ESA to UC Migration - is it possible to cancel new style ESA and just claim LCWRA/Universal Credit?

Jelas

Hi there, I’m a newbie here. I hope everyone one is well.

I am very nervous, but here goes.

I made a migration claim from ESA Support Group to Universal Credit on the 10th July and have now found out like many others that I was claiming ESA(Contribution Based), that I wasn’t aware of, as I left work eleven years ago. I received a letter that stated my ESA(Income Based) has ended and I then became confused.

I received a call from the Jobcentre to have a telephone interview and go through the Claimant Commitment, which I did.

I am ex DWP staff so I know about JSA, but not ESA and Univeral Credit.

My question is I have now found out that after receiving the two week run on from ESA on the 24th July 2025, I am now going to be receiving New Style ESA on the 7th August 2025 and every two weeks thereafter.

My claim has not been processed as of yet and my Universal Credit statement is not due until the 12th August 2025 and payment on the 16th August 2025 and to my understanding the deduction for (NS)ESA is taken from the first day of the UC claim and not Day 15 if I had been receiving ESA (Income Based). Therefore I will technically lose out on two weeks money in the first assessment period.

Is it possible to cancel the ESA(NS) claim and just claim the full Universal Credit with LCWRA element instead before they process the (NS)ESA.

Any help would be much appreciated.

durhamjaide2001

hi and welcome to the forum unfortunately I am not an expert in this area but what I can do is recommend that you visit the coffee lounge for a general chat or the games den for some fun.

Suz1008

Anyone have an answer for this?

Kimi87

Broadly speaking I don't know the answer, but It's too late now for your original intended purpose, any cancellation wouldn't be backdated.

You could try a trained benefits advisor https://advicefinder.turn2us.org.uk/

Jelas

Update: I managed to get my NS(ESA) claim closed down from the start date, therefore I did not receive a payment on the 7th August, as ESA managed to close down the claim in time. I have now received my first Universal Credit payment minus approx two weeks of Old Style ESA. So from next month onwards I will be in full receipt of Universal Credit only.

I have chronic illnesses and disabilities so I haven’t worked in over ten years and also very unlikely to ever return back to work, therefore I would prefer to be on Universal Credit only and not New Style ESA/Universal Credit.

My brain can’t handle budgeting:
1) New Style ESA every 2 weeks
2) PIP every 4 weeks
3) Universal Credit every month