Please help - P45 informing me my new style ESA ‘ceased’ last week

I’m going out of my mind as this morning a p45 for
my ESA claim arrived with no warning and no letter of explanation.

When I migrated to the UC last year I was told I was also being moved to the new style ESA. I completed a new ESA commitment meeting by phone and was told that £600 and something pounds would be deducted from my UC as I was now going to be getting the new ESA payments.

I’ve tried calling DWP on the number mentioned on the letter they sent me last May to find out why I’ve got a P45 and what to do next but I can’t get through.. I keep calling, go through the automated verification process and each time after about 20 minutes, the line cuts out. I’ve called 4 times already as it’s the same thing each time.

I’ve left 2 messages in my UC journal as don’t know what else to do and presumably, I’m hoping that if they are no longer going to pay me my ESA, my UC should increase as they were deducting those payments.

In my UC account it says if I stop getting a benefit (eg ESA) to tell the people I claim it from to update their records that I get UC but how do I do that if they don’t pick up? And surely they’re already aware as it was the the ESA people that told me I was moving to UC and would get the new ESA payment in my last comes from them last year?!

On the P45 it tells me to let DWP if there’s a change to my income, but they’re the ones that have just told me my allowance has ceased. So am I supposed to call and tell them too?!

Really panicking as I am due 2 more ESA payments before my next UC payment next month and have no clue how I’ll manage without them.

Please can somebody help. Has this happened to anyone else? Is it a mistake?

Different circumstances but I have just become a State Pensioner (avoiding UC migration) and received a P45 this week as obviously my income related ESA has stopped.

Gaddy

***UPDATE***

I tried calling DWP all afternoon on Friday but calls kept cutting out after 15-20 minutes.

This morning I tried again and the same thing happened but at shorter intervals - got only so far through the call (ave around 1-2 mins before the line went silent for another minute or two and it would cut all together). BUT on the 3rd attempt I got through to a lovely lady called Joanna.

She told me the P45 was generated in error and was able to confirm my NEW style ESA has not ceased and that I would receive my next payment this Wednesday (although oddly I will come as 2 separate payments £260 something and £20 something - she wasn't sure why).

I burst into tears on hearing that and she apologised many times for for the error and worry it had caused.

She said I could safely ignore the P45.

She also told me I am not the first claimant to have had this happen so if you have a similar experience, definitely call them. And don't be put off by their telephone system (she said they've been having some issues).

Feeling very relieved and hope this post helps someone else.

Thanks David, I've just spoken to DWP and they confirmed the P45 was generated in error. Have just posted an updated to this thread in the hopes it helps someone else.