Cb Esa and dla.

lily84

Hi, ive been trying to understand the new government benefit changes but I'm still at a loss about how people in my situation will be affected and I'm really worried about it. Is there any further info ere I can find out.

I'm on long term cb Esa (changed from incapacity about 7 yrs ago). I didn't apply for the ir Esa top up at the time as I had some savings and I panicked a bit over claiming any means tested benefit as I'd heard some horror stories about it.

I've read that ns Esa and ns jsa will be changed to the unemployment insurance benefit and will be time limited, but I've been told that I'm not classed as ns Esa because I didn't claim the ir Esa bit, so what happens to me. I don't think I'm entitled to claim uc due to my savings either so I'm really confused about it all.

I'm also still on indefinite dla, and I wondering if I should try to claim pip before the changes come in as I know it will be much harder to claim from next Yr, or do I have to wait until the dwp ask me.

I just don't know what to do for the best so any advice would be appreciated.

lily84

Is there anyone at all who can tell me if the new time limited unemployment insurance benefit will include people like me (long term cb Esa) or not. I'm so confused and worried about what will happen and I don't know what to do for the best. Should I try to get universal credit now before the changes and cuts in benefits or am I supposed to wait. Should I also be trying to change over from dla to pip now or do I have to wait to be asked?

Albus_Scope

Hi @lily84 We'd be unable to say as nothing is set in stone yet, so please try not to panic too much!

lily84

Hi albus, thanks for replying. I know you are right but It's really hard not to panic when I don't know where I stand.

I dont understand why the government hasn't said whether the long term cb Esa people are included in the time limited unemployment insurance benefit or not. Also with the cuts to the UC health element for new claimants from April 2026 and the increased difficulty in claiming pip from Nov 2026, I don't want to leave it too late to switch over (that's if I'm even allowed to move over before the migration letters). Do you know when more details will come about?

Kimi87

No one can answer that question.

The Government plans are essentially a wish list.

What eventually becomes law is usually a watered down version of that wish list.

Specifically, UC Migration will be completed by March 2026 from the last letters sent in December 2025.

I'd safely assume when ministers speak of NS ESA that old style CB ESA is classed in the same category.

lily84

Hi kimi87, I was previously told that long term cb Esa only will not be transferred over to UC, has that changed now?

Kimi87

That hasn't changed.

lily84

Hi kimi, yeah I understand that it's just a wish list of benefit changes at the moment, but as labour have not cared about previous cuts like, WFA etc, I believe these cuts will go ahead too.

If my long term cb Esa is not being migrated over to UC, and you assume that il be classed in the same way as the NS esa, this means il be put in the time limited unemployment insurance, after which I assume il have to apply for UC. This means there's no way for me to avoid a loss of benefits as it will be after the changes come in. Am I understanding this right?

Also if Im not migrated from dla to pip before it's changes and do not manage to get the 4 points then again I will suffer a further cut in benefits. I don't know what I'm going to do when this happens as I'm housebound/bedbound and all this worrying is making me even sicker.

Thanks anyway.

Kimi87

Labour were able to change the winter fuel allowance so quickly because it is a government perk. Not in legislation as welfare benefits are.

The Tories had plans that came to absolutely nothing.

Try and think about worrying when this wish list is a lot closer to reality. Basically worry about what you absolutely know will be happening. We certainly aren't at that point yet.

lily84

With my constant level of anxiety anyway it's pretty much impossible for me not to worry but il try. Do you have any idea when we will know exactly what will be happening?