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ESA to UC Migration - been told I need have an appointment with work coach

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1 week 6 days ago #298418 by Mumbo_Jumbo
I have done the online ESA to UC migration form. I have since received a letter in the post saying 'Your contribution-based ESA will change to New Style ESA' and that they will contact me to book an appointment with a work coach at my local job centre. Which I must attend. The goal being to create a 'Claimant Commitment'.

As far as I was aware, I was on Income-related ESA, not contribution-based. I have letter confirming I was on Income-related dated two years ago, with no mention of contribution-based. After doing some research, I found a possible explanation. It could be down to the fact I was around 16 when i was first placed on benefits (this was pre-ESA, back then it was Income support and SDA, I think) and that it's possible some component of it was contribution-based due to the rules for young people back then. Can anyone confirm this might be a possibility?

With regards to the creation of a 'Claimant Commitment', I found this paragraph on page 21 in the B&W PDF:

If you were in the support group for ESA and therefore moving to the LCWRA element of
Universal Credit, you will be placed in the ‘No work-related requirements’ group and your
claimant commitment will be limited to simply agreeing you will report changes of
circumstances. You may be able to agree it by phone or online rather than having to go to a
Jobcentre.


I already agreed to a Claimant Commitment for reporting any changes when doing the online form. But then there's also this on the same page in the PDF:

If you transfer to UC from ESA that includes the support component, then you will
be able to claim UC without having to satisfy any work-seeking activity and will be
placed in the No work-related requirements group. You may still be required to
undertake occasional telephone or face-to--face interviews with your Work Coach
to check on your circumstances


The way that reads to me, is that regardless of whether I am just IR-based ESA or have a contribution-based as well, I could still be required to have an appointment and that this is what the letter is for?

I'd greatly appreciate if anyone could clarify this for me.

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1 week 6 days ago #298420 by David
Hi Mumbo_Jumbo,

Everyone has to agree a Claimant Commitment for New Style ESA. This however can be done over the phone and if you are in the Support Group all the Claimant Commitment says is that you agree to keep the DWP informed of changes of circumstances.

David

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1 week 6 days ago #298421 by Mumbo_Jumbo
Thanks David. I'm a bit confused as I did accept the 'Report any changes immediately' claimant commitment when doing the migration. Which makes me wonder if this other appointment is for something else?

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1 week 6 days ago #298426 by Gary
Hi Mumbo_Jumbo

The conditions for claiming Universal Credit are set out in a "claimant commitment" that most people will have to accept at the beginning of their claim. If you are part of a couple, you will each have a separate claimant commitment that may be different from each other's.

People who may not need to accept a commitment include those who lack capacity, those who have exceptional circumstances  where it would be unreasonable to expect them to agree a commitment (this is decided by the work coach on a case by case basis), or, From 15 February 2022 people with a terminal illness and less than 6 months to live were also excluded, and from 4 April 2023 this was extended to 12 months.

There are 4 conditionality groups:

* Group 1. No work related requirements
* Group 2. Work-focused interview requirement
* Group 3. Work preparation requirement
* Group 4. All work-related requirements

www.entitledto.co.uk/help/Claimant-commitment-Universal-Credit

Gary

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1 week 5 days ago #298462 by Mumbo_Jumbo
Thanks Gary,

I had accepted the claimant commitment when doing my form. This extra letter for an additional claimant commitment via phone or in person is what is confusing me. My friend didn't have to do a phone/in person appointment. She just did the online one when filling in the form.

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1 week 4 days ago #298514 by Gary
Hi Mumbo_Jumbo

I have not come across request for an additional claimant commitment.

Let us know how you get on, the information will be useful for fellow members.

Gary

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