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Moving to New Style ESA
- Sasha
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16 hours 44 minutes ago #311064 by Sasha
Moving to New Style ESA was created by Sasha
I am in the Support Group and am claiming Contributions Based ESA. I am single, currently living with relatives (though won’t be able to for much longer) and my savings are slightly too high for means tested benefits. I believe (from reading information on this website) that I will be switched to New Style ESA in a few days. I also believe, that because I am in the ESA Support Group, I will automatically be classed as having LCWRA.
I know that under current rules, if my savings were to drop below £16 000, I would be allowed to top up with the health element of UC, without any reassessment and that was previously also the case with topping up with IR ESA.
However, some information on your website seems to indicate that if my savings fall below this level after April 2026 (which will be the case), I will be classed as a new claimant (even though I’ve been claiming out of work disability benefits continuously for almost 3 decades and have already been found to have LCWRA). This means that I will only receive the new massively reduced rate of UC health element.
Is this true? It seems incredibly unfair, especially when claimants in other situations have been given transitional protection?
I know that under current rules, if my savings were to drop below £16 000, I would be allowed to top up with the health element of UC, without any reassessment and that was previously also the case with topping up with IR ESA.
However, some information on your website seems to indicate that if my savings fall below this level after April 2026 (which will be the case), I will be classed as a new claimant (even though I’ve been claiming out of work disability benefits continuously for almost 3 decades and have already been found to have LCWRA). This means that I will only receive the new massively reduced rate of UC health element.
Is this true? It seems incredibly unfair, especially when claimants in other situations have been given transitional protection?
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- latetrain
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5 hours 11 minutes ago #311085 by latetrain
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Replied by latetrain on topic Moving to New Style ESA
Hi Sasha
It is a bit more complicated, initially you will automatically move over to NS ESA which is the same as CB ESA, so nothing should change.
Once your savings go below £16k the you would be eligible to claim UC, this is where it gets complicated, from April 2026, LCWRA comes in two rates, 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
It is a bit more complicated, initially you will automatically move over to NS ESA which is the same as CB ESA, so nothing should change.
Once your savings go below £16k the you would be eligible to claim UC, this is where it gets complicated, from April 2026, LCWRA comes in two rates, 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
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