ESA to UC - help

[Cleopatra22]

Will try to keep this as short as possible! Currently on income ESA, bi-polar and other health issues, and now needing to move closer to my elderly mum, however I've been told moving back will mean having to move on UC to claim housing costs in new area, and the thought of making new claims along with moving and finding new doctors, somewhere to live, is making me feel quite poorly, and I'm petrified that making a new claim will trigger a new work culpability assessment? Is this right?

The previous work capability assessment i had 0 points, won on appeal however as report was a work of fiction, however it took over a year to win the appeal and the worry of those 12 months made my mental health so much worse, I'm scared of going through that again :( but i desperately need to be closer to my mother as she has no family apart from me and at the moment am 5 hour drive away which i physically incapable of now. It's all just getting too much, i had no idea it would trigger a move to UC when moving.

Are you in the Support Group of ESA? A quick Google says if you're in the Support Group, a move to UC won't trigger a new WCA. I'm sorry I don't have anything more useful to suggest, but I totally understand your fear of the forced change to UC on moving home - you could do without that alongside all the other upheaval.

Could you contact the DWP about this? Or maybe CAB? They may be able to give you better advice.

@PunishmentRoundupWithJoon appreciate your reply! No I'm in the limited work group :( its a struggle as it is thinking of the move and finding new doctors and support, I've checked with the council there and to claim help with housing I'll need to be claiming UC, it's just a nightmare.

I feel for you; I live in dread of having to move or of anything that messes up my ESA/Housing Benefit as it's immensely stressful having to deal with all that. Like many, am dreading the enforced move to UC, whenever that happens.

This isn't going to help with your concerns around moving and the associated upheaval, but have you considered applying for PIP? Actually, you may already be getting that. Though that can be a nightmare in itself and not the best thing to be going through when not in the best mental health!

Would there be any mental health groups that could assist with all the necessary paperwork, phone calls, etc associated with the move? Any support workers?

I think you are overthinking it. As far as I'm aware there would be no need for a new work capability assessment unless you were due for a review anyway. It is easy to apply for UC and then when you find somewhere to rent, you can just add your rent costs. If you can use a computer and Iphone ok then you'll have no problem making a claim and managing your journal. Do you get any extra money currently for being in the wrag group - if your ESA claim was made before 2017, then you would get an extra element on your UC, or if you are caring for your mum and she gets a disability element you could probably claim carers element of UC if no-one else claims carers for looking after her, but be aware it could affect any benefits your mum may claim.

@PunishmentRoundupWithJoon @Babyroobs appreciate your replies! Im on basic pip, I also get limited work group top up of 30 odd quid a week, and disability premium with esa (which im led to understood i will lose on UC) thats 80 quid extra per week.

I tend to get overwhelmed mentally and so its set me off again. My main worry is if they demand a new assessment Im starting from scratch, I'm going to have to find a new gp for a start who wont know me, it'll take ages to get my medical records switched over (it took them over a month to sort when I moved 10 years ago to England), i won't have a support worker so no help with daily stuff and if i have to go to an assessment it'll be on my own :( it took me over a year to get a support worker here, waiting lists etc. And of course all the stress anyway of moving. Im just scared Im going to get ill again :( i dont cope well as it is.

All it says online is if you're on esa moving to UC you might not need a new assessment, there's no guarantee. Its just making me so stressed and anxious.

I moved into a UC area from ESA support group. No reassessment, which I was very nicely surprised by as like you I thought would be another fight. There is a disability amount also paid, and originally a ‘transitional payment’ that made up the amount lost as UC doesn’t have the extra severely disabled top that esa does. (I’ve since lost that by doing very limited hours work from home, and so now get more than before so they stopped that payment.

Afraid not much help if you are in LCW group but if I wasn’t reassessed then I’d say it’s unlikely you would unless due a reassessment. Best of luck, it is all a nightmare to deal with anything with DWP!

oh and one good point to remember, you are allowed to have 2 weeks overlap when you get esa and are changed to uc. Meant to cover the 6 week time lag it takes them to sort out UC, so make sure that is taken into account. They sanctioned my UC as said I’d been overpaid and ever finally had to pay me £600+ back for not taking the overlap into account! Make sure they don’t do though to you! Can you contact a MH charity to assist you in completing g the forms?

@Adarajames appreciate your help! I probably am due an assessment as its been a while with covid etc :( I've got a support worker here for help.. my worry is when i move I'll have to deal with all this on my own in a new area.. i won't have a support worker, will have to find a new gp, and if there's a new assessment I'll be screwed as will have no support, plus cost me a fortune moving and putting down bonds and rent. Its so chaotic dealing with dwp and local authorities anyway, i need to move back to be close to my mum though, its just all a bit overwhelming.

If you currently have a severe disability premium on your ESA claim, you will get transitional protection with that so should get extra on the Uc claim although it will erode over time. Could you not live with your mum for a while until you get sorted, I do not think you would lose your sdp if she is on a disability benefit also?

You won't need a new assessment (not until it's due for review anyway) but I think you will get slightly less money overall, based on a few assumptions.

Have you been on ESA for a long time - ie since before 2017? How much do you get? Is it £354 every fortnight? (I've assumed you get the SDP.)

If my assumptions are correct, I think your UC (not including the housing element) would be £752.80/month. Compared to ESA, you'll be £14.80/month worse off, but your UC could also go down.

To double check, based on your exact circumstances, you could use an online calculator (Entitledto or Turn2Us) or contact Citizens Advice: www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/universal-credit/claiming/helptoclaim/

One thing that is important to bear in mind is that if you do move you should claim UC at least 2 weeks before you move; this means you'll get the 2 week run on of HB. If you have any questions about the process, Citizens Advice can help.

Oh and here is a link for you to confirm what I said about automatically being in the LCW if you are on ESA (WRAG):
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/universal-credit/if-youre-sick-or-disabled/getting-universal-credit-if-youre-sick-or-disabled/#h-if-you-got-old-style-esa

@Babyroobs it would be difficult living with my mum as she doesn't understand my bi polar at all, gets very irritated by it and can't cope which then makes me worse. Shes just very orderly and a bit ocd and everyone has to behave a certain way.

@AnotherEmma thank you loads! That is so helpful. I do get sdp yes with esa. I dont mind so much having a little less money, its more stressing about another assessment in a new area with no gp or support worker :( and i just get really anxious and unbalanced thinking about it all. Pathetic i know.

If your mum needs your help, would she move closer to you instead? It seems a huge move for you, particularly losing the support worker.

@hopelesslydevotedtoGu no she definitely wouldn't move, and there's no point discussing universal credit etc with her as she just thinks i should be working, Ive been putting off moving for years as shes got slowly worse and i knew I'd have to move to be nearby, it would have actually been easier pre universal credit!

It's such an upheaval. Is it absolutely necessary for you to move closer to your mum? Probably a stupid question, you've already thought it through, but considering your own needs, mental health, and of course mental health can affect physical health. Is there help closer to your mum that she can access as she requires more help? Even if you travel to stay with her for a bit to help her access such help. Not for long, obviously, given what you've said!

Not pathetic at all. Moving is stressful for most people and if you already have mental health issues then it is completely understandable that it could cause you a lot of stress and anxiety

I agree with PP. I don't think you should uproot your life and put yourself through the stress and upheaval for your mother, not if she thinks you should be working and is not understanding about your bipolar disorder. You don't owe her anything. You can visit her, help and encourage her to get the support she needs, but it doesn't have to be you who provides that support on a day-to-day basis.

You have a GP and support worker where you are now. What about friends or leisure activities? Would you be leaving anything like that behind?