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I really need help please!

tusumcornw

I've been receiving income based employment and support allowance ESA from the DWP for multiple years for as long as I can remember.

I've never worked.

I was asked to complete a migration from IR ESA to universal credit UC. I did that and received my two weeks follow on payment from ESA as expected.

Fast forward another two weeks and today I've received another payment from ESA.

I contacted ESA and they've said I'll receive contributions based ESA now but I've never worked/contributed except for my automatic contributions by being on income related ESA for so many years.

Why am I being put onto contributions based ESA and having universal credit income based ? It this an error ?

Is it because I've been on income related ESA for so many years and the IR ESA paid my national insurance contributions enough to get CB ESA ?

I believe it to be an error. I believe I should only receive UC. Could you please tell me what's going on and why ?

And if it's wrong can it be corrected ? I was in the support group and had the severe disability premium with transitional protection etc and I don't want to lose my premiums or the amount I should be receiving because of a DWP error.

I contacted ESA earlier via telephone and the lady said she didn't know and would ask for someone to call me in 48 hours.

So I am very worried and it's very negatively affecting my mental health conditions and physical illness.

Worried ill lose my rent payments and transitional protection and free prescriptions etc etc etc.

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Comments

Kimi87

This will have no impact on your rent, TP or free prescription.

You were in fact previously on both CB and IR ESA. Lots of people don't find this out until they migrate.

Were you ever on the old Incapacity Benefit? It was possible to claim this through special youth rules even if you had never worked.

When that converted into ESA, it was for CB ESA with an IR top up if applicable.

There were also special youth rules for ESA at one point, again able to claim without working and being put on CB ESA with an IR top up.

Please read through this thread (click on the purple text View Post).

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/130268/ive-already-moved-to-universal-credit-but-ive-received-a-letter-from-esa

bumper55

yep it’s right I had same not been fit for work over 25 years when I migrated I still got my esa every 2 weeks then you get uc made no difference I’m still get the same as before but you get the rest of your esa on the unerversal credit as new style esa has a limit but when you get your statement it works out the same

bumper55

you are no worse off

tusumcornw

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1021128#Comment_1021128

Hey,

Thanks for your response.

I'm unsure what I used to claim, I'm sure it was JSA and then it went to IR ESA and DLA.

so this is correct and normal ?

Why do they do it, wouldn't it be simpler being done in one UC payment ?

How long will I receive the CB ESA/New Style ESA for ?

My head's spinning

tusumcornw

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1021135#Comment_1021135

I had a full payment today from ESA, what do you mean they add the rest of the ESA onto the UC?

Thanks!

bumper55

I have a partner so our claim was a couple I got 366 esa every 2 weeks when I migrated I got 366 the first payment then the next 1 got 278. Then when I got told I was getting new style ESA and unerversal credit and you get the rent payment put on unerversal credit payment every month so when I worked both benefits out they work out as when I was on old style esa so was happy

tusumcornw

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1021156#Comment_1021156

We are on a couple claim and I got a payment of 778 ESA today, is that normal ? That's what my ESA would normally be.

tusumcornw

I forgot to mention we are on a couple claim and the ESA amount received today was the same as I used to get on IR ESA, the full amount ?

Surely that's not right if I get UC aswell ??

bumper55

I get 278 every 2 weeks now but I get the rest paid monthly on my unerversal credit with my rent so what it means you will get new style esa every two weeks and a payment of unerversal credit 1 a month

tusumcornw

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1021161#Comment_1021161

I'm getting 778 every two weeks New Style ESA if I'm not mistaken

Then what is UC paying me ? I'm very very confused because the 778 ESA fortnightly is our normal full payment.

Is the UC just paying my rent ?

bumper55

they pay your rent to you

bumper55

if they pay you less new style esa than what you were getting it would be made up on the uc payment