Do I have to migrate?
I've had my migration notice for UC.
I currently receive esa but I believe it's CB with IR top up £323.50 a fortnight - not definite on that though.
Haven't worked since 2004 and I'm in the support group and also receive enhanced pip for daily and mobility. No housing costs claimed.
I understand (if the above assumption is correct) that on migration I would receive NS esa of 281.10 a fortnight and UC 214.36 (after 609.05 esa deduction) a month.
NS esa isn't means tested so if I didn't migrate what would happen to my current esa, would it just automatically change to NS ESA? I realise I would be losing £200 a month but would have less stress which is worth more to me tbh.
Thanks.
Comments
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Can you offer any advice @Kimi87
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Hi @bellatango - sorry, I haven't seen Kimi about for a few days.
Yes, you're correct, you'd get £214.36 UC a month (after a monthly deduction of £609.05 for ESA), but overall you'd still have £823.41 a month.
Currently you say you get £323. 50 every 2 weeks, so £700.92 a month. With a total monthly amount of £823.41 on UC comparing this to the £700.92 you receive now, then with UC you'd be £122.49 better off each month.
As IR ESA is ending, then if you don't migrate you'd be £91.87 worse off each month (£323.50 - £281.10 divided by 2, then x 52 & divide by 12 = £91.87) CB +IR ESA minus CB part which leaves the IR part you'd lose each month.
I believe then your ESA would just be the contribution based part. It's just if you migrate that it changes to New style ESA, with the IR part running on for 2 weeks, then it stops:
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Many thanks chiarieds.
So if I just ignored the letter would my esa just change from £323.50 every 2 weeks to £289.10 every 2 weeks instead?
I don't know for absolute certain mine is cb based with an ir top up, but I have been receiving a p60u every year and started on incapacity benefit in 2005 and was changed to esa roughly around 2013. I've not even had an assessment for 12 years!
I feel a bit guilty about just giving up £200 a month UC when I see so many people struggling for every penny, but I just want to be left alone and not mithered to death with 101 questions and bank reviews and whatnot.
I can manage with that and my pip, but just don't know if I would be making a mistake?
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Sorry for all the questions but can I just check
pip enhanced rate for both parts (£749.80 every 4 weeks) and plus esa
I currently get per week
ESA
Basic £92.05
Support £48.50
Disability income guarantee £ 21.20
Total = £161.75 a week, so if I don't migrate is the IR part that I would lose the £21.20?
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You're welcome. Your ESA would reduce from £323.50 to £281.10 every 2 weeks. As Support Group is £281.10, & you instead receive £323.50 then the extra amount is due to an IR top up. You'd lose £91.87 a month if you don't migrate.
The decision is one only you can make. For many the migration process is easy, & other than having to provide ID or answer a few questions over the phone that only you would know about, then you just have to say that you'll report any changes (your commitments) & all should be well. I can also understand where you're coming from.
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Bless you chiarieds
I just wasn't sure what would happen if I ignored the migration letter and was worried my benefits would stop completely (apart from pip) and I'm scared about making the wrong decision. The migration process itself doesn't worry me but I just don't think it's worth the hassle. I know it would also mean I would have to pay for prescriptions and wouldn't be allowed the social tariff for broadband but I can cope with that.
So as long as I stayed in the support group it would continue indefinetly and none of my benefits would be means tested?
I have nothing to hide and no savings even anywhere near the £6k limit, but I just want to be left alone.
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Apart from the initial id visit to the job centre, plus the follow-up call (to agree that my commitments were to inform them of any changes), i have had next to no involvement with the DWP. This is from January to now.
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I’m putting off the migration process because I’m so scared about not being able to go to job centre to provide ID and I am hearing and reading about problems with not being put in the support group and getting Transitional protection when moving over. I have not had any contact with Job centre since 2009 and this whole process feels me with dread.
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I hadn't any contact since 2010, and really, i was in and out in 5 minutes.
Like with most things, you will only read about all the bad experiences.
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Hi, sorry to jump in here but will contribution based Esa still continue when the new government changes goes through parliament? They talk about cb Esa being called unemployment insurance benefit and will be time limited. Most talk at the moment seem to be about pip changes and the abolishing the uc health element if I've not misunderstood, but not much is said about the long term cb Esa people. I understand Bellatangos worries and just wanting to be left alone as I am too.
