Forced to leave ESA for Universal Credit

poorsoul
poorsoul Community member Posts: 68 Contributor
in Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

Today a letter came saying i have to claim Universal Credit i am in ESA Support group and am worried i dont qualify for UC as i live with parents and dont have any photo ID i dont drive so no driving license no passport and all bills are in my parents name.I have severe depression and anxiety so dont leave house much or use phone.I hate talking to people and worried about a face to face assesment.😒Life was bad enough under the torys was hoping labour would be better but losing ESA will only make things worse

Comments

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community member Posts: 61,416 Championing

    Entitlement to UC doesn't take into consideration other members of your household such as siblings, parents, grand parents etc etc. It only takes into consideration if you live with a partner.

    As you're in the Support Group you'll be entitled to the LCWRA element of UC from the start of your claim. You will not need to provide a fit note and you won't need another assessment. When you claim UC it may ask you to provide a fit note as part of the claims process but you can ignore that because it's not needed.

    Once you have access to your journal you will need to put a message on there to tell them you're in the Support Group for ESA.

    It was the Tories that brought migration to UC forward for those claiming ESA. The current Government just continued with that process.

    For ID, please don't worry about not having anything in your name or photo ID. They can do a biographical appointment. For this they will ask you some questions that only you will know the answer to, such as address, which bank your money goes into etc etc.

    Citizens Advice also have a help to claim phone number so you can ask for help from them.

    https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/contact-us/contact-us/help-to-claim/

    If you're ESA doesn't include the Severe Disability Premium and you're 25 and over then your UC will be about £120/month more than what you receive for ESA.

  • poorsoul
    poorsoul Community member Posts: 68 Contributor

  • poorsoul
    poorsoul Community member Posts: 68 Contributor

    Thanks for the advice Poppy i have terrible anxiety about these things and always fear the worst will happen whenever i post in here its always when i get a letter about benefit assesment or change.I find it the best place to seek advice and help 🐺

  • Jimm_Scope
    Jimm_Scope Posts: 5,349 Online Community Team

    Hey @poorsoul, it certainly can be a worrying change, we do have some advice sections to try and help people with the migration to UC though: Moving to Universal Credit and transitional protection | Disability charity Scope UK

    Of course, if you are unsure of anything ask away here!

  • poorsoul
    poorsoul Community member Posts: 68 Contributor

    Another disaster i have been told i need to attend jobcentre for an appointment tomorrow and bring several items of id that i dont have i cant attend due to panic attacks and my depression is really bad i sleep most of the day and only get out of bed for the toilet cant face meeting strangers let alone a stressful interview at the jobcentre my worst fears have come true i wont qualify for universal credit and will probably end up dead on the streets in the cold before christmas i was on ESA WITH NO PRESSURE and have been forced in to applying for this UC everything has gone wrong for me very quickly

  • Kimmy87
    Kimmy87 Community member Posts: 1,157 Trailblazing
    edited November 4

    Put a note on your Journal saying you cannot attend in person due to panic attacks, and you do not have the requested ID.

    Ask for a telephone appointment instead.

  • poorsoul
    poorsoul Community member Posts: 68 Contributor

    thanks kimmy they phoned me and wanted me to come in i explained that i cant due to panic attacks they kept trying to get me to come in but i said no and eventually they agreed to send someone out for a home visit.They dont make things easy for you even though i was in the support group they try to force you into things you are not comfortable with.

  • poorsoul
    poorsoul Community member Posts: 68 Contributor

    Got a home visit organised they are coming next week i managed to get a Dr note saying im not fit for work which is for 6 months and can also be used for ID my bank are sending me out bank statements as well changed from online back to paper so i have more ID options which has been the main reason my claim has not been confirmed through lack of ID.I hope everything gets sorted after visit as i will be stressed out until my claim is confirmed.😕

  • OverlyAnxious
    OverlyAnxious Community member Posts: 3,352 Championing
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/938047#Comment_938047

    If that's an official fit note from the Doctor please be very careful with that.

    As you were previously in the Support Group for ESA, you do not need another work capability assessment. But if you give them a fit note, that triggers an automated process for UC to keep asking for fit notes until you complete a work capability assessment.

    If that does happen, it's not the end of the world. You will just have to explain it to them in the journal. Must admit I don't remember a fit note being suggested as an acceptable form of ID anyway. Was that specifically suggested to you by UC?

  • poorsoul
    poorsoul Community member Posts: 68 Contributor

    I have been struggling for ID so they suggested I get a Drs note I have limited options it should be a straightforward move on to UC as im already on ESA but things are never that easy and they need 3 items of ID from me or i wont qualify😥

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community member Posts: 61,416 Championing

    I'm not convinced that a Dr's note or a fit note would be accepted as ID. If you don't have ID they can do a biographical appointment. This means they will ask you questions that only you will know the answer to.. such as who you bank with, date of birth etc etc.

  • OverlyAnxious
    OverlyAnxious Community member Posts: 3,352 Championing
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/938524#Comment_938524

    Yes, I understand. I had the same problem with this part of the migration. I also needed the 3 forms of non-photo ID.

    I do live alone though so I had a few more options than you appear to.

    As you're having a home visit for this appointment, it would be interesting to know whether they can still conduct the biographical questions there, if the paperwork isn't enough. They may only have access to the answers to those questions when they're in the office with a computer.

    I'm sure you will qualify one way or another though. Do let us know how the ID appointment goes.

  • Nashota
    Nashota Community member Posts: 424 Empowering

    My son was given a biographical interview, he's always lived with me, doesn't have a passport, driving licence, not on the tenancy, but he passed the interview perfectly fine, in his case they asked about his benefits and bank I believe, in my case they asked for my previous address, when I started claiming ESA and what other benefits I was on (ESA SG at that point and PIP).

    You ought to be able to claim it, I hope the appointment goes well for you.

  • poorsoul
    poorsoul Community member Posts: 68 Contributor

    Had appointment gave the lady my bank statement Dr note and mum had birth certificate that was enough ID to qualify will now wait for UC to be paid into my bank in 5 weeks time.I am glad its all over but i would rather still be on ESA in the support group not happy with these changes just makes things harder in my opinion.

  • Kimmy87
    Kimmy87 Community member Posts: 1,157 Trailblazing

    Claiming UC can be slightly chaotic at the beginning, but things settle down and become a lot smoother.

    Personally I think it's much better managing the claim online, than having no option other than holding on the phone for ESA (usually for 60+ minutes).

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