I've already moved to Universal Credit but I've received a letter from ESA...
Hi.
I used to receive ESA and was in the support group. About 3 weeks ago, I went to the local job centre to prove my identity. I was then told that I would be transferred to Universal Credit and that my first payment would begin on March 11th.
I received a letter today (Feb 28th) dated February 24th. The letter states that my contribution-based ESA will change to New Style ESA from 19/02/25. The letter states that I'll be contacted to book an appointment that I must attend. It states that this will be with a work coach at the local job centre and will be via phone or face to face.
As I've already transferred over to universal credit from ESA and will receive my first UC payment on March 11th, do I just ignore this letter? Is it due to a communication issue between UC and ESA?
The letter states that my award of income related ESA will end on 18/02/25 (so it's ended) because UC is replacing the income related ESA I get. It states that the final payment covers the period of 05/02/25 to 18/02/25, so I've received my final payment.
Any help is greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
All the best.
Comments
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Hi,
Your old ESA was partly contributions based and partly income based.
So you will now get a Universal Credit payment every month, plus a New Style ESA payment every two weeks. (The ESA payment will show as a deduction on your UC statement, it's not extra money).
You will need to confirm your commitments for the New Style ESA, the same as you did for UC, don't just ignore the letter.
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It says on the new letter that I have to provide medical evidence. I was under the impression that because I was in the support group that I didn't have to do this. I only have old medical notes. I don't have anything recent. I can only try to explain to them my difficulties but I don't know how I'm going to be able to get any new evidence.
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That's just a standard letter sent to everyone starting NS ESA and it is confusing for those migrating from the old benefits.
You don't need to provide any evidence, you are still in the Support Group for NS ESA.
But you do need to accept the claimant commitments, which will just be to update them of any changes, same as for your UC commitments.
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What will this entail? What information will I have to provide them? Will I have to take ID with me again? On the letter, it says I will be asked the following at the appointment: Explain how your illness or disability affects your ability to work; Provide medical evidence; Agree to tell us if your circumstances change.
If they call me or ask me to attend a face to face appointment, what do you think I will have to provide them?
Is ESA ending completely next year? I was under the impression that Universal Credit was replacing ESA entirely.
Thank you.
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As I say, it's a standard letter. You don't need to go through any of that. You will be in the Support Group.
Usually they'll call you on the phone, they'll ask 'do you commit to informing us of any changes'? You say 'yes' and that's it, all done. 🙂
Income related ESA is ending this year. But contributions based ESA has been replaced by New Style ESA.
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UC is replacing Income Related ESA, not Contributions Based ESA, now known as New Style ESA.
The letter is a generic one assuming yours is a brand new claim, you are in fact a transfer.
All you'll have to do is agree the commitments. This is usually done by phone, it will be a very brief call.
Please see this thread for the experience of others who have been through exactly the same situation.
You'll be paid £276.40 a fortnight, and the UC deduction is £598.86. That looks wrong but is right, ESA is a weekly benefit, UC monthly and there are 4.3 weeks in a month not 4.
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Thank you for your help.
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Thank you.
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@Craig24795 I have just gone through this the call for the New Style ESA is basically just a couple of questions you need to agree to them on the phone, I asked fir a telephone appointment as a reasonable adjustment on my Journal they accepted this as a telephone call and it was very quick, I'm just waiting for my statement update says 5/3/25 so I'll know more then….. I am new to the scope site and it's the best for this new UC claiming from the letter to the claim it's so confusing but please don't worry the letter is automated hope that helps….
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Hi.
Did you have to provide any proof of identity, such as your national insurance number or other details? What details did you have to provide them?
Thank you.
All the best.
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hello @Craig24795 i completed all the I'd checks on the UC claim (I haven't been told otherwise) today on the call, I just had to confirm details only I would know regards the UC claim then to agree to the NS ESA commitments same as UC commitments online your journal it was very quick and I like you wasn't even aware I was in IR ESA along with IB/CB ESA SG I've been on the same for years I also found out other bits and bobs at the end of the call, it's just a necessity when going forward with UC NSESA I was told it's a Dual Claim yours should be the same if like mine Good Luck…
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Thank you very much.
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@Craig24795 yoyr welcome it's very stressful without knowing so I thought I'd give you some advice from my recent experiences, good luck with your call.
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Hello All, I’m new to this site and Forum. I have a fair bit of knowledge on disability benefits, have contacts to help with various DWP , used to work at DWP many years ago! But as my disability/chronic illnesses (including now with Myeloma) have got worse & I also have more cognitive issues, and retaining information.
I’ve been on ESA Support Group for a few years, got low DLA, then PIP since 2019 with Severe Disability Premium (this is up for renewal by February 2026. But this thing with the forced migration to UC is really getting to me. I had the letter a few weeks ago & have to claim by 8/5/2025, I’m waiting until the 11 Th April, as my rent & service charges with my Council Landlord go up on the 7 Th April, plus will have had another ESA payment.
Today, (Saturday 22/3/2025) I’ve received the annual ESA uprating letter in the post, but with something I’ve never seen before and of course no explanation. It says that from the 16 Th May, my ESA will reduce by about £80 a week !! What on earth does this mean? I will try and call them next week, but think they’ll be pretty busy. Any thoughts anyone?Thank you for reading my piece & look forward to using this forum.
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Hi,
You will have started the UC migration before that date, so it probably doesn't matter what the ESA rates are.
If you can post a photo of the list where it shows all of the different elements you get for ESA, maybe we can work it out? (Please crop or cover any personal info).
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Thank you, OverlyAnxious for this. Hope the 2 below photographed pages are ok, I’m not that great at this as my hands shake a bit & have rubbish dexterity. I also think I’m getting a bit more of an idea of some of the DWP/UC migrations stuff, from this Forum, really useful.
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That's a new one on me. But ESA letters are well known for making absolutely no sense.
I wouldn't give it much thought as you will have claimed UC by then anyway.
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That picture is perfectly clear and readable , thank you.
I can see what's happened there. They haven't included the SDP in those calculations. It's not written in words. And if you add up the figures shown for each element, they equal £161.75 - NOT the £244.65 that they've actually written.
Hopefully it's just an error. But is there any reason that you could lose the SDP in May? Another person moving in with you for example?
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Thank-you for all the useful information on here. DWP seem to make everything as complicated as possible for the uninitiated and it feels that there is an inference that we're all dishonest which is very demoralising. I have my appointments over the telephone as my mobility issues make attending their offices unduly difficult, but my anxiety about dealing with strangers makes phone calls very testing and as a result I probably sound unsure and hesitant, which they seem to interpret as devious or dishonest. I've been advised that it is possible to have "paper based communications" to avoid the duress of face to face or telephone interviews which actually is cheaper for the DWP, can anybody confirm or deny this option please.
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Because I am on contribution based e s a support allowance and universal credit with L c w r a on top i have received a letter to go onto new style e s a so where we get paid every 4 weeks is it going to be a lot longer to sort payments out ?
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