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Hi @lily84 - I've just seen a link another member gave, & can see you can download the 'Changes to benefits for disabled people' here if you click on 'Download full report.' A very quick check just now shows that CB ESA is mentioned, but I haven't had chance to read any of it yet. https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-10283/
I don't think that link's going to work, so you'd need to copy then paste that into your browser first.
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From 2028/29, contribution based ESA and JSA will be replaced by a new benefit called Unemployment Insurance. This new benefit will only be available for a limited period (yet to be confirmed by the government), after which your payments will stop, even if you’re still unwell or unable to work.
If you meet the eligibility criteria, you may be able to claim UC after your Unemployment Insurance runs out. However, if you are still sick beyond that time limit and don’t qualify for UC or PIP, you could be left without any income support under the new system.
So yes, the key concern is the time-limited nature of Unemployment Insurance, and the potential gap in support if you're unable to transition to other benefits like UC or PIP once that period ends. I think that’s why there’s been so much focus on PIP, as it will now be the gateway for receiving extra support if you're too sick to work.
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Thanks, il check it out.
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Thanks mw123, so what from what I understand this means if I'm not eligible for uc then I lose my cb esa after the short time limit. If I am eligible for uc I will lose approx £50 a wk with the new changes. Also as I'm still on dla then I will be subject to the 4 point rule and could possible lose my dla/pip. Is that right?
Does this mean that all benefits will be means tested ones (except for time limited cb esa) in the future?
This is just awful and such a mess. My anxiety is going through the roof now.
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From April 2026, new ESA claimants will receive £50 less per week in the health element, while existing claimants will not see cuts, but their rate will be frozen, meaning it will not rise with inflation.
By 2028/29, ESA and JSA will be replaced by Unemployment Insurance, a time-limited benefit. Payments will end after an unspecified period, and unless you qualify for UC, no further support will be available. If you are no longer considered sick or disabled, such as if you fail the new PIP criteria, no doubt any UC support will likely be a very basic flat rate payment. If you do qualify for PIP, there may be some additional help for long-term sickness if you are on a low income. However, PIP itself will remain non means tested, so savings or income will not affect eligibility.
From November 2026, qualifying for PIP’s daily living component will become even more difficult, requiring at least 4 points in a single activity rather than combining smaller scores across multiple tasks. The mobility component will remain unchanged.
In the future Unemployment Insurance will be linked to National Insurance contributions, and anyone who meets the criteria can receive it if they are sick, regardless of income or savings.
The government appears to be looking at (not confirmed) encouraging people to take out their own private income protection insurance to cover illness or injury, as long-term sickness support in future will largely be limited to months rather than years, unlike the current system. Only those whom the DWP class as severely disabled, or as having long-term medical conditions with no prospect of improvement, will be guaranteed ongoing support, but only if they meet the stricter PIP criteria. If you fail that test, you will be considered fit for work.
Myself and many other members are really worried about these changes, and we've been writing to ministers and MPs to raise our concerns. You can see more about this in the thread titled Green Paper Related Discussions.
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Hi, thanks you for that detailed post. It looks like it's going to be a horrible time for the long term sick, and is very worrying. I just don't know what to do next. Do you think the employment insurance time limit changes will come in before 2028/9? I have long term chronic ill health and I am housebound/bedbound majority of the time. Should I try and apply for uc now before the changes? When I was transferred over from IB to Cb Esa about 6 yrs ago I was asked to see if eligible for some ir Esa but I panic so badly when dealing with the dwp that I didn't do it and didn't want the worry of means tested benefit as I had some savings. I think I might still be eligible for some ir Esa despite my savings though but not sure. I don't understand how they can take £50 a wk off people not yet on UC but those already on it get to keep it as the struggle is the same. It just seems like it's just an excuse to cut people's money rather than trying to help people.
Do you know what's happening with the dla to pip people, will they be transferred over before the changes come in?
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Hi,
It's not possible to make a new claim for IR ESA now. You would have to apply for Universal Credit instead. Do you mind telling us how much you have in savings at the moment?
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