Benefits help /advice.

Tomsdottir

Depends amongst other things on whether you claimed new style ESA under the UC system in which case you cannot claim a top up of income related ESA. See for example, the "Ask CPAG page titled "Ask CPAG Online - ESA Problem Areas Transfers from ESA to universal credit" and "Ask CPAG Online - ESA Problem Areas Transfers from ESA to universal credit".

Wacko18

Thanks to all who replied for your help and advice.

On a separate note regarding IB. During the years I was on IB I was on basic contributory IB and nothing else, is it usual to be kept on contributory for a long length of time or was there some kind of top up available for this back then as well that I didn't know about? I find it confusing the difference between contributory and income based eligibility?

Tomsdottir

Agreed if it's an award of old style ESA, but contributory ESA and old style ESA are not synonymous.

poppy12345

Tomsdottir wrote: »

Depends amongst other things on whether you claimed new style ESA under the UC system in which case you cannot claim a top up of income related ESA. See for example, the "Ask CPAG page titled "Ask CPAG Online - ESA Problem Areas Transfers from ESA to universal credit" and "Ask CPAG Online - ESA Problem Areas Transfers from ESA to universal credit".

The OP hasn't claimed New Style Contributions based ESA..

Wacko18

I just checked if I'm in a full service universal credit area and it said my area was part of the full service. So should I still apply for the income based top up. Sorry but I'm finding it all a bit confusing and I don't want to mess up my existing support claim. Thanks.

calcotti

Tomsdottir wrote: »

Agreed if it's an award of old style ESA, but contributory ESA and old style ESA are not synonymous.

OP was transferred from IB so it must be Legacy ESA which is one benefit comprising two types parts, contributory and income based.

calcotti

Wacko18 wrote: »

I just checked if I'm in a full service universal credit area and it said my area was part of the full service. So should I still apply for the income based top up. Sorry but I'm finding it all a bit confusing and I don't want to mess up my existing support claim. Thanks.

Yes you can ask for this. it is a review of your existing ESA monetary entitlement. It will not trigger a transfer to UC. Nor is it a review of your health conditions - although DWP can ask for a new Work Capability Assessment at any time.

Wacko18

OK thanks. What do people mean when they are talking about old style and new style ESA and legacy ESA. I didn't know there were different kinds and how do I know which one I am on?

Tomsdottir

Some people on incapacity benefit qualified for a top up of income support. For example, say, back in 2012, the income support rate for someone in your situation was £101.35 and you were getting incapacity benefit at the long term rate of £99.15 a week. You may have been entitled to a small top up of income support to bring you up to £101.35 . (Assuming you had no other income apart from DLA). On the other hand, if you were getting an age-related addition with your incapacity benefit, that might have increased your incapacity benefit by £11.70, meaning that your income was too high for you to qualify for income support. It depended very much on the combination of benefits you were receiving. But it was common then, as now, to come across people who were not getting their full entitlement.

calcotti

Wacko18 wrote: »

OK thanks. What do people mean when they are talking about old style and new style ESA and legacy ESA. I didn't know there were different kinds and how do I know which one I am on?

New style ESA is part of the roll out of Universal Credit, it is contribution based only. You will be on legacy/old style ESA. Legacy and old style are just phrases we have to use to distinguish from new style ESA.