NS ESA

We want to hear from you: please tell us about your experience of the online community.

Alisonc65

I am having to claim NS ESA be cause my CB ESA is ending on 1 December 2025 , letter arrived 2 December. Claim will be completed via job centre appointment when they contact me with an appointment. I heard that everyone who claims NS ESA will have to do a WCA. I am worried. Will I be better of not completing my claim to NS ESA. Being on mixed ESA means that some of the advantages of NS ESA will not be relevant. Eg savings. I will be seeing my link worker tomorrow

Kimi87

CB ESA is basically being renamed as New Style ESA.

As this is such a new change accurate experiences & information to guide advice in various scenarios is currently lacking.

However, in my opinion the change from CB to NS ESA should be treated not as a new claim but as a transfer.

Historically as precedent when UC migration happens the switch from CB to NS ESA is a transfer.

As a transfer previous group carries over and all the claimant does is agree to keep ESA (as well as UC) informed of any changes.

No new WCA as a direct result.

The language used on appointment correspondence assumes it's a new claim however and leads to a lot of confusion and worry!