Told to begin a UC Claim after ESA(IR) reinstatement request

My family member was on ESA(IR) until they received an inheritance (A couple of years ago) which drove their savings above £16,000. Now, their bank balance is below £6,000 so I have requested the DWP look at the ESA Claim again. The ESA claim was in the support group, i.e. not required to look for work.

I received a phone call from the DWP today where the lady calling said I would need to apply for UC for my family member.

My questions are two-fold.

1) Will we have to go through the whole Work Capability thing again, or will the previous ESA Claim be sufficient evidence?

2) Is there a forum on B&W for UC claimants, or is it only for ESA, PIP and DLA?

Thanks

Hi Mick

We have had a few inquiries similar to your this week, unfortunately the answer is the same. When your IR ESA stops when you go over the savings threshold, you have to start the claim from the start.

Unfortunately IR ESA and CB ESA is no longer available to new claimants. Those who used to claim IR ESA will now have to apply for UC, to get the LCWRA element they will have to provide a 'fit note', they will then receive a Work Capability Assessment (WCA) form called a UC50 which is the same as the legagcy benefit form ESA50.

If you kept a copy of the original application then you can use that as a template for the new form.

In answer to your second question there is a TAB at the top named UC, when you click on it, it will give you details of claiming the WCA, if you want information about claiming UC then the Gov web site has details; www.gov.uk/universal-credit/how-to-claim or Citizen Advice www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/unive...or-universal-credit/ , there are others if you look on the net.

Gary