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UC to NS-ESA 'commitment interview' - confused and anxious
- Times Table
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6 days 20 hours ago #308387 by Times Table
UC to NS-ESA 'commitment interview' - confused and anxious was created by Times Table
Having claimed UC as part of Managed Migration from ESA (I am in the support group), I have received the following notification:
"Your phone appointment to Agree a New Style Employment and Support Allowance Commitment
...
During your interview, we will look at your Universal Credit commitments to see if anything needs changing. This is because of your claim to New Style Employment and Support Allowance (NS ESA)."
The appointment is scheduled to last 30 minutes.
I am, perhaps naturally, quite shaken by this, and anxious about it. I wonder if anyone has any knowledge or experience which might help with the following questions:
1. Given that I have been in the support group for many years as a result of both physical and mental health issues, what is going to be discussed for 30 mins? Should I be ready for some kind of telephone health assessment?
2. I checked back through my paperwork and the last reference to me being on contribution-based ESA was over 10 years ago. Since then I have been on IR-ESA. Does it then seem right that I am being shifted to New Style ESA, rather than UC?
3. My Housing Benefit claim has been terminated as a result of my claiming UC. If I end up on NS-ESA, will I have to reclaim HB for housing costs?
4. Should I clarify in my journal that I am in the support group? And will this make any difference to what benefit I end up on?
and finally: is there any transitional protection as part of NS-ESA?
Thanks in advance.
"Your phone appointment to Agree a New Style Employment and Support Allowance Commitment
...
During your interview, we will look at your Universal Credit commitments to see if anything needs changing. This is because of your claim to New Style Employment and Support Allowance (NS ESA)."
The appointment is scheduled to last 30 minutes.
I am, perhaps naturally, quite shaken by this, and anxious about it. I wonder if anyone has any knowledge or experience which might help with the following questions:
1. Given that I have been in the support group for many years as a result of both physical and mental health issues, what is going to be discussed for 30 mins? Should I be ready for some kind of telephone health assessment?
2. I checked back through my paperwork and the last reference to me being on contribution-based ESA was over 10 years ago. Since then I have been on IR-ESA. Does it then seem right that I am being shifted to New Style ESA, rather than UC?
3. My Housing Benefit claim has been terminated as a result of my claiming UC. If I end up on NS-ESA, will I have to reclaim HB for housing costs?
4. Should I clarify in my journal that I am in the support group? And will this make any difference to what benefit I end up on?
and finally: is there any transitional protection as part of NS-ESA?
Thanks in advance.
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- latetrain
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6 days 15 hours ago #308404 by latetrain
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Replied by latetrain on topic UC to NS-ESA 'commitment interview' - confused and anxious
Hi Times Table
We cannot answer your question as we do not have all the facts.
I'm afraid this is coming up for a lot of people at the point of migration, because claimants are now being told their contribution-based ESA is being moved to NS-ESA during the migration process.
Don't worry too much about the claimant commitment meeting. If you are in the support group then your claimant commitment should simply involve agreeing to report changes in your circumstances, the same as it did for your UC. You can ask for reasonable adjustments to be made, such as the interview to be over the phone (see page 26 here
www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/?dlp=68951904881b5
The letters are fairly generic - you should not be asked to provide a fit note, look for work or prepare for work because you are in the support group.
The other thing you need to know is that NS-ESA will be paid separately from UC. NS-ESA is paid fortnightly then the monthly equivalent of it is deducted from your monthly UC payments.
We would advise you to seek specialist advice from your local Welfare Rights Organisation: advicelocal.uk where they can take all your circumstances into consideration when giving you advice.
Gary
We cannot answer your question as we do not have all the facts.
I'm afraid this is coming up for a lot of people at the point of migration, because claimants are now being told their contribution-based ESA is being moved to NS-ESA during the migration process.
Don't worry too much about the claimant commitment meeting. If you are in the support group then your claimant commitment should simply involve agreeing to report changes in your circumstances, the same as it did for your UC. You can ask for reasonable adjustments to be made, such as the interview to be over the phone (see page 26 here
www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/?dlp=68951904881b5
The letters are fairly generic - you should not be asked to provide a fit note, look for work or prepare for work because you are in the support group.
The other thing you need to know is that NS-ESA will be paid separately from UC. NS-ESA is paid fortnightly then the monthly equivalent of it is deducted from your monthly UC payments.
We would advise you to seek specialist advice from your local Welfare Rights Organisation: advicelocal.uk where they can take all your circumstances into consideration when giving you advice.
Gary
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
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- Times Table
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3 days 15 hours ago #308459 by Times Table
Replied by Times Table on topic UC to NS-ESA 'commitment interview' - confused and anxious
Many thanks, Gary. A quick follow up: is there any way by which I can find out from my DWP paperwork (I have kept everything) whether I am currently on income related and/or contributory ESA? Beyond the aformentioned notification, received 10 years ago, that I had moved to IR-ESA because my 365 days of entitlement to CB-ESA had by then expired, I can find no reference to either.
Thanks again in advance.
Thanks again in advance.
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- latetrain
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2 days 18 hours ago #308473 by latetrain
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Replied by latetrain on topic UC to NS-ESA 'commitment interview' - confused and anxious
Hi Times Table
It's hard to answer your query as we do not have all the facts
The first question to ask, were you placed in the support group, if you were then your CB-ESA would have been indefinite until you were next reassessed.
If you look on your annual benefit up date letter, on page 4 it usually gives you a breakdown on how they have worked out your ESA entitlement, you have to read the wording carefully to find out if you are in IR-ESA, CB-ESA or both.
Gary
It's hard to answer your query as we do not have all the facts
The first question to ask, were you placed in the support group, if you were then your CB-ESA would have been indefinite until you were next reassessed.
If you look on your annual benefit up date letter, on page 4 it usually gives you a breakdown on how they have worked out your ESA entitlement, you have to read the wording carefully to find out if you are in IR-ESA, CB-ESA or both.
Gary
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
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- Times Table
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2 days 16 hours ago #308484 by Times Table
Replied by Times Table on topic UC to NS-ESA 'commitment interview' - confused and anxious
Thanks again Gary. Yes, I have been in the support group for some years, and I note what you say about the fact that this means that I should then qualify for CB-ESA. However, I looked through all my historical and recent ESA paperwork today, and for almost all of the time (including whilst I have been in the support group), my payment breakdowns seem to show that all of my ESA has been comprised of the income-related component.
There is a reference to a short period in which I was moved onto CB-ESA whilst the level of my IR-ESA was being reassessed due to a change in my level of savings. This period soon ended, though, and my payment breakdowns show my ESA as reverting to being fully comprised of the IR component after that.
Is it the case that, if I have been on CB-ESA at any time of my ESA claim (even for just a short period), then this means I should be moved to NS-ESA?
And has it been wrong that, even whilst I have been in the support group, for most of the time my ESA seems to have been made up entirely of the IR component?
Thanks in advance again.
There is a reference to a short period in which I was moved onto CB-ESA whilst the level of my IR-ESA was being reassessed due to a change in my level of savings. This period soon ended, though, and my payment breakdowns show my ESA as reverting to being fully comprised of the IR component after that.
Is it the case that, if I have been on CB-ESA at any time of my ESA claim (even for just a short period), then this means I should be moved to NS-ESA?
And has it been wrong that, even whilst I have been in the support group, for most of the time my ESA seems to have been made up entirely of the IR component?
Thanks in advance again.
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- latetrain
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2 days 16 hours ago #308486 by latetrain
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Replied by latetrain on topic UC to NS-ESA 'commitment interview' - confused and anxious
Hi Times Table
Without seeing your paperwork I would say that you were in receipt of both IR-ESA and CB-ESA, I have. one across that scenario so many times, it is very hard to tell from the paperwork supplied by DWP, I even struggle and I know what I am looking for.
For claimants in receipt of both IR-ESA and CB-ESA, disability premiums are paid via IR-ESA such as EDP and SDP.
Gary
Without seeing your paperwork I would say that you were in receipt of both IR-ESA and CB-ESA, I have. one across that scenario so many times, it is very hard to tell from the paperwork supplied by DWP, I even struggle and I know what I am looking for.
For claimants in receipt of both IR-ESA and CB-ESA, disability premiums are paid via IR-ESA such as EDP and SDP.
Gary
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
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