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Support Group ESA suddenly got WCA form?

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1 year 4 months ago #281351 by alfwithair58
Support Group ESA suddenly got WCA form? was created by alfwithair58
Hi

Just renewed my membership for some further advice

My wife is 64 and gets ESA support Group and enhanced disability premium .
She's also in receipt of an on going award of both elements of PIP at the enhanced rate. (Renewed 2021)

Out of the blue on Saturday a WCA form arrived.
She hasn't been sent one for at least 10 years. Think the last time was when it transferred from IB to ESA. Why are DWP sending these out to claimants on full PIP and nearing retirement age when ESA would end anyway?

Naturally her anxiety levels have gone through the roof again and she is worried sick.

Another point I would like clarification on is;
After using the online benefit calculator, it would appear we would be better off by around £18 a week on UC, although not had a migration letter yet.

The question is;

Firstly, if we started a UC claim, obviously our ESA would end.
As there would be no open ESA claim, I would assume there would be no need to fill in the WCA form for a benefit we no longer claimed. Is this correct?
Secondly, would my wife have to be reassessed in order to get the disability premium of UC or just transferred due to being in the support group now.

Any advice would be gratefully appreciated. It is so difficult to get an appointment with an adviser or even speak to someone these days.

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1 year 4 months ago #281393 by Gary
Replied by Gary on topic Support Group ESA suddenly got WCA form?
Hi alfwithair58

I like your logic but it is not correct.

ESA is an indefinite award with scheduled reassessment so there will be no end date or award length on the Decision Letter, if you have the assessment report then the "prognosis" is used to set the date, failing that contact the DWP office dealing with your claim, the reassessment date will be recorded on your computer record. We do hear from members who have not been reassessed for over 10 years but that is not the norm.

As you have stated if you apply for UC your ESA will stop along with any premiums, you should go straight over to LCWRA but you will at some stage be sent a ........ WCA form to complete, applying for UC does not stop you being sent a WCA form to complete, esa it is called a ESA 50 form, for UC it is called a UC50 form, they are the same apart from the name.

I would advise you to seek advice before you make any changes, as once you apply for UC there is no going back.

Gary

Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems

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1 year 4 months ago #281409 by alfwithair58
Replied by alfwithair58 on topic Support Group ESA suddenly got WCA form?
Hi
Thanks for replying
I expected my logic was a bit of a long shot.
I knew that a reassessment would come at some point, even with a UC claim.
The idea was more of a delay tactic.
I though as only 14 months till she get her pensions, if we swapped the claim to UC, by the time they'd got round to sending a UC50 out and actually making a decision it would time to claim her pensions.

But wishful thinking.
Guess we'll have to go with the ESA50 and hope for the correct decision.

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1 year 4 months ago #281411 by Asbo
Replied by Asbo on topic Support Group ESA suddenly got WCA form?
Hi, I have had the same. I'm 64 with both PIP components and had an ESA. I know they do them every few years but I'm wondering if they've sent me one because a few weeks ago I received a form about Severe Disability Premiun saying I may be entitled but maybe they're seeing that as a change of circumstance, I just don't know, but it is horrendous and unnecessary

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1 year 4 months ago #281463 by Misty
Replied by Misty on topic Support Group ESA suddenly got WCA form?
Hi,
I've just received an ESA51 form to complete. I'm also almost 64, in support group and I get PIP both components.
My anxiety has also gone through the roof.
I'm wondering if the dwp are having a purge of us that are nearing pension age :)

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1 year 4 months ago #281465 by Misty
Replied by Misty on topic Support Group ESA suddenly got WCA form?
apologies the form is actually ESA50 not ESA51. Think I may be getting really stressed :(

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