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Contributions Based ESA to UC

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1 year 6 months ago #279577 by sjwcr
Contributions Based ESA to UC was created by sjwcr
Hello,, I would be grateful for some help. Due to an increase in my savings a few years ago, I went from Income based ESA to Contributions based Only, and lost Housing Benefit. My savings are now back under the £16000. I had some advice from here to contact my local CAB who gave me the advice that I should indeed claim for UC.

The benefits I currently receive are PIP - Enhanced for both sections, and CB ESA in the Support Group.

My partner receives Carers allowance for caring for me.

I have now made an online account to apply for UC, but I have a couple of questions if that is ok.

As I am currently receiving ESA in the Support group, do my details of my health problems carry over or do I have to start from fresh and go through everything again on the UC form? I think I had some hope that they would get my info from my current records, due too being in the support group.

Does UC affect my pip payments?

What is New Style ESA and is it something I need to apply for?

Will my partner stop receiving carers allowance?

Don't ask me why, but I thought switching over would be easy....I must've been dreaming!

Thanks so much for any advice
Sj

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1 year 6 months ago #279597 by Gary
Replied by Gary on topic Contributions Based ESA to UC
Hi sjwcr

You raise some very good questions

1) Your PIP award does not affect a UC claim

2) you can still keep your CB ESA when you apply for UC, the income from your CB ESA will be deducted £ for £ from the UC award, as you are in the support group, when you apply for UC you should get the LCWRA element automatically providing you do not cancel your ESA claim.

3) your partner can still receive CA, similar to CB ESA the amount will be deducted £ for £ but you will get an additional element £185.86 added to your UC award, so you will be £185.86 pm better off

4) NS ESA is exactly the same as CB ESA, they are both contribution based benefits, do not ask me why the Government decided to call it NS ESA, I can only think it was to confuse everyone.

I would advise you to use a benefit calculator to check your entitlements; gov.uk/benefits-calculators

Gary
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
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1 year 5 months ago #280331 by sjwcr
Replied by sjwcr on topic Contributions Based ESA to UC
Hi Sorry to ask questions again, but I am freaking out a bit. I have filled out the online forms for UC and started doing alll the tasks that it has asked me. Now it says I have to go to the job centre and I am terrified. I wasn't expecting this as I am in the Support Group for ESA.
I am worried I have filled the form in or done something wrong. Can anyone advise or help?
Thank you
Sj

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1 year 5 months ago #280338 by BIS
Replied by BIS on topic Contributions Based ESA to UC
Hi sjwcr

I doubt that you have filled in anything wrong - but the system hasn't picked up that you are already in the ESA support group. Put a message on your journal and see what happens.

BIS
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1 year 5 months ago #280341 by sjwcr
Replied by sjwcr on topic Contributions Based ESA to UC
Hi Bis and thank you.

Update: I put a message in my journal and got a reply saying

"When you open a Universal Credit claim you need to attend the First Commitments meeting so that the claim can proceed. The meeting is to discuss your circumstances and we can discuss the health journey with you. "

What on earth is a health journey :( I have never heard of it before. Does anybody know what it involves? I rarely leave the house. Thankfully the office is just round the corner from me, but I am so wary of the DWP.

Sj

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1 year 5 months ago #280349 by Gordon
Replied by Gordon on topic Contributions Based ESA to UC
sjwcr

The DWP have always started an illness benefit claim on the basis that the claimant can recover and return to work full-time, your health journey is just the current label applied to this. I wouldn't pay too much attention to it.

However, you will need to agree and sign a Claimant Commitment, this is a legal requirement for you to receive UC, you can tailor the contents to your capabilities and your being in the Support Group (the term LCWRA is used for UC) should be taken into account. It may be no more than you agreeing to check your Journal on a regular basis.

Gordon
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