How will Universal Credit effect Income-Support ESA in the Support Group?

Saint_Andrew

I'm new to this forum but was told it was a great place to find information.

I'm currently getting Income-related ESA and been in the Support Group for having Tourette's and OCD/Anxiety Disorder. Will this be effected by the new system and will I lose my benefit after a year or continue to have no-time limit?

All I know is I will be paid monthly instead of every 2 weeks.


Regards,
Andrew

Saint_Andrew

Self-bump.

Bollotom

Found this. Hope it's of some use until someone pops up with a fuller explanation.

Employment and Support Allowance.

8 Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) provides financial help to people
who are unable to work because of illness or disability. There is a
contributory ESA which is national insurance based and an Income-related
ESA which is means-tested Once assessed, applicants are placed in one of
two groups: 2
• Work-related Activity Group where applicants are expected to be
concentrating on improving their future prospects of paid employment
and will receive a work related activity component in addition to the
basic rate payment.
• Support Group where applicants have a disability which has a severe
effect on their ability to work. Applicants in this group will not be
expected to undertake work related activity and will receive a support
component in addition to the basic rate payment.

Saint_Andrew

Bollotom wrote: »

Found this. Hope it's of some use until someone pops up with a fuller explanation.

Employment and Support Allowance.

8 Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) provides financial help to people
who are unable to work because of illness or disability. There is a
contributory ESA which is national insurance based and an Income-related
ESA which is means-tested Once assessed, applicants are placed in one of
two groups: 2
• Work-related Activity Group where applicants are expected to be
concentrating on improving their future prospects of paid employment
and will receive a work related activity component in addition to the
basic rate payment.
• Support Group where applicants have a disability which has a severe
effect on their ability to work. Applicants in this group will not be
expected to undertake work related activity and will receive a support
component in addition to the basic rate payment.

Thanks for the post, but that's the current system which I currently claim in the Support Group. I really do not understand this new system, it's getting me all worried.

recoverydust

So far as any announcements have been made there are no changes to the length of time you can receive income related ESA in either group under universal credits. Nor is there any change to contribution based benefits, these are not included in UC.

So long as you remain assessed as being in the support group you will remain there.


The calculator (google universal credit calculator) indicates that some people on ESA may be slightly better off, but don't tell the dwp or they will change that.

It is an anxious time for thousands if not millions of people, but most will not be affected for a couple of years.

Hope this helps