ESA Re-assessment

Hi synapse321

Yes they are correct .... all legacy benefit claimants will have to apply for UC.

DWP confirms rollout of ‘managed migration’ of legacy benefit claimants to universal credit to begin in Bolton and Medway.

The need to act in claiming universal credit within 3 months 'from the date the letter was sent out'

Gary

Hi synapse321

All the benefits you have mentioned are legacy means tested benefits whereas CB ESA is a contribution based legacy benefit which has now been replaced by NS ESA. New Style ESA is a contribution based benefit, the rules are the same as CB ESA.

Gary

synapse321

Legacy ESA is a single benefit with two qualifying criteria, one based on the claimant's NI Contribution history and the other based on their financial situation.

Claimants can be entitled to

- only ESA(CB) because they met the NIC requirements but are not entitled to ESA(IR) because their household earns too much or has too much in savings, or

- only ESA(IR) because they did not meet the NIC requirement, or

- both ESA(IR) and ESA(CB)

Claimants receiving ESA(IR) will at some time be invited to claim Universal Credit, at this time their ESA(CB) will be converted to New Style ESA.

Claimants receiving only ESA(CB) will not be invited to claim UC and at this time it appears they will also not be converted to NS ESA, however, this may change.

My understanding is, If at some point a claimant receiving only ESA(CB) becomes entitled to receive ESA(IR) then this should still only be an amendment to their existing ESA claim, however, the DWP may use this as an opportunity to invite them to claim UC.

Gordon