Child benefit and esa

JaneCowell

Hi there,

Really need your help and it's very appreciated! Really is.

I'm recently separated. Waiting for solicitor appointment. Will be a divorce. Police involved due to husband. Just bit background I'm sorry.

I'm on esa non income related support group. Wasn't entitled to child benefit when we were together. I'm guessing I need to claim it now for my son :(

Can I claim child benefit online? Also what will happen to my esa will I need to claim uc? Will they move me to UC?

II've got no one to talk to I don't have solicitor yet. It's been 2 weeks.

House is on the market for sale. I'm just worried because currently it's a joint account but I will open my own bank account if it's advisable. Just worried about the mortgage so I can't fully leave the joint account yet.

Thanks so much

Kimi87

Yes you can claim child benefit online:

https://www.gov.uk/child-benefit/how-to-claim

There will be no effect on your ESA and it won't trigger a move to UC - as previously advised New Style ESA is not one of the benefits being migrated to UC.

When things are more settled you may wish to investigate claiming (depending on the amount of capital you have) as I suspect you might be better off- try a benefits calculator.

https://www.gov.uk/benefits-calculators

Local advice agency can advise on a wide range of issues:

https://advicefinder.turn2us.org.uk/

JaneCowell

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1033347#Comment_1033347

Thank you. Yeah I remember about esa not moving to uc just wanted to check as I don't know anything about child benefit. I'll start the claim today.

Regarding UC, if I was to claim in near future what happens do I need to go to job centre every week and apply for work? I'm guessing I'd get my esa alongside the UC payments.

Thank you

Kimi87

As you are in the Support Group for ESA, you would be entitled to LCWRA element automatically from the start of your claim.

LCWRA is the UC equivalent of ESA Support Group. So no work commitments such as attending Work Focused Interviews or applying for jobs.

Yes you would get the ESA payments alongside Universal Credit. £609.05 would be deducted in full from your UC award, which is the monthly equivalent of New Style ESA.

WhatThe

LCWRA is the ESA Support Group and LCW is the ESA WRAG

That the status can be transferred to UC is not in doubt but LCW/LCWRA belong to the ESA award not UC or PIP for that matter!

Kimi87

@WhatThe Really not sure what you mean by that post here & on another thread.

Always happy to be corrected if I'm wrong, but I don't feel I'm wrong in these cases.

ESA has two groups, UC has two groups.

ESA status transfers to UC and awards the identical equivalent under UC automatically.

Both posters were concerned they would have to engage with the Job Centre after migration.

I aim to answer questions as clearly and simply as possible and feel my replies were suitable responses.

If you don't like the way I respond feel free to add me to your ignore list.

WhatThe

There are at least four groups in UC and no doubt this number will grow..

I've made the distinction because UC is essentially an experimental system to merge working-age benefits while ESA is an established incapacity benefit. I think it's important to maintain the distinction of ESA with its LCW/LCWRA group statuses because I also see them linked to PIP in others' posts.

DWP aims to reduce the value of awards and the numbers who qualify so any diminution of incapacity benefit terminology - LCW and LCWRA - makes that easier for them.

(I'm never sure of making sense to anyone else 😉)

Kimi87

I'm not the DWP, I don't advise on future potential changes either I advise on the current system in the simplest way possible, and am happy with my advice that ESA WRAG/SG and UC LCW/LCWRA are mirror groups.

This reasures people that DWP expectations in LCWRA are the same as SG.

I will continue advising in the same way.

I never brought PIP into either of my responses here because it was irrelevant, I appreciate your explanation as to why you did.

I am glad we discussed this in a civil manner and I won't be responding to you again 🙂

WhatThe

I wasn't hostile and there is no need for you to be 🙂

JaneCowell

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1033410#Comment_1033410

Thank you. Would I need to attend an initial interview to start the claim?

Kimi87

You would apply online, and possibly have one appointment in person at the Job Centre to verify your id.

JaneCowell

Thank you.

I'm not sure what to do. Whether to apply now for UC or not. I'm so low

Kimi87

Have you been in touch with your GP for support, or spoken with family/friends about how you are feeling?

It's also worth getting in touch with local welfare rights for advice, Turn2Us link provided earlier.

JaneCowell

I have a phone appointment with GP on the 17th just about recent blood test I could mention other things then I guess.

I'm on my own. I'm in the south west and family are north east. I have no friends.

I'll try phoning cab. Thanks