ESA 98 Letter

huckster

There are examples of people who were on Incapacity Benefit that transferred to IR ESA, who are now being moved to New Style ESA. Even though they may not have worked and paid National Insurance before claiming benefits, there are apparently historic qualification rules under Incapacity Benefit that provided for contributory based entitlement?

Were some on Incapacity Benefits receiving class 1 NI conts as part of their claims ? Or the claims treated as conts based ?  

tillyboo_2

Who do I contact about accepting this " claimant committment"on this ESA98?
I have mentioned this on my UC journal several times & UC have no idea as nothing to do with them, someone from Belfast who is working on my ESA transitional protection says its nothing to do with them, as its Cont ESA not IR ESA.

I am at a loss of who to contact about it, as I cant just keep waiting daily for a phone call or letter as its affecting my mental health, which as been on a decline for months & the least little thing sends me into a panic, so whatever it is they want from me I want it over with, as I have a PIP review to start & have no energy nor inclination to do as my minds still focused on this blasted migration that seems never ending with changes/surprises.

Thanks for reply

KxMx

@huckster

You could claim the old Incapacity Benefit (which was only a CB benefit) under special youth rules which didn't require the normal NI conts, when this later converted into ESA it was for CB ESA with an IR top up if applicable. 

There was also for a short time eligibility for CB ESA under youth rules.

Robbie64

If you get the £10 Christmas Bonus paid every December with your ESA then you were on the contributions version of ESA as well as the means tested income related version of ESA (income related only ESA doesn't attract a Christmas Bonus payment).

KxMx

If someone gets ESA & PIP, that wouldn't be an indicator of CB ESA because quite a few other benefits also attract the bonus.

https://www.gov.uk/christmas-bonus/eligibility

Northern_Wanderer

tillyboo_2 said:

Who do I contact about accepting this " claimant committment"on this ESA98?
I have mentioned this on my UC journal several times & UC have no idea as nothing to do with them, someone from Belfast who is working on my ESA transitional protection says its nothing to do with them, as its Cont ESA not IR ESA.

I am at a loss of who to contact about it, as I cant just keep waiting daily for a phone call or letter as its affecting my mental health, which as been on a decline for months & the least little thing sends me into a panic, so whatever it is they want from me I want it over with, as I have a PIP review to start & have no energy nor inclination to do as my minds still focused on this blasted migration that seems never ending with changes/surprises.

Thanks for reply

I beleive the letter says that they will be in touch about the claimant commitments? In any case, it's going to be the new style ESA people who will deal with it. There is no point asking UC as it is noting to do with them.

It seems you are causing yourself uneccessary worry where you don't need to.

Robbie64

KxMx said:

If someone gets ESA & PIP, that wouldn't be an indicator of CB ESA because quite a few other benefits also attract the bonus.

https://www.gov.uk/christmas-bonus/eligibility

Contributory ESA takes precedence when the DWP decide which benefit should pay the Christmas Bonus. If ESA and PIP (or any other benefit) are both in payment then ESA should pay the Christmas Bonus unless the ESA was all income related.

tillyboo_2

I never got a £10 xmas bonus. But have just found out through migration from ircesa to uc by recueving an ESA98 saying my cont esa is moving to new style esa.
As I never got a £10 xmas bonus & never knew about cont esa as all paperwork says ir esa. Could this esa98 be an error? Although a £281.10 payment went into my account last Thursday. 

Thats the other confusing thing if I havent agreed to claimant commitments, why have a i been paid? 

I know people keep saying dont worry about all of this & the ESA98, I cant not worry. Not only dont I understand any of the migration, I'm ill, my husband was dIagnosed with stage 4 cancer at the start of the migration & I've just recieved my PIP review. So my heads all over the place....

KxMx

The Christmas bonus is easy to miss because it's a tenner sent included with one payment in December. 

Did any of your ESA annual uprating letters ever refer to "these amounts apply from April to xx (end) November" ? 

That would be a reference to receiving the Christmas bonus with an award of CB ESA. 

A delay in receiving New Style ESA payments until the claimant commitment is agreed only applies to new claims. Not migration from legacy benefits.

tillyboo_2

No. The time my uprating letters changed with months & payments was when my husband started to recieved his state pension. Thats deducted from my ESA & his would increase earlier than my ESA. 
I defo have never recieved a £10 at xmas. My 2 weekly payments have always been the amount shown on the letters I recieve. I did work for decades before I broke my back & lost my hearing overnight, so I havent worked since 2012. I lost my hearing going going through spinal rehab.
I'm nearly 62 & my husbands 71 on my ESA claim, hence it being a joint claim. But he stopped working in 2018 after a stroke. Defeŕred his state pension for a few years as per advice by CAB ( as they said I risked being forced onto UC & it was a shambles). But he started claiming his SP in late 2023. But still on my joint ESA, but his SP is deducted.

Then this so called smooth migration started in March he was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer the day the migration letters came & its been a nightmare. Eventually had both our ID's proved by a DWP home visit on the 22nd July, had a journal message the same day to say all was ok. Payment would be shown on 5th Aug payment made on 9th Aug. Had my last 2 weeks ESA on 17th July then 4 wks housing benefit ( I was expecting 2 wks). Decided to take a full advance from UC as figured something was wrong, couldnt get through to HB. Had email from Council Tax asking for a UC statement, which I dont have & UC said I didnt need to do anything re CTax or rent, when obvs I do. They only know my rent amount as that was written on migration form as never asked to see rent letter or tenancy.
And then last week this ESA98 appeared & blew my mind re work coachs & job centres & explaining illnesses etc A payment of £281.10 ESA went in my bank on 31st July, which is when I would normally get my ESA. 
Check UC umpteen times a day for messages & waiting on 5th Aug to see how much will be paid. But I doubt very much I'll know if its correct, on a/c I've no idea how to calculate it. I was told about multpling & then dividing & 4.3 wks etc etc

Clueless.....I just thought ESA to UC flick of a switch & done, how dumb was I!