ESA to UC Managed Migration Deadline Extension Extended.

Sean_F

Hi All,

I have a question to ask that concerns a relative of mine, who received the ESA to UC Managed Migration letter back in April, and which gave them a deadline date of 3rd July to start their claim for UC.

Due to their Anxiety and Social Avoidance Personality, they made a decision not to claim UC before the initial deadline date, because of the pressures of having to interact more closely with and be monitored by the Work Coaches at the Jobcentre.

Since then, they have received a further two letters, that extended the deadline date until 31st July and then 14th August without having put in a request for these.

What they have found perplexing about these, is not only the amount of times that the initial deadline has been extended by without being requested, but also the amount of times the local DWP have contacted them during this time, and asked that they get in touch about making a claim.

There was even an instance where the same person who had contacted them over the phone from the local DWP, visited their home to help them with the UC application .

Despite explaining that they didn’t wish to make a claim, there have been a further two phone calls made by the DWP at national level, asking for them to contact their call centre to discuss the claim.

What they would like to know is, has anyone else been in a similar position, and if so, do they have any insights into why this has happened to them in the past?

Any information and advice that you could provide, with regard to this enquiry, would be greatly appreciated.

Regards

huckster

DWP are obviously trying to prevent a vulnerable person from ending up without any benefit support.

Eventually DWP will stop making contact. The ESA claim will close and also any Housing Benefit stopped unless it is supported housing provided via the local Council.

Spoonie_Turtle

If they don't claim UC what will they live on?

rosewalk

huckster said:

DWP are obviously trying to prevent a vulnerable person from ending up without any benefit support.

Eventually DWP will stop making contact. The ESA claim will close and also any Housing Benefit stopped unless it is supported housing provided via the local Council.

Yes there are trying to prevent a vulnerable person from ending up with no support. If your relative is in the ESA Support Group once they have made a claim they should have minimal contact with the Job Centre as they won't be required to look for work or take part in work related activities. If they are really going to struggle is there anyone that can support them to make and manage a claim or could someone act as their appointee? 

Sean_F

Thank you for your replies and concerns for the welfare of my relative. It’s much appreciated.

One thing to mention by way of an answer to the questions that you’ve asked, is that, along with being in receipt of PIP, they have already moved back in to their parents house, which will remove the burden of losing Housing Benefit and having to pay the rent.

I will definitely speak with them again to pass on the information that has been added in response to my post.

Regards

TELLIT01

It's quite a few years since I retired, but at that time the move from ESA to UC was supposed to be seamless.  I'm guessing that is no longer the case .

huckster

TELLIT01 said:

It's quite a few years since I retired, but at that time the move from ESA to UC was supposed to be seamless.  I'm guessing that is no longer the case .

Not sure what you mean by this. But consider the millions of benefits subject to migration to UC. And the shortened time period. Last Government brought forward the migration from my 2028 to end of 2025. And the current Government kept to this new schedule.

There were always going to be vulnerable claimants that found the process difficult. And this thread is evidence that DWP are trying to take steps to ensure as many migrate as possible. But there will be some claimants who don't migrate to UC and their previous claims will get closed down. That was always fully considered when Government's legislated for the migration process.