- Posts: 19
- Forum
- Members forums
- ESA, PIP, UC and DLA Queries and Results
- UC to NS-ESA 'commitment interview' - confused and anxious
× Members
UC to NS-ESA 'commitment interview' - confused and anxious
- Times Table
- Topic Author
- Offline
Less More
1 day 21 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.
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- latetrain
- Offline
Less More
- Posts: 8894
1 day 16 hours ago #308404 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
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
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
Moderators: Gordon, latetrain, BIS, Catherine, Chris, David, Angel