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Migrating to UC from IR ESA and message in journal about New Style ESA?

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1 week 4 days ago #307321 by Sarahmac