- Posts: 3
- Forum
- Members forums
- ESA, PIP, UC and DLA Queries and Results
- Migrated from irESA to UC but letter received about cbESA change to NewStyle ESA
× Members
Migrated from irESA to UC but letter received about cbESA change to NewStyle ESA
- tlondon
- Topic Author
- Offline
Less More
3 days 15 hours ago #304967 by tlondon
Migrated from irESA to UC but letter received about cbESA change to NewStyle ESA was created by tlondon
I have migrated from ESA Support group to UC and had the first payment, I was not aware that my ESA was made up of both Contribution and Income based ESA but after my final ESA payment 2 weeks after applying for UC which I though would be the last ESA payment, I received another ESA payment 2 weeks later which was less than usual which I was not expecting, which I now realise is the CB ESA which does not stop. There was a deduction on my UC statement which is the CB ESA.
Letter has just been received advising that my CB ESA will change to New Style ESA and that I will be contacted to book an appointment which I must attend with a work coach from my local job centre either by phone or face to face. There will be a 'claimant commitment' which I must accept and at the appointment I have to:
Explain how your illness or disability affects your ability to work, and agree to tell us if circumstances change.
I am very stressed about this, is this just standard procedure to accept the claimant commitment or will they be asking more questions about my medical problems, any advice much appreciated.
Letter has just been received advising that my CB ESA will change to New Style ESA and that I will be contacted to book an appointment which I must attend with a work coach from my local job centre either by phone or face to face. There will be a 'claimant commitment' which I must accept and at the appointment I have to:
Explain how your illness or disability affects your ability to work, and agree to tell us if circumstances change.
I am very stressed about this, is this just standard procedure to accept the claimant commitment or will they be asking more questions about my medical problems, any advice much appreciated.
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- David
- Away
Less More
- Posts: 2268
2 days 2 hours ago #305023 by David
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Replied by David on topic Migrated from irESA to UC but letter received about cbESA change to NewStyle ESA
Hi tlondon
As you are in the Support Group you can insist on a phone interview. This should last about 10 minutes and you just agree to accept the basic Claimant Commitment which only involves informing the DWP of a change of circumstances.
You are not obliged to talk at all about your health. If the Work Coach manoeuvres onto that subject you can politely so " no comment ". You cannot be sanctioned in the Support Group.
Let us know how you got on.
David
David
As you are in the Support Group you can insist on a phone interview. This should last about 10 minutes and you just agree to accept the basic Claimant Commitment which only involves informing the DWP of a change of circumstances.
You are not obliged to talk at all about your health. If the Work Coach manoeuvres onto that subject you can politely so " no comment ". You cannot be sanctioned in the Support Group.
Let us know how you got on.
David
David
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
The following user(s) said Thank You: soulgal
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- roadrunner
- Offline
Less More
- Posts: 50
1 day 15 hours ago #305042 by roadrunner
Replied by roadrunner on topic Migrated from irESA to UC but letter received about cbESA change to NewStyle ESA
Hi I am exactly in this position. I received same letter. I did my migration in march. last week got a telephone call which i missed but a voicemail was left to say I have a telephone appointment. It was about 9 days notice. I received a letter next day confirming the appointment and it will be about 30 mins, it gave the name of the person basically saying i need to accept the claimant commitment to continue the new style esa and a letter will be sent out to me telling me if i will still get the new style esa as a result. These letters are standard template ones for all so don't be alarmed ny them, i.e. support, wrag, new claims get the same. The letters I received and the one you received do not mention any group you are in, do they?.
I have my telephone appointment this week and I will let you know here exactly what they asked as I am in the support group who has migrated to uc and getting new style esa. By the way I have had 4 of these new style payments so they have not stopped. Also it was over a month when they decided to get in touch from the first letter saying i needed to accept a claimant commitment. I even rang up dwp esa worried and was told i did not need a claimant commitment on esa as the one i did originally carried over. I accepted that answer as I did not hear from them when others on here were getting their appointments really quick. But then I heard. I have lost faith in dwp staff, despite being friendly they are sometimes incapable of listening to the actual problem and just jump to an answer assuming that its something they know about already because they are under pressure and simply quick fire out answers without addressing the actual issue of the claimant. Maybe they got call targets to meet. The pressure is peaking now as the migrations are in full swing.
I have my telephone appointment this week and I will let you know here exactly what they asked as I am in the support group who has migrated to uc and getting new style esa. By the way I have had 4 of these new style payments so they have not stopped. Also it was over a month when they decided to get in touch from the first letter saying i needed to accept a claimant commitment. I even rang up dwp esa worried and was told i did not need a claimant commitment on esa as the one i did originally carried over. I accepted that answer as I did not hear from them when others on here were getting their appointments really quick. But then I heard. I have lost faith in dwp staff, despite being friendly they are sometimes incapable of listening to the actual problem and just jump to an answer assuming that its something they know about already because they are under pressure and simply quick fire out answers without addressing the actual issue of the claimant. Maybe they got call targets to meet. The pressure is peaking now as the migrations are in full swing.
The following user(s) said Thank You: David
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- tlondon
- Topic Author
- Offline
Less More
- Posts: 3
17 hours 32 minutes ago #305059 by tlondon
Replied by tlondon on topic Migrated from irESA to UC but letter received about cbESA change to NewStyle ESA
Thank you David for the information, I did phone the 0800 number on the ESA letter I received last week as I wanted to be sure they had my up to date phone number in case they try to phone me. It was horrendous... I was on hold for 2hrs and 15mins! The person I spoke to was helpful but could not really tell me anything about the appointment (if it will be phone or face to face) but my contact details were all up to date which was a relief.
As you mentioned it is just a formality to accept the claimant commitment as I am in Support group so hopefully I will get a phone appointment.
Most of the CAB help to claim staff are not aware of what happens if you migrate from combined IR and CB ESA over to UC and it was a complete surprise to me when I received the letter about the up and coming appointment, but I understand now but it has been stressful.
As you mentioned it is just a formality to accept the claimant commitment as I am in Support group so hopefully I will get a phone appointment.
Most of the CAB help to claim staff are not aware of what happens if you migrate from combined IR and CB ESA over to UC and it was a complete surprise to me when I received the letter about the up and coming appointment, but I understand now but it has been stressful.
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- tlondon
- Topic Author
- Offline
Less More
- Posts: 3
17 hours 9 minutes ago #305060 by tlondon
Replied by tlondon on topic Migrated from irESA to UC but letter received about cbESA change to NewStyle ESA
Hi roadrunner
I read your reply and it has really put my mind at rest!
The letter I received does not mention support group.
As you mentioned it appears to be a standard letter.
It starts with 'Your payments are changing' and your CB ESA will change to New Style ESA from (date)
We will contact you to book an appointment which you must attend. This will be with a work coach from your local job centre and may take place over the telephone or face to face. Your work coach will explain what you need to do to complete your New Style ESA claim. They will create an agreement with you called a Claimant commitment. You must accept your Claimant commitment to complete your claim.
At the appointment we will ask you to:
Explain how your illness or disability affects your ability to work
Agree to tell us if your circumstances change.
I was concerned that they did not have my up to date phone number so decided to call them...I was on hold for 2hrs 15mins!
The person I spoke to was polite but could not give me any more info about the appointment.
Please do let me know how you get on and I wish you all the best.
I read your reply and it has really put my mind at rest!
The letter I received does not mention support group.
As you mentioned it appears to be a standard letter.
It starts with 'Your payments are changing' and your CB ESA will change to New Style ESA from (date)
We will contact you to book an appointment which you must attend. This will be with a work coach from your local job centre and may take place over the telephone or face to face. Your work coach will explain what you need to do to complete your New Style ESA claim. They will create an agreement with you called a Claimant commitment. You must accept your Claimant commitment to complete your claim.
At the appointment we will ask you to:
Explain how your illness or disability affects your ability to work
Agree to tell us if your circumstances change.
I was concerned that they did not have my up to date phone number so decided to call them...I was on hold for 2hrs 15mins!
The person I spoke to was polite but could not give me any more info about the appointment.
Please do let me know how you get on and I wish you all the best.
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- xxxxxx
- Away
Less More
- Posts: 10
15 hours 42 minutes ago #305065 by xxxxxx
Replied by xxxxxx on topic Migrated from irESA to UC but letter received about cbESA change to NewStyle ESA
It is a standard letter. I had the same two days ago, You do not have to explain anything as you are already in the support group. I believe "regulation 19" applies here. The only commitment you need to agree to is to report any changes. Do not be drawn into any conversations.
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
Moderators: Gordon, latetrain, BIS, Catherine, Wendy, Kelly, greekqueen, peter, Katherine, Super User, Chris, David