Confusion Between ESA and UC

Hi all, I’m new here, and I apologize if this has been asked before—I’m feeling quite overwhelmed and couldn’t find clear guidance.

I’ve been receiving Universal Credit since April 2025. After an assessment in September (backdated to July 2025), I was placed on LCWRA. I had heard that I might be eligible for ESA due to my work history (I worked until August 2023), and that that is a better benefit to be on in terms of the type of National Insurance credits received, so I applied for ESA on 16 December 2025 (backdated to 16 September). I had a commitment meeting on 31 December. Today, I received a letter (dated 31 December) saying I’m entitled to New Style ESA from 16 September, at £92.05 per week. However, I’ve never actually received any payments from ESA.

Meanwhile, Universal Credit started deducting £398.88 each month since December, based on the fact they saw a note that I was entitled to ESA. Now they’re also reclaiming amounts backdated to 16 September, so I’ve had more deductions. When I contact UC, they say they can see that I have not been paid but I must talk to ESA. When I contact ESA, they say someone would ring me back, but I haven’t heard back at all.

I have a few questions:

1. Given this confusion, is it even worth continuing with ESA or should I cancel it and remain solely on Universal Credit?

2. Since I’m on LCWRA under UC, should I aim to be placed in ESA’s support group instead of just the contribution-based rate? I had my UC50 LCWRA assessment in September, so I’m wondering if ESA will put me through another assessment. I’m not sure I want to go through that again. In terms of National Insurance credits, does the amount I receive from ESA matter, or can I remain on £92.05 and still receive LCWRA from Universal Credit? Is it necessary to be in the ESA support group? I know there’s a one-year limit if I am not in the support group, but I’m just so overwhelmed by all this. In December, I was told during the ESA commitment meeting that I wouldn’t need another health assessment, yet ESA is now asking for sick notes in this letter I have just received dated 31 December, and they don’t seem to acknowledge I’m on LCWRA with UC. It feels like the two systems don’t talk to each other.

So sorry for the ramble - I am not sure I have been able to explain my concerns clearly. Thank you so much in advance for any advice/direction!

Hi David,

Firstly, apologies for not acknowledging your reply sooner, and a huge thank you for taking the time to respond and explain everything so clearly.

After your reply, I made several calls to ESA but kept getting nowhere. They repeatedly asked me for sick notes covering the entire claim period, and I struggled to get them to understand that I was already on UC LCWRA and therefore should automatically be placed into the ESA Support Group. They said they a case manager would contact me but I did not hear back. Eventually I became so overwhelmed and frustrated by the whole situation that I more or less gave up trying to sort it out.

Then at the end of last month I finally received a call from them explaining that they had been waiting for sick notes from the date of claim and that this was the reason no payments had been issued. They have now sorted out my record and moved me into the Support Group.

The person I spoke to also explained that the system issue seems to arise because it is usually the other way around — people tend to apply for ESA first and then UC afterwards — so the flow of information about the Support Group works in that direction, but not necessarily from UC to ESA.

Thank you again for your reassurance and advice — it genuinely helped me understand what was going on and encouraged me not to close the ESA claim.