Phone appointment to obtain ESA commitment

surfygoose

What does this appointment mean? What will happen in the call? I’m frightened about it. Universal Credit seems scary. I live in a care home and have one to one support all day. What does a commitment mean? Why is it an ESA commitment? I thought I’m migrating to universal credit. My staff aren’t sure. It said in my journal it is to discuss my dual claim ESA and UC but I don’t understand why it’s a dual claim. I thought I just go on UC. I am in support group ESA.

Kimi87

What's happened to your ESA, means before you were getting both Contributions Based & Income Related. Lots of people find out only after they change to UC.

When someone is on both CB & IR ESA, upon migration to UC 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 correct because there are 4.3 weeks in a month.

Your only commitment will be to keep them updated with any changes. The phone call will be very brief 😊

surfygoose

Thank you for the reassurance that the call will be brief and that there won’t be scary commitments. I thought contributions based ESA was people that had jobs before. My ESA letters all only say income related and I have never worked and always lived in hospitals and care homes except for when I was with my mum and dad.

Kimi87

Were you ever on the old Incapacity Benefit?

There were special age/education rules which meant you could qualify for that even if you hadn't worked.

Then when IB changed to ESA, people were moved onto CB ESA, with an IR ESA top up if applicable.

ESA letters are very difficult to understand, even for experienced welfare advisors 🙃

surfygoose

I’ve only been on ESA and PIP. I guess the lady will explain when she does the phone call. Either I didn’t realise I’m on contribution based or they made some sort of mistake. The night staff just told me they will ask the care home manager in the morning that she will be there for my phone call on the 5th to speak to them for me. Usually the care home manager talks to the benefits people and I only have to say my name and say yes a couple of times. It just always frightens me and is confusing. Thank you for your help. I guess once I’m on UC properly it will be less complicated even if I have ESA as well it won’t matter as long as they know how much to give and take away. Things just always seem to be complicated when there is a change!