Contribution based esa - rapid reclaim/linking rules

Legacy_user

Answered..

pmlindyloo

Esacontribution wrote: »

Hello,

First post here, I have searched but couldn’t find an answer.

I was on contribution based ESA for a good 8 months this year and came off to try a full time job on October 9th - I’ve managed to work 8 weeks and have come to the realisation that it was a bad move and too soon to return to work as my mental health condition has worsened as i suffer from bipolar and only returned to work due to a lapse in medication and thinking I was ready when I was not.

My question is this - does contribution based esa have rapid reclaim/linking rules of 12 weeks like other benefits.

If so should I ask for a rapid reclaim and should I be placed back in the support group without a reassessment and treated asif it was the same claim

Thanks in advance guys

Yes, you should return to ESA at the same rate and it should not necessitate another assessment.

System

Just an update

Chester has become a universal credit live area so I have been told I will have to make a universal credit claim as the linking rule won’t apply due to the rollout

I’ve registered online and now have a interview at the job centre tomorrow for the universal credit interview and guess I’ll find out then wether they will just accept my previous evidence or treat it as a brand new claim and make me apply through an ESA50 or UC50

WillowCat

Contribution based ESA is now called 'New Style ESA' and is not included in Universal Credit.

If you were also getting an income based top up of ESA then that will be a new claim for UC - but this is in addition to you needing to reclaim ESA.

epitome

You will need to also claim ESA Conts New Style through the Universal Credit helpline...

If you did not have ESA IR before, and you know why you did not have it then you can give up on the Universal Credit claim tell them you don't want to persue it.

Your ESA Conts New Style will link within 12 weeks and you will be put back into the Support Group, however, you should expect to be referred for a new WCA straight away, it will take a few months before you are actually assessed but the referral will -or should- be done as part of claiming again.

System

Thanks for the replies and guidance everyone.

I spoke to the UC helpline as well as the UC claim line and went around in circles with neither knowing how to progress and both saying I had to make a UC Claim.

I went to the interview for UC ( I had put a note in the UC online journal last night stating I was only wanting to claim for contribution based ESA ) the advisor at the job centre had already pre empted the need for the UC claim to be closed and had a manager ready with him to discuss the process to just reapply for ESA under the linking rule and took the relevant paperwork from me to send off to Belfast to get the claim processed for me - so now I’m waiting to hear of the progress !

System

Just to let everyone know - my rapid reclaim was successful and I was put back into the support group with no need to fill out a new questionnaire or have another assessment.

If anyone finds themselves in the same position just make clear if your in a universal credit area that you only want to apply for contribution based or new style ESA if that is the case.