Worried sick

poppy123456 said:

Contributions based ESA and New style ESA will never be part of UC so you will never be migrated across. Your ESA will just continue.

Your ESA isn't means tested but any pension of over £85/week will reduce your ESA by 50p for every £1 over that amount. Are ESA aware that you're receiving a pension?

Hello Poppy

Yes, the DWP know I have a pension, so I do not get the full ESA.
Sorry for more questions, I am on a trail of worry.
Thank you for confirming that my contributions based ESA will never be part of UC.
I have not had a review since 2017, so, what will happen when I am next reviewed, if they still find me unfit for work, will I stay on contributions based ESA?

I ask because I remember someone from another forum saying their ESA was reduced to a pittance when they got assessed for Universal credit, because they had a pension income, so they must have been on contributions based ESA.
Sorry for my confusion, and the govt sites are not very clear.

Also, could you point me towards somewhere where I can read about my ESA not being affected by Universal credit, as I can only find information regarding new style ESA which I am not on?
I really appreciate your informative speedy reply and allaying my worries.

calcotti said:

0ptimistic said:.

Thanks, my worry was sparked off when I read about someone having their universal credit wiped out because of their pension income, I think they were on ESA, could they have been on income related ESA,

If they were not on UC they were not on income based ESA because you can’t get both at the same time.

If they were on ESA and UC then the ESA was contribution based on new style ESA. The pension could have removed most of the UC but would not affect the ESA unless the pension was over £85/week.

Hello
I read this person's ESA was deducted because of their pension, before new style ESA was introduced. 
I read that everyone will be migrated to UC by the end of 2024, which triggered me to write this, as I fear not being able to afford to live here, I love it here, I relocated away from abuse from family in my hometown. 
It sounds like their pension, like mine was over £85 a week. 
Sorry for being so wimpy.

poppy123456 said:

0ptimistic said:

poppy123456 said:

0ptimistic said:

Also, could you point me towards somewhere where I can read about my ESA not being affected by Universal credit, 

Here you go, as you can see it’s only income related benefits that are being moved to UC. https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit

Hello, it doesn't mention contributions related ESA.
I worried because I read everyone was being migrated and I thought that included me. 

Exactly because contributions based ESA has nothing to do with UC. 

Thanks, I wish I had come here first, you have no idea how much better I feel after learning this from you. A big thank you.

poppy123456 said:

0ptimistic said:

calcotti said:

0ptimistic said:?., what will happen when I am next reviewed, if they still find me unfit for work, will I stay on contributions based ESA?.

Yes

0ptimistic said:?.I remember someone from another forum saying their ESA was reduced to a pittance when they got assessed for Universal credit, because they had a pension income, so they must have been on contributions based ESA.

If they were claiming UC the pension would be deducted in full from the UC. ESA is only reduced by pension income over £85/week. You may have misremembered that thread.

Universal Credit only replaces income based benefits.

Universal Credit is replacing the following benefits and tax credits:

• Child Tax Credit
• Housing Benefit
• Income Support
• income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Working Tax Credit

At some stage I think the contribution based ESA is likely to be switched to new style ESA but this has no practical implications.

Hello, I like my contributions based ESA as I pay stamp.
Do you know if I paid national insurance stamp when I claimed incapacity benefit, as I cannot find any info online. Also have I got cause to worry because of the switch? as in reduction of money somehow?
Do you have any thing I can read on the switch? Thanks

You most likely won’t even realise your contributions based ESA will become New style ESA. 

You will still receive class 1 NI credits the same as you do now. 

New style ESA Support Group pays the same as contributions based ESA so there will be no changes to your ESA. 

I read that the DWP send a letter when they change claimants over to new style ESA but I never got one.
I really appreciate the help on here

calcotti said:

0ptimistic said:

I read that the DWP send a letter when they change claimants over to new style ESA but I never got one.

Because you are still on the old ESA - therefore you haven’t had a letter.

So long as I don't lose out. I don't want to be rich, I just don't want to be unable to afford to live in my modest flat, as I like it here.