I haven't been able to find this clearly stated anywhere. Everything in the news seems to refer to IB and not mention anything else, but a local welfare advisor seemed to think IS would be affected too.
Is Income Support being changed to ESA?
It is what I was living on for years before I even knew about DLA. I didn't actually apply for it, it was just what I was given eventually after being signed off permanently for ill health. I never applied for IB.
Not asking just for myself. I mentioned this to a couple of friends and they'd not heard anything either. Is this just a scary rumour?
I think you're referring to Income Support with the 'disability premium'. Which in effect the DWP call Incapacity Benefit except it differs in many ways. Some people who never paid enough NI contributions were put on Income Support with the disability premium rather than Incapacity Benefit.
If so, the answer to your question is yes. If you're on IS with the DP than you will be migrated across to ESA when you're called upon.