Advice needed re. ESA award re-assessment / UC

Hi,

I am in receipt of ESA (IR), in Support Group, with a disability premium and was previously migrated from income support/incapacity benefit. My health circumstances are long-term. Also receive PIP, daily living and mobility components both higher rate.

My current ESA award is for 18 months (awarded sept.2018). The area I live in has moved over to universal credit, I think this applies tor everyone now, including existing claimants. From memory, when migrated from incapacity claim to ESA the form was sent out a bit earlier.
My health hasn't been too good recently and I'm concerned about fitness to get form completed. I am worried about this every time mail is delivered, especially if limited to bed and need family to bring post through to me.

Please could you give me some advice on when I am likely to receive the form to apply for universal credit? How long is given to complete and return form? Is there anything that I need to prepare in order to apply? Also, are any premiums from ESA carried over to UC?

Thanks for your help, it is greatly appreciated.

Wishing everyone a peaceful Christmas and new year.

Hi,

Thanks for your advice. I'm not in the trial area. I read that people who have had a change in circumstances will have to claim universal credit. Would a change of address be considered a change of circumstances if everything else remained the same (health, etc.)?
My housing situation is looking unstable. Any change of address would be to have a place of residence. I'm not in receipt of housing benefit as living in late parent's house.
Also, if I had to move onto universal credit at this stage would I be eligible for Managed migration and Transitional Protection?

Regarding ESA re-assessment date eg. March: would the form be sent out four weeks earlier eg. end of January/ early February, with March as return date? (Thinking might need to organise dates, arrange help).

Thanks again for your help.

Gordon wrote: QWERTY

No, you need to have to make a new claim for one of the benefits that come under HB, so if you have to move and need to make a new claim for HB and this would only be available through UC unless you are in receipt of the Severe Disability Premium in which case you are currently banned from claiming UC.

A transfer to UC as the result of a Change is not covered by the Transitional Protection.

Gordon

Hi,

Re the current ban on claiming UC if in receipt of the Severe Disability Premium:

In the event of having to move and needing to make a new claim for HB, would the current ban apply If Severe Disability Premium is currently qualified for/awarded, but is not received because Carer's Allowance is paid?

Thanks.