IB - transferred to ESA?

kazzah

Hi
I have been on long term IB for some years now since before it was actually called IB - completing my IB50 forms and attending medicals as and when requested to.
I have been reading through a few threads and it seems that people in receipt of IB will eventually be transferred onto the new ESA
have I misunderstood this or will I remain on IB and is the new ESA only for new claimants?
and is anything different likely to happen to me if I am transferred to ESA in terms of claiming and completing forms?
thanks in advance and sorry for the daft question!:rolleyes:

hilstep2000

ESA is only for new claimants. If you are currently on IB, you stay on it. They may change the rules in a few years, but for now, don't worry.

seeya23

ESA is only for new claimants for the time being

dmg24

You will be moved on to ESA by 2013. Younger claimants (under 25) will be affected first.

Information on the changeover.

kazzah

many thanks for your replies - I hoped this was the case, at least I can relax a little now
much appreciated

tenacioust123

The Government has announced its intention to "migrate" all existing IB claimants to ESA, however if the IB claimant passes the new ESA eligibility test, called the Work Capability Assessment, they will remain on IB, and so continue to receive their IB payment! The Government has said that IB claimants will have their existing benefit level protected. The WCA test though is expected to be harder to pass that the current IB Personal Capability Assessment, so some IB claimants will lose entitlement to IB when they become subject to the WCA, even though their health condition may not have improved! We do not know yet how many more claimants will fail the WCA as compared to the PCA, but it is expected that at least 10% more claimants will fail the WCA. These so-called "disallowed" claimants will probably have to claim JSA (subject to any appeal of course). The Government has said that the WCA reviews will be more frequent than the PCA reviews, possibly annually for most claimants. Some claimants, as now, will be assessed on the paper-work alone, but it's impossible to say who will, and who won't, have to have the full assessment ("medical") which has 3 parts.

There is uncertainty as to when this migration will start because of conflicting information from different official sources, but the earliest dates we have been given are, from 2009 for IB claimants under 25 and from 2010 for all other IB claimants. Under this scenario the Government expects the migration process to be completed by the end of 2013, this is somewhat unrealistic IMO! There is also uncertainty as to whether the obligation on IB claimants ("conditionality") will increase over time. For the time being all that IB claimants have to do, as now, is to attend a work-focused interview, if called to one, and help draw up an action plan. It's possible that over time some IB claimants may be required to undertake "work-related activities" but if this occurs neither they, nor ESA claimants, will be compelled to apply for, or take, an actual job.

mealone

Our IVB is not being given the transitional protection we were promised because starting this year our age allowance is being reduced, I will lose £1000 a year when the age allowance gos altogether and this is very wrong, especially when we will not get a medical to access the higher rate given to the support group because there is no way all IB claimants can be given medicals before the proposed changeover.

Rebecca15

I cannot believe that they could get round to reviewing everyone annually! My Husband sent in his IB50 form in at the beginning of January along with a report from a Doctor and x rays which cost 200 euros (we do not have a family Doctor, only a drop in centre) and has still heard nothing yet. If he has to go for a medical then it could be months more! By the time this happens a year will have passed and in theory he would have to start the whole senario again.

He has been on IB for over 10 years since a serious accident at work. If his IB is disallowed and he appeals, goodness knows how long that would take and looking at the rules for living in another EU Country he could only claim JSA for 3 months. I wonder what happens then? He has got less than no chance of getting a job anywhere!