Impact of change of circs on ESA

calcotti

cdy wrote: »

https://www.gov.uk/support-for-mortgage-interest/eligibility

Presumably this link is out of date? Re SMI.

No - that is the current information. However I realise my previous post was off the point. You are entitled to SMI if you wish it because of your income based ESA award, no need to claim UC even if you want the SMI. For some reason when I posted earlier I was thinking you only had contribution based ESA - doh!

Hazard of following different topics on the forum is that sometimes I lose the plot! Apologies for confusing matters.

cdy

Thanks very much.
So, to clarify, if I do move to a different area soon, as planned, I won't need to transition into UC unless I apply for housing benefit, which I don't intend to...
Many thanks.

calcotti

cdy wrote: »

Thanks very much.
So, to clarify, if I do move to a different area soon, as planned, I won't need to transition into UC unless I apply for housing benefit, which I don't intend to...
Many thanks.

Exactly so. Good luck with the move.

cdy

calcotti wrote: »

Exactly so. Good luck with the move.

Thanks... Here's to hoping I don't lose the much-needed SDP.

cdy

One final question, if I may?
When I do change address do I simply phone the ESA helpline and advise I'm changing address, while emphasising that I do not wish to claim HB once move?
Kindest regards and many thanks.

calcotti

I would simply tell then that you are moving, give them your new address and ask them to send all future correspondence to that address. You should also tell them that you will still be living alone.

Housing benefit is dealt with by local authorities not the DWP so you don’t need to tell them about this - you can’t claim it anyway. The regulations are that your income based ESA claim ends if you claim UC. You could say, if you wish, that you will not be claiming UC and therefore you understand your ESA claim will continue. If it were me I don’t think I would, ESA should simply accept the address change.

cdy

Thanks for the continued input. I'll contact them and hope ESA remains unaffected.