ESA/UC support group
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New style ESA and UC are 2 completely different benefits. If you're placed into the Support Group for ESA your payments will increase to £138.20/week from the 14th week of your claim.
Support Group is the same as LCWRA for UC. If in the Support Group you will also receive the LCWRA element from the 4th month of your claim for UC. Your UC will then include standard allowance, LCWRA element, housing element and any other elements you're entitled to.
Please also make sure you report your health condition for UC and provide fit notes for this. You must make sure you provide them without any gaps until a decision is made on your WCA.
Your ESA will be deducted in full from any UC entitlement and there's no financial gain to claiming ESA and UC at the same time. However, as the ESA is not means tested like UC is then it's worth while claiming it. You will also receive class 1 NI credits for ESA but only class 3 for UC.
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thanks poppy, so if i am placed in the support group for ESA and get the additional payment alongside it, does that mean i'll automatically be entitled to LCWRA from a UC perspective and the extra (once the ESA has been deducted from it) and i will not miss out on anything i am entitled to?i have uploaded sick notes for ESA and UC on the portals/online so i will keep doing that until the outcome of assessment. just want to make sure that i'm not at a disadvantage to claiming ESA alongside UC. this is all new to me.Thanks for your help.0
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Yes if in Support Group you will automatically be entitled to LCWRA because they are both the same thing. You won't be any worse off because UC will top up your income.0
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When claiming both ESA and UC at the same time it means it's a dual claim. The ESA is contributions based only benefit and the UC will top up your income.
The ESA is not means tested but UC is. As you're entitled to both then it's better to continue to claim both.
Yes, the ESA is deducted in full from your UC but you're not losing or gaining anything from this.
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Thankyou Poppy for clearing that up for me.
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New Style ESA. Does anyone know how long it takes to find out which group you are in? I am recovering from Cancer treatment and on long term hormone medication. I was off work sick and applied at the end of my SSP and I was awarded the basic allowance until I sent off the ESA50. However, a month later, it still hadn't been processed and I had to return to work. I have since relapsed and reopened the claim within the 12 weeks linking but I haven't received any money yet (7 weeks) Now they have sent me another ESA50 and I'm worried how long it will take to be assessed as my employer wants to know when or if I will be returning to work.
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The whole process does usually take at least a few months, once the form is returned you would be waiting for the assessment provider to give an appointment for the assessment. The report then goes to the DWP who make the decision.
I would recommend speaking to ACAS about your rights and the proper process that your employer is obliged to follow.
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Thank you Kimi87 for your comments. I've never claimed benefits before and I'm surprised how diffuvult it us to get any help from DWP. I was under the impression that if you were undergoing cancer treatment, you would automatically be placed in the support group but this may not be true.
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Macmillian have some information about ESA & cancer treatment, they might also be worth speaking to.
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Hello, I have been on New style ESA for 6 years now , As no one tells me anything when i ask i assumed i am, I get ESA i am paid by them and soon as my appeal came through i was taken off LCW and placed in New style ESA. I am still confused about this benefit as i can never get an answer about anything from anyone , So thought i'd ask here On my Appeal it said i have "Limited Capability for Work Related Activity" which is the Support Group? So i thought the Support Group was exempt from the Benefit Cap also from attending work coaches and other interviews etc. But obviously its not, Also the astronomical amount of rent i pay which is half of total rent which means i get less than someone getting UC by £60 for the last 6 years, Any help would be welcome, Thank You.
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Yes, if your appeal says you have “Limited Capability for Work-Related Activity,” that means you’re in the Support Group (LCWRA). In this group, you’re not expected to attend work-focused interviews and you should be exempt from the Benefit Cap — but only if you’re also getting Housing Benefit or Universal Credit
New Style ESA on its own doesn’t include housing costs and isn’t means-tested, so it doesn’t exempt you from the cap. That might explain the £60 difference you’re seeing compared to someone on UC.
You might want to look into claiming UC alongside ESA just for help with rent — many people do this. You can also contact Citizens Advice or use a benefits calculator (like Turn2Us) to check if you’re missing anything.
Hope that helps a bit — the system is confusing, but you’re definitely not alone.
Take care 💙
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