Move from Income Support to Esa

stargazer59

Hi everyone, looking for some information.

Just had a call from JCP to arrange an interview as i am being moved from IS in March. She said i will probably be moved to ESA.

At present i am on IS CTC and DLA high rate mobility and medium rate care.

My son is 11.

I know very little about ESA , can anyone tell me why i have to move to ESA and how will it affect me?

As i have just had surgery she agreed to make my appointment in a months time, and if i cant manage it due to my health to call her to rearrange, thumbs up to her there for her understanding!

Thanks in advance.

sharski

Hi stargazer59..

The reason you have to switch benefits is the recent changes to IS when children reach 10 years old.

From Oct 09, LPs who have a youngest child of 10 will no longer be able to make a new claim to IS - those existing IS customers will all be gradually be moved to either JSA or ESA unless they come under an exemption category.
Unfortunately, getting DLA for yourself does not exempt you from the changes so you will be advised to switch your benefit to ESA & be seen by the ESA advisors in the JC (or Provider depending on your area) who will offer a different kind of support.

Under ESA, you will get paid an assessment phase amount until you have a medical - this will then determine which 'group' you will be placed in, either 'Work Related Activity' or 'Support Group'. This group will then determine how much extra you will then get on top of your assessment rate.

Hopefully, this will all be explained to you when you attend. The only thing I would advise is to definately attend the 'switchers appt' when it is booked because it is a very smooth transition onto the other benefit & will cause minimal problems changing over!!

Hope this helps - feel free to ask anything else!

sunnyone

sharski wrote: »

Hi stargazer59..

The reason you have to switch benefits is the recent changes to IS when children reach 10 years old.

From Oct 09, LPs who have a youngest child of 10 will no longer be able to make a new claim to IS - those existing IS customers will all be gradually be moved to either JSA or ESA unless they come under an exemption category.
Unfortunately, getting DLA for yourself does not exempt you from the changes so you will be advised to switch your benefit to ESA & be seen by the ESA advisors in the JC (or Provider depending on your area) who will offer a different kind of support.

Under ESA, you will get paid an assessment phase amount until you have a medical - this will then determine which 'group' you will be placed in, either 'Work Related Activity' or 'Support Group'. This group will then determine how much extra you will then get on top of your assessment rate.

Hopefully, this will all be explained to you when you attend. The only thing I would advise is to definately attend the 'switchers appt' when it is booked because it is a very smooth transition onto the other benefit & will cause minimal problems changing over!!

Hope this helps - feel free to ask anything else!

people awarded DLA can claim IS as a disabled person at present, is that changing?

Buddingblonde

Disabled people now have to claim Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) - unlike Incapacity Benefit you can go on it without enough NI contributions (that was the reason that disabled people ended up on IS when they didnt have enough stamp).

Because of this all IS claims on grounds of ill health will eventually go onto ESA.

tr82

Wasn't there an issue with customers in exactly these circumstances being financially worse off under ESA than IS ? I'd heard IS were having to write to those affected, advising they could return to IS if they wished, with the possibility of payments to compensate them for the ££ loss.

sharski

sunnyone wrote: »

people awarded DLA can claim IS as a disabled person at present, is that changing?

I think this was only during 'Phase 1' of the changes - i.e. 12+ age group..?

Phase 2 (children 10+) is JSA or ESA - no staying on IS if disabled.