Migration Question for ESA to UC

kittenface19

Hi all,

Thanks to anyone that replies to this in advance.

I'm on ESA Support Group and I'm being moved to UC. I never got my migration letter, just a text message reminding me that ESA payments were coming to an end and that I needed to move. I got the text on Friday and have spent a lot of the weekend freaking out about everything, reading this forum about what to do and more importantly, what they potentially do to you.

I'm on ESA and PIP and am claiming no other benefits, also my bank account has no idea what 6,000 pounds has ever looked like, so am well under the threshold.

I want to try and do the migration online. I have my driving license and passport for the ID check. Is this enough? I genuinely don't want to deal with the JC, I have had terrible experiences with them since I first got diagnosed and honestly I'm one of those people (whether rightly or wrongly) that feels so ashamed that I'm sick. I was made to feel like I was worthless and it didn't matter how many GP letters, consultant letters I had they kept arguing with me that there was nothing wrong with me and that I didn't look sick enough. That place left me with no self confidence and no self worth and I've done my best to avoid dealing with these people from now on.

The idea that UC is now being forced on me actually makes me sick. The idea of having to prove yourself over and over again just makes me want to just lose the help and have nothing than go through all this stress again.

I had my last ESA assessment Feb 2024 and I remained in the support group and I had my PIP review Jan 2025 (assessment was actually Jan 2024 it took that long to review it).

After all my ramblings I guess this is what I want to know in a nutshell.

1. If I complete the application online and everything is accepted and goes through with no problems, will the JC still need to see me or speak to me on the phone.

2. Also, how much contact do I now have to have with the JC/UC as I had nobody harassing or bothering me on ESA.

Thanks so much for reading. Any help appreciated.

moosee

Hi Kittenface,

I am the same as you. Need to submit my migration by 11th March. V v v stressed, don't want to deal with JC. Not well enough to travel to one. I have been told things can be done online or over phone. I think I will need to do my ID by phone, so v stressed about having to speak to someone. You should be able to do yours online if you have a passport, i dont have one, just a driving license. I also had my last WCA review last year - Feb but didn't hear anything til April. I don't get PIP. So, Hoping there are no further questioning about my health probs.

Others who have been through can advise you better than I.

Also, read this post -

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/130044/esa-migration-to-uc

kittenface19

Hi Moosee,

Thanks for replying. Thanks also for the link as well. I hope your migration goes well, keep in touch as we're clearly in the same boat.

I'm hoping someone will be able to help regarding the jc and how much contact they will now need to have with you. That'll be the deciding factor for me as to whether or not to apply for UC. I can't go through that type of treatment again.

moosee

I think that if you're in the Support Group any contact after initial migration will be minimal. Our claimant commitment should just be to notify them of any changes to our circumstances. You will also need to notify them if your rent increases and your in receipt of housing element.

Apart from that, like you, I'm hoping to be left alone. It's just too stressful. Others who have migrated and are in the lcwra/ support group can advise better.

When is your cut off date?

kittenface19

I have no idea Moosee, I never received the letter so I have no idea what the dates are in it. Only information I have is the text message.

Only thing I have done so far is create a UC account and I haven't even signed into it yet.

Just incredibly stressed by the whole thing.

moosee

Citizens Advice have a special Help To Claim service. They help with migration too. I have spoken to them a few times via their Web chat service. You might find it helpful to talk to them and ask them all your questions:

https://www.cas.org.uk/helptoclaim

kittenface19

Thanks for that information Moosee, I'll try them tomorrow and see what they have to say.

moosee

Hope they are helpful. Keep us up to date.

periwinkle

hi,

I changed over online in December and all went smoothly. Waited 5 wks for first payment. They automatically included everything including transitional payment as I would’ve been worse off financially without it. I pop online twice weekly just to check to do list and journal.

moosee

Hi Kittenface,

I forgot to post this link last night. It is for an online work through of the form so you can see all the sections and questions you will be asked. So you can get all the info you need ready.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd0zGOzoOkpR3i_64IvjFOvZBOeeORdpf_iF32h2l1B-hXXOQ/viewform?pli=1

moosee

Hi Dean, I think I will prob have to do my ID check over the phone. Did you ask for this or was it offered? And how did it go, were the questions straightforward? I have a v v v v poor memory so I'm worried they'll ask me things I can't remember.

kittenface19

Thanks for all the comments. Would really appreciate anymore advice regarding the JC and how much future contact they'll have in my life.

Kimmy87

I went into the Job centre to confirm my ID after migration February 2022,, haven't had any appointments etc since, other than a UC claim check as they are looking at lots of claims from a financial perspective. That involved a phone call.

kittenface19

Thank you Kimmy87, I appreciate the reply. Just very nervous of all the phone calls. I'm someone that gets upset a little too easily and usually end up very stressed out and crying on the phone. The idea of my anxiety just being on constant high alert is just devastating for me. When I was on ESA I got zero phone calls and was just left alone to try and get on with my life. This is just so stressful.

moosee

Thank you for responding Dean. I'm glad it was straightforward. Hopefully it will be for me too. It's all v stressful when you're not very well and can't always think straight.

moosee

I will be a nervous wreck waiting too! If i cant do it online. And i definitely cannot cope with travelling to (25 miles away) and then walking to the JC, or dealing with strangers face to face. I know it's the same for a lot of us.

kittenface19

@Kimmy87 just wondering how long after you submitted your application online did they contact you to come in?

Hope everyone is feeling a bit less anxious today over everything😁

periwinkle

application done online for uc but never had to go anywhere to see someone in person.

Kimmy87

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/988871#Comment_988871

It was so long ago I don't remember.

kittenface19

Thanks for responding! Just incredibly nervous about it all. I just keep getting flashbacks of sitting in the JC with my parents as some man leaned over his desk and yelled at me. I just can't go through all that again.

That said, I'm hoping that I'm a little tougher now and hopefully will be able to stand up for myself.

kittenface19

I called ESA this morning as I can't find my awards letter 🙄also had to wait 2 hours to get through.

That said, the lady I spoke to was really friendly and chatty. I told her about being asked to migrate across to UC and told her that I'm so nervous about going through all the harassment I did in the beginning. She reassured me that UC has been updated recently that ESA basically confirms your status group and that it shouldn't require a visit to the JC.

Just wanted to mention it everyone here to see if it can help put some peoples mind at ease.