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UC migration and new style ESA

TrueBlue22

Hello,

I am looking for advice on something and so I hope this is the right place for me to post this.

I am currently migrating from Child tax credits and income related ESA. However yesterday I received a letter telling me that now I have made a claim to UC they want me to transfer from contribution based ESA to new style ESA. I was really surprised because to my knowledge I have only ever qualified for the income related.

My husband called the DWP and they explained that because they have been contributing to my national insurance for so long I now qualify for the new style ESA. The letter explained that to move on to the new style ESA I would need a telephone appointment so they can evaluate my medical evidence. I have never looked into new style ESA because I always thought it was not applicable to me.

I would just like to ask about how it all works and if it would be of any benefit to me to claim it? I am so confused because I thought it was going to be a smooth transition, but so far it hasn't been and I dread the thought of receiving another letter because we have also been told that we have been overpaid tax credits. This has been such a stressful time.

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Comments

poppy123456

The reason part of your ESA is reverting to New style isn’t because of what you were advised.

It’s because part of your ESA was contributions based. You do not need another assessment and no fit notes will be needed. Your ESA amount will be £276.40/fortnight. This will be deducted in full from any UC entitlement.

The advantages to claiming it. It’s not means tested like UC is so could come in useful in the future. You will also receive class 1 NI credits but for UC it’s class 3. It can also help you to budget a little easier with the fortnightly payments because UC is a monthly benefit.

Kimi87

What's happened to your ESA, means before you were getting both Contributions Based & Income Related.

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.

You will still be in the Support Group for NS ESA & automatically receive the UC equivalent (LCWRA).

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 correct.

You might get a generic letter NS ESA letter which assumes your claim is brand new, and mentions a work coach etc, but don't panic that won't apply to your claim.

You will need a commitments interview for NS ESA this is just a formality, your commitments will be to keep them updated with any changes.

elainehe

it’s a nightmare - my son is being moved from ESA (contribution based) to New Style ESA. He was in the support group and hasn’t worked for many years. Doing ‘research’ it seems like you can’t get New Style ESA if you haven’t worked in the last 3/4 years so don’t understand how this will work or what he can claim . He was in receipt of a small pension from his dad’s estate which is why he was paying tax, this was deducted from his ESA when he received it. Can anyone shed any light on this ???

Kimi87

Those qualifying criteria are for new claims.

As a transfer, your son doesn't count as a new claim, so he bypasses those criteria.

It is correct that CB ESA switches to New Style ESA. It all happens automatically behind the scenes after the UC claim is made.

Apart from a commitments interview for NS ESA, everything will carry on as it did with CB ESA.

Kimi87

CB ESA will convert into NS ESA, it will not stop and continue to be paid on your normal payment cycle.

You will stay in the Support Group and not have to have another medical assessment as part of the change.

leeannathomas

Hello my name is Leeanna and I am in the middle of transferring over. I received around £960 ESA every four weeks and now I get £252.20 ESA and Universal Credit is £162.22 every fortnight. It is £828.85 month but based on their calculations I should be getting £1042.38 as I have transitional protection this is my calculations

£240.55 ESA week

240.55*52=12508.60

Divide 12508.60/12=1,042.38

So I should be no worse off than £1042.38

Please can someone advise me as I have severe mental health problems and am struggling, thank you.

Kimi87

Answered on your thread.

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