New style ESA

Alisonc65
Alisonc65 Online Community Member Posts: 12 Listener
in Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

has anyone successfully revert back to cancelling NEw Style ESA claim recently. Still waiting for job centre appointment to complete my claim for new style ESA. Got letter telling me that my contribution based ESA was stopping on 1 Dec on 2nd of December. I would have been too late anyway


What are the consequences of this? How will it affect my state pension I will be getting in May 2027. I am dreading the questioning about my health in case it leads to work related activities which didn’t help when my income based ESA was migrated on 18 December 2035

I feel disadvantages of ns style ESA outweighs the benefits. I was on the old legacy benefits

Comments

  • OverlyAnxious
    OverlyAnxious Online Community Member Posts: 5,398 Championing

    Hi,

    Are you getting Universal Credit now? If yes, cancelling NS ESA shouldn't change your total income at all, it would just stop the ESA deduction from UC.

    You can check your pension forecast using the .Gov website. That will show whether you've earned enough National Insurance for the full state pension already or not.

  • Alisonc65
    Alisonc65 Online Community Member Posts: 12 Listener

    tried to access pension forecast but can’t.

  • Alisonc65
    Alisonc65 Online Community Member Posts: 12 Listener

    I have migrated to UC on 18th. First job centre appointment on 20 Nov to agree UC commitments. Still waiting for job centre appointment ( letter sent dated 24 Nov which arrived on 2 dec telling that my contribution ESA ended on 1 December. So technically not on NS ESA.

  • OverlyAnxious
    OverlyAnxious Online Community Member Posts: 5,398 Championing
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1088847#Comment_1088847

    Contributions Based ESA ended on Dec 1st, but it's really only changed name to New Style ESA. It's too soon to be certain but I believe you will now be on New Style ESA, even while waiting for the commitment appointment. You would have had to transfer to NS ESA anyway as part of the UC migration process, but as CB ESA has ended while you've been migrating I'm not completely sure how it's going to work in this case.

    The commitments will be the same as for UC. You will not need to answer any health related questions. Just agree to notify ESA of any changes in future, as well as notifying UC.

  • Alisonc65
    Alisonc65 Online Community Member Posts: 12 Listener

    the health related questions part appeared on that letter. That got me worried. Not sure when appointment will be. Dreading phone call would rather get text message. I have a link worker to support me. Been nearly a week since CB ESA ended and nearly a fortnight night since date of letter. If no appointment before 20-24 December. My UC payment will be smaller if NS ESA element has not been added

  • OverlyAnxious
    OverlyAnxious Online Community Member Posts: 5,398 Championing
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1089045#Comment_1089045

    It's just a standard letter for everyone unfortunately, a lot of people get worried by the wording.

    NS ESA isn't an element of UC, it's a totally separate benefit. When you get your UC statement, you'll see a deduction of £609 to cover ESA. ESA will still be paid separately every 2 weeks.

  • Kimi87
    Kimi87 Online Community Member Posts: 7,826 Championing
    edited December 6

    When you migrated to UC it's your income based ESA circumstances on that date which are important.

    However don't panic if LCWRA element isn't on your statement, this can be common for anyone and all that would mean is ESA haven't confirmed your previous award with UC. This is usually done in time for the first payment statement, but not always.

    The language in the ESA letter is geared up towards brand new claims, not migration transfers.

    Please see this thread for reassurance on how easy the NS ESA telephone call is

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

    Please note my advice is based on the normal historical procedure when migrating from a mixed ESA award.

    Like Overly Anxious I think it's a name change only now that CB ESA is known as New Style ESA for all. I personally don't think anything will change procedure wise.

    After migrating payments continue at £281.10 a fortnight on your normal ESA payment cycle. It doesn't matter if you haven't had the NS ESA appointment, payment continues.

  • Alisonc65
    Alisonc65 Online Community Member Posts: 12 Listener

    when I migrated on 18 nov I got the normal ESA payment as I got before plus the Christmas bonus.

    My housing is paid in arrears on first Thurs of month. Because of the timing of the migration. I got full housing benefit.

    looks like things may be a bit messy for me.

  • Kimi87
    Kimi87 Online Community Member Posts: 7,826 Championing
    edited December 6

    IR ESA carries on for two weeks after migrating, this is known as the run on ESA payment.

    It sounds like it's a bit early for the ESA payment due after the run on money, things might then become clearer for you.

    But as advised normally the NS ESA payments occur seamlessly, even if you haven't yet had the commitment appointment.

    If you have been overpaid Housing Benefit, a small deduction will be made from your UC payments until the debt is repaid.

    Information will be on your UC payment statement if this is the case.

    You would also have the option to repay it all in one go via DWP Debt Management.

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