Question for Everyone

stresshead81_2

I am on Incap and DLA. I had nearly a year of fighting to get DLA. I am concerned that the change over to ESA will affect my budget. I do not get a lot per week.

Does anyone know when they are doing the actual switch? As per usual there is little information about the date on the DWP site.

:mad:

dmg24

The switchover will start in April, unless you are near retirement age. Do you know when your next IB review is due?

healy

dmg24 wrote: »

The switchover will start in April, unless you are near retirement age. Do you know when your next IB review is due?

Unless it has recently changed the last date I saw quoted for the changeover was that it was to start at the end of February.

stresshead81_2

dmg24 wrote: »

The switchover will start in April, unless you are near retirement age. Do you know when your next IB review is due?

Well, I am 30 this year so not quite at official retirement age. I was sent a letter by the oh so delightful Atos back in June but I never heard back from them. I was, admittedly, going through Tribunal process with DLA application which was won back in October last year. I am assuming that because I am yet to hear from them and I have had no further letters that they will not do a medical as yet based on the evidence submitted at the time of the DLA medical/tribunal.

Bearing in mind I am on morphine 3 times a day; have to shower at least 2 times a day and take pills every few hours as well as have access to a toilet all the time due to my health. I have asked several of my friends who are managers or supervisors who have all said they would not employ me. Plus my doctors various have said I am never going to be working full time or even anything more than 5/6 hours per week. I wish I could work but I do not want to lose the benefits I have had to fight so bloomin hard for.:(

dmg24

healy wrote: »

Unless it has recently changed the last date I saw quoted for the changeover was that it was to start at the end of February.

You are right - I haven't slept for quite a while!

bertiebat

The disability alliance web site has some useful information on this. Extract from their site: http://www.disabilityalliance.org/ibmigrate.htm

Background

Between October 2010 and March 2014 existing incapacity benefits claimants (those on incapacity benefit, severe disablement allowance and income support on disability grounds) will be reassessed under the employment and support allowance (ESA) Work Capability Assessment (WCA) instead of the Personal Capability Assessment.
Key aspects of migration

• If you are migrated onto ESA, after April 2012, are placed in the work related activity group and are only entitled to Contributory ESA when you migrate, you will be paid ESA for a year and then this will cease. If you are migrated before April 2012 you will receive Contributory ESA for a period of 12 months less any time that you were on ESA before April 2012.
• If you are placed in the support group you will not have your Contributory ESA time limited.
• no new claim will be required for the move to ESA, the process will be triggered by a notice to the customer;
• the date of a customer’s re-assessment will be based on the review date of their Personal Capability Assessment;
• people who reach State Pension Age during this reassessment period 2010-2014 will not be reassessed to avoid having to change benefits twice in a short period;
• where possible, the DWP will use existing data held for IB/IS to determine entitlement to ESA;
• DWP has pledged to help customers adapt to their new circumstances and ensure continuity of payment is maintained;
• existing incapacity benefits will continue to be paid to the day before the change;
• where people who are eligible for ESA receive more on existing incapacity benefits than the appropriate ESA rate, their existing rate of benefit will be frozen at the point of conversion;
• where people who are eligible for ESA receive less on incapacity benefits than the appropriate ESA rate, their benefit will immediately be increased to the ESA rate on conversion;

Loopy_Girl

stresshead81 wrote: »

Bearing in mind I am on morphine 3 times a day; have to shower at least 2 times a day and take pills every few hours as well as have access to a toilet all the time due to my health.

Putting barriers in front of you there are you not? I take morphine 4 times a day, shower 3 times (cos I like being clean!!), take pills every few hours and I have health issues which my employer has had to accomodate me for.

You're 30, you're wondering about changes already which seems to me you are settling down to a life on benefits until it's pension time.

It's ridiculous to think you could only work for an hour a day. You need to think about what you can do as oppose to what you can and, if your medical condition is recognised as a disability, you will be covered under the Equality Act 2010.

stresshead81_2

Loopy Girl - I have Crohns Disease (I visit the loo around 30 times a day); Mild ME (related to previous illness at 18); Epilepsy; Hiddradenitis Supparativa (debilatating skin disease); Depression and Anxiety; Sciataca (resulting in me using a stick) amongst other issues. I have to have help just to get out the shower. My health has worsened because I was sleeping rough literally 24 months ago. I am not an alcoholic or drug user.

I have worked in the past and it nearly cost me my life to work. I cannot, under medical advice by at least 4 doctors/specialists, do a full time job. I had a 10 month fight to even get DLA because the system automatically assumes you are a scrounger. I did try a job last year as part of a work trial, it was a 12 hour position spread over 5 days. I struggled after doing 4 hours. I sleep for 18 hours a day, partly down to my medication (which I cannot go without and believe me I have tried) and partly down to my health.

I did not ask to be in this situation. I did not want to be this ill, I did not want to have to rely on the system. I did not claim benefits until I had gone through all my savings.