ESA ir migration to UC strange letter

sd100

hi hope everybody is ok.
i just recieved 2 letters from esa, one of them telling me about changes to my allowance and rates payable.

the second one sent from esa saying my payments are changing.
but it’s says my contribution based esa is changing to new style esa, I have never been on contribution style esa I have no idea what it’s about? Could this second letter been sent by mistake?

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I have attached both letters

Kimmy87

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

Many people only discover this after they migrate.

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.

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 because there are 4.3 weeks in a month.

The commitments phone call will be very brief, your only commitment will be to keep them informed of any changes. Anything else mentioned such as medical evidence, work coach etc doesn't apply to your claim which isn't a new claim but a transfer.

Kimmy87

Were you ever on the old Incapacity Benefit?

When that ended claimants were transferred into CB ESA, with an IR top up if applicable.

sd100

oh thanks so it’s not an incorrect letter, I had no idea I was in cb esa as well as ir esa, so was very confused, is there anything I need to do now or will they contact me? So will I be getting new stele esa every 2 weeks separate from uc now?

Kimmy87

Yes you will get NS ESA every fortnight separately from UC.

You don't need to do anything, they will send you the commitments appointment.

sd100

Will I need to go for face to face or is it done by phone accepting these commitments?

Kimmy87

It's usually by phone, if they do book a face to face you can ask for a telephone appointment as a reasonable adjustment.

sd100

I’m not sure if I was on incapacity, maybe 20 years ago I can’t remember, I just remember being on esa income related

sd100

just one more thing, where would my sda be going in this migration? Will that top up on my uc or new style esa?

sd100

and thanks Kimmy very knowledgeable yet again

Kimmy87

There are no premiums paid with NS ESA, so the SDP will be paid via UC Transitional Protection.

TP does erode over time as other elements go up, you have a major change (such as swapping between a single/ couples claim) or new elements are added.

sd100

another confusing thing is when I phone esa it tells me I’m due to be paid £349 on 6th of gen which is day I usually supposed to be paid? How have they come to Thos 349 figure as my esa was 480? Sorry for repeat questions just confusing this

sd100

6th of feb* not gen

sd100

sorry I meant why am I due to recieve £349 rather than the £276.40 you mentioned?

Kimmy87

When did you apply for UC?

sd100

very recent around 15th of Jan through managed migration esa support group to UC

sd100

this will be my first payment from new esa

Kimmy87

That's probably your last IR ESA payment, known as the run on payment.

After applying for UC, ESA continues for 2 weeks.

It isn't always exactly 2 weeks worth of money though.

sd100

thank you kimmy appreciate you getting to me about this, hopefully in time it will all smoothen out, all a bit confusing at the moment.

Jimm_Scope

The migration certainly can be quite confusing, you are not alone there @sd100. It's why we have the community, so people can share their knowledge and experiences to help others 😊

sd100

thanks Jim a very important place this is indeed!