income support or esa for lone parent

krisskross

uolypool wrote: »

good question, I to am in the same position after just being diagnosed with arthiritis recently but my youngest turns 12 in sept

My husband had rheumatoid arthritis for many years and worked at a manual job. The ESA testing will be looking at what you can do, rather than saying you can't do anything.

sharski

mcc28 is quite correct - your local office should have calculated your IS end date by now & will call you in for an interview 6 weeks prior to this. Although this appointment is voluntary, it is pretty important as your adviser will complete a 'benefit switcher' form so you can literally 'switch' from IS to ESA without having to go through the hassle of making a new claim & being without money while the claim is assessed! However, if you are planning switching ESA, you will need a doctor's note until you've had your WCA (or medical!!!)

Spot on, mcc28!!

jennie09

Hi sharki you sound very knowledgeable about this situation, i have just recieved my letter for interview next week and my income support will stop in march, have phoned helpline but have just been told it will all be sorted when i go for 40 min interview, i have got to get med cert off doctor as my disability means i am unable to work , i have always worked and hate to claim esa for this reason, it has been noted on dwp system each time i have gone for wfi why my disability stops me from working , but have not submitted any medical evidence, i know that for esa i will do that, been told i can maybe just stay on income support on the grounds of incapacity and would be classed as a change of circumstances rather than having to make a new claim, and would be switched to esa is this true and what is a benefit switcher form ? i currently recieve is on grounds for being a lone parent .
thanks for your help

NASA_2

jennie09 wrote: »

been told i can maybe just stay on income support on the grounds of incapacity and would be classed as a change of circumstances rather than having to make a new claim,

That used to be the case. Unless you backdate your claim to before 27th of October then you have to claim ESA.

sharski

Thanks for the compliment, Jennie09!!

Basically.. I'm the fool who is currently working out IS end dates & booking these appointments!!

When you attend your appointment, your adviser will complete a 'benefit switcher' form with you which will literally transfer your IS claim to ESA without you having to go through the pain of making a new claim via the 0800 number. This will mean that you should have no break in payments & will not be left without any benefit.
If you are not in receipt of child tax credits, this application will have been for you too.

Also, because IS was paid weekly & all other benefits are paid fortnightly, your advisor will also complete a 'transitional loan' form which is an amout you can borrow to make this step a little more bearable. however, bear in mind that this loan will be deducted from benefits each time until it's paid off.

Once you have claimed ESA, you WILL still have to attend a number of interviews although not as often as claiming as a lone parent. There will be 6 in total, approx 1 month apart, (as long as you pass your medical) but then you will not be required to attend until you either pass the next due medical (after your first one) or 3 years after you claim - whichever comes sooner!

Anything else, just shout!:A

jennie09

sorry to bother you again sharski when benefit switcher claim is filled in do i still have to provide proof of income award letters etc or not ?
thanks again

jembie

sharski wrote: »

mcc28 is quite correct - your local office should have calculated your IS end date by now & will call you in for an interview 6 weeks prior to this.

Unfortunately not!
I had my annual lone parent interview last week and when I asked my adviser when she thought I might have my Switch over interview, she had no idea.
She said it could be about March or April though I would just have to wait and see.
Helpful NOT!!!

Been applying for every single job going since then...still no replies...

sharski

Jennie09.... no, you don't need to supply anything like that - you have already provided all of this for your IS claim.. it will literally be a 'switch over' from one benefit to another.. (the government have had to make it as easy as possible as they have had a lot of bad press about the changes)

Jembie... it all depends on the date of birth of your youngest child - it might be that your IS will not end until after the summer! The JC have had their 1st list of lone parents to work on & the 2nd is due in April. Chances are that you have not appeared on the first list & therefore will possibly not be having your IS ended until later on this year. Like I say, it is depended on your youngest child's date of birth.
However... double check with the JC as it is not advisers who are calculating these IS end dates - it is the admin team who works with the adviders. It may be worth speaking to that section if you call - they are called DASO section...

Hope this helps! :beer:

jembie

sharski wrote: »

However... double check with the JC as it is not advisers who are calculating these IS end dates - it is the admin team who works with the adviders. It may be worth speaking to that section if you call - they are called DASO section...Hope this helps! :beer:

Thanks I will do that. I realise that the advisers aren't the most knowledgable people in the JC (No offence)

jennie09

Thanks for all your advice sharSki it has really put my mind at ease about the whole thing : )