Journal messages from Local UC/job centre

VictorB

Hi can someone help advise me if possible please or experienced something similiar .

I migrated to UC last month near the end of May 2025 from my Legacy benefits

income related Esa /contribution based Esa support group & Housing Benefit has told to do by the DWP.

I signed the commitment & had a phonecall 2 days later for id .

Last night i went on uc after told to by an email received in the day .

It was from my local job centre asking me to sign a commitment if i didnt do it in time i wouldn't be entitled to UC .

(I was confused with that has i had already signed the commitment when applying online)

Also further down on to do list it was telling me to get a Fit Note.

(So i responded back & stated i didn't need to get a fit note has i was moving to UC from my Legacy Benefits & i was in the Esa Support Group & their had been no break in my esa & moving to UC, Under UC regulation 19 moving to UC I thought was covered & protected.)

i later pressed on the fitnote highlighted in blue on my journal & It said

when you applied for UC we told you that you did not need to provide a fit note

we have since found that you have not had a Work Capability Assessment outcome for your health condition .

What this means.

You must now get a fit note if you still have a condition that restricts you from working .

Then it says get the fit note dated from when i first put claim in for UC & if for some reason i don't get a fit note they will consider me fit for work .

I have been on ESA contribution based support group since i got moved from Incapacity Benefit

i only started getting ESA income related top up in 2019 when i informed the dwp of a change of circumstances that i had separated from my wife & we was definitely getting divorced .

I have been so stressed out & hardly slept since reading my journal message .

I cannot function to run around to sort things out .

My day is spent on the bed, in a chair until uncomfortable ,stand up short time then all repeated again .

I was fearing the move to UC since it was brought forward by the dwp but this is a nightmare at the moment for me .

thanks if you can advise me

VictorB

Asia23

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/135523/journal-messages-from-local-uc-job-centre

Hello @VictorB

Firstly, when you accepted the online claimant commitment that's standard. When you are being asked to sign/accept a further commitment, that is because, as you say, you had a mixed ESA award (both contribution based and income-related). The contribution-based part of it continues and will now be converted to New Style ESA. It's because that is converting that you have to agree a further claimant commitment for it. You will continue to be paid New Style ESA 2 weeks in arrears £281.10 by ESA, which will be deducted £ for £ from your UC payment in future because it is what is known as an 'overlapping benefit'. Don't worry. That is quite normal. You must follow any instructions to sign/agree that second claimant commitment. Failure to do so means they can't continue with migrating your legacy claim to UC. It's nothing to worry about. You can organise for it to be done on the phone. It only involves you agreeing to inform them if there is any change of circumstances. I believe that you should have had a letter telling you your contribution-based ESA is converting to New Style ESA.

As for being asked to provide a further fit note, it sounds like you do not need to. You must have had a Work Capability Assessment (or the original equivalent when you were on Incapacity benefit) if you were placed in the Support group and you should be entitled to UC LCWRA from the start of your claim. Do you remember having the original assessment which placed you in the ESA Support group, when you transferred from Incapacity benefit? If you provide a new fit note, it will set off a new claimant health journey.

I am guessing it sounds like the system is unable to transfer over the data from ESA which shows you have already had a WCA decision (or the IB equivalent). This might be related to you not signing/agreeing the further claimant commitment for New Style ESA. I can't be sure.

I would advise that the best thing you can do is contact Citizens Advice Help to Claim to assist you in getting this sorted. They can organise a 3 way call between you, themselves and UC. Their number is 0800 144 8444. They will guide you on what you have to do next.

Try not to worry. Let us know how you get on.

VictorB

Thankyou Asia23 for the advice.😊

No i cant remember that far back to be honest .

I've definitely filled forms in & had medicals in the past but what was the benefit ?

i don't know Over 30 0dd years of being ill & disabled .

I have been in contact with my local C/A & they gave me advice then put me through to citizens Advice UC line has they felt better to give me the right info .

They seem to think like you that i won't need to get fit notes .

One thing she did say , i was one 0f the 1st to be told so early of applying for UC about WCA & fit note .

She will be informing her boss & colleagues of my situation .

She has told me to wait for their reply & to get back in contact with C/A if they still insist on a fit note & will do a phone call with me .

Hopefully it doesn't come to that .

I would say this is why UC & disability benefits should remain away from each other .

Rushed & not thought out .

Regards to everyone

VicB

Asia23

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1036452#Comment_1036452

So glad you got put through to Citizens Advice Help to Claim @VictorB. They are the part of Citizens Advice that have been set up specifically to help people being managed migrated to UC and will advise you right up until you get your first payment.

Did you mention to them about being asked to agree the second claimant commitment, the one which will put your New Style ESA (converted from your old ESA contribution based) claim into pay? I'm just guessing, but it could be that if you haven't done that yet, it might be why the data about your legacy ESA claim and your existing WCA decision hasn't been transferred across correctly which is why the UC system is now asking you for a fit note, when you actually don't need one, especially as you remember having had medicals already, however long ago.

Sorry you're going through this but I'm sure it will all be ironed out with the help of Citizens Advice Help to Claim. I have found them invaluable help whilst I am also migrating from ESA to UC.

Best wishes with your migration journey. It shouldn't be this stressful! 😊

VictorB

Yeah i mentioned it but she reckons that will come in the post .

Just will have to wait & see .

On the Journal i have put when migrating to UC i was in the support group for ESA & their had been no break in my Esa benefit including move to UC .

I have mentioned in Full about Uc regulation 19 & i didnt need to get fit notes .

I await their response .

VictorB

All sorted was told miscommunication error on their side between UC & ESA

No fit note required had a phone call today to accept commitment for New Style Esa

No review until 3 years time .

😊👍️

Asia23

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1036834#Comment_1036834

Fantastic news @VictorB!

So pleased you got it sorted out. Well done 👏

Mary_Scope

Glad it was all okay in the end @VictorB, thank you for letting us know!

VictorB

Thanks Mary Scope

No probs .

For anyone in the future who goes through something similair & doesnt know where to turn to . Read this .

Don't panic like i did ,Get the advice ,Stick to your guns, Question it on your Journal without being weak or rude & use Regulation 19 UC (Transitional Provisions regulations 2014 ) States the claimant migrating from Esa Support Group to UC Should not be required to provide a fit note or provide medical evidence if asked to .

The wording on UC on your journal messages can come across threatening .

This is why to me we shouldn't be put in with UC ,their system at the moment doesn't recognise the disabled & ill .

It has been rushed without any commonsense .

Love ,peace & Joy to you all.😊