I have decided to move to JSA from IB voluntarily, what now?

greenkid247

Thank you for the advice, deleting this thread.

tokenfield

greenkid247 wrote: »

Ok, so I have been on IB and DLA for the past six years, I get high rate care and low rate mobility DLA. I also get housing benefit.

I am currently being assessed for ESA and have to attend a face to face assessment next Thursday. However, I have been thinking a lot about my situation over the last week and I have decided that I don't want to attend the assessment, and that I would rather sign on to jobseekers allowance and find a job.

There are several reasons I have made this decision, firstly, the stress and anxiety regarding the face to face next Thursday are making me ill, and basically there is no chance I will make it into the support group and it is highly unlikely I will make it into the WRAG group, so I don't see the point in putting myself through this grim process if the outcome is going to be that I am deemed fit for work anyway.

So basically, I don't know where to go from this point and I have some questions about what will happen next.

If I voluntarily switch from IB to JSA, will I still get 4 weeks of IB money before I start receiving JSA? And what other possible ramifications are there if I voluntarily switch?

Will this switch affect my housing benefit?

Will the switch affect my DLA?

What financial help will I be entitled to when I begin my search for work?

What will my tax credit situation be when I find a job, regarding the fact I am on long term DLA?

Will I receive any special help at the jobcentre regarding the fact I am on DLA?

Will I be able to get the ball rolling with all of this very soon, so that I do not have to attend the face to face next week?

Any help or advice would be much appreciated.

And they say that it will be rare for those on DLA - at the higher rates - not to want to claim PIP in 2015. I say that there will be a lot more than people think.
This OP is a prime example of wanting to opt out of the continuous assessing/appeals/Tribunal situation that ESA offers. I don't blame the OP for taking this stance.

My argument is that if you are fit enough to prepare for and present a case at a Tribunal you must be a lot fitter than you make out you are.

tokenfield

benefitbaby wrote: »

I agree with the other comments and only have one additional thing to mention... you are in receipt of DLA, your award of high rate care means you currently need either frequent attention throughout the day and prolonged/repeated attention at night or continual supervision by day and someone to watch over you at night, and for low rate mobility guidance and/or supervision in an unfamiliar place. Bear in mind that if your health limitations have improved such that this is no longer the case you have a duty to notify the DLA department.

Sorry to add another fly in the ointment.

Much the same that if the ESA assessment with ATOS comes back as fit for work, what do you think the DWP will do about the DLA award - just ignore the ESA medical results?

I doubt it. many have lost their DLA on the strength of a failed ESA assessment.

greenkid247

Thank you for the advice, deleting this thread.

tokenfield

greenkid247 wrote: »

Are you talking about me or people in general?

Because I can assure you that I am near falling to pieces right now. As I have already explained, despite the fact that my physical health is starting to stabilise, my mental health is as bad as it has been for quite some time. I am up to the eyeballs on Benzos, Anti-depressants and Beta Blockers and these drugs are all that is stopping me from completely loosing the plot. I am desperately trying to do what is asked of me, and all I am doing here is trying to get some information on what I should do next. I don't understand why my eligiblity for my DLA award is being called into question here. I want out of the Benefit system completely including DLA, my health is improving because I am now managing my conditions properly, and when I am definitely well enough I will be closing my DLA claim. Isn't this how it usually works? When someone is ill they get benefits until they are well enough to go back to work and come off them?? Well I am hoping that I am now in that transitionary phase and all I am trying to do is find out what my options are and act accordingly.

In general as I don't know much about you.

I can only quote about the many people that I come across that tell me that they are at 'death's door' yet are more than capable of the stress in preparing for and presenting an argument at a Tribunal.
I remember seeing one guy who 'appeared' unable to walk 1 metre and had to be helped into the court room. After winning the appeal, he somehow gained enough strength to walk out under his own steam without many problems - many in the room just looked in amazement.

greenkid247

Thank you for the advice, deleting this thread.

epitome

I don't think much of your unwillingness to get it confirmed that you are actually entitled to JSA. If it turns out that you are not entitled you'll know who to blame.