I am on old style ESA, and PIP, can I additionally get UC?

NesianRose
NesianRose Online Community Member Posts: 2 Listener

Hello guys, I am severely sick, housebound and I need more support in this, most of my days are just spent trying to heal from my sickness to no avail, to a point of a cancer scare.

I get the old style ESA, with the severe disability premium, I also get PIP, I was wondering if I can additionally get Universal Credit also?

I must reiterate it's because I am very sick and I also support others with my benefit money so I have to delay a lot of treatments also.

Thank you ever so much

Comments

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 63,886 Championing

    No, you will not be able to claim UC at the same time as your Income Related ESA. If you claim UC then your Income Related ESA would end 2 weeks later.

    Those that are claiming Income Related ESA will soon receive a migration notice in the post asking them to claim UC. This letter is due to be sent out anytime from now up until December 2025. Once you receive that letter you will have 3 months to claim UC.

    If you claim UC before you receive the migration letter you will be financially worse off so it's important that you don't claim it before the letter.

  • Jimm_Scope
    Jimm_Scope Posts: 5,596 Scope Online Community Specialist

    Hi @NesianRose, as Poppy has mentioned you cannot get both at once. Have you received a migration letter at all? If not then I would wait for one as Poppy also recommends.

    If you are looking for additional financial support have you tried a benefits calculator to see what you may be entitled to? You can try the one at Turn2Us

  • vinci
    vinci Online Community Member Posts: 44 Connected

    i get uc and esa but i only had ir esa so i think it is possible

  • Kimmy87
    Kimmy87 Online Community Member Posts: 2,558 Championing

    UC replaces IR ESA.

    If you migrated and still got ESA, that means your ESA was both CB & IR.

    The CB converts to New Style ESA which is payable alongside UC.

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 63,886 Championing

    No you didn't, if you're not claiming both benefits it means that your ESA was part contributions based. That would have reverted to New style ESA but it's deducted in full from any UC entitlement.