but in reality it doesn't work out that way. I currently work 12 hours a week on benefits and I can tell you now this is for a well known nationwide company and they don't want disability in the workplace. It slows productivity and causes issues with more suitable persons to positions. The easy part for jobcentres etc is taking away benefits that if you don't turn up for meetings. Trying to place disabled people in suitable work positions is a headache for them. So try not to worry to much as there are limits to what realistic can be achieved. As for the work for home on benefits. Well I been trying to find a home job for 35 years that's any good so good luck to them in that area.

FOXBAZ69

Hey.....yes, if you are in the Support group, you will be moved over to that group, HOWEVER......until that actual time, it took my claim about 3 weeks for the ESA stuff to filter through, you may be asked to keep your Journal up to date. For example, i was going to have a phone appointment but it was cancelled when my ESA stuff did come through, but until that time, everyone is treated as a new claimant because they have no ESA information to look at. So my claim was 5 weeks from claim til payment, and about week 3 i got clarification that ESA info had filtered through. I was also informed in that same message that i will be in the UC equivalent group, but that I'd also still receive ESA, but a smaller amount. I hope that all makes sense..... David.

rainbowboo

Hello David

Such Alot to deal with ,

It's all new to us , and abit confusing , but thank you for your information, it's been very helpful 😊

rainbowboo

Hello kimmy87

Thank You for your information, it's just alot to take in with all these changes of having to migrate over to UC just confusing 😕

rainbowboo

Hello Topcat71

It definitely adds to my husband's anxiety, he doesn't understand any of it ! And gets quite upset when I'm trying to explain things to him , that's why I thought I would come on here , always helpful to have other people's thoughts and advice

Topcat71

If your husband is becoming very stressed by it all then you can ask that they give more time. Write to them and tell them it's making him sick. You should apply for pip going by what you say because you can get pip awarded for anxiety as a friend of mine just got it .

rainbowboo

Thank you ,

We will look into PIP , might call UC and ask for more time

Selanant

I had a second interview this morning by telephone. It turned out to be pleasant conversation, although of course I was worried about it. Just a formality really. I only had to agree to inform DWP of any changes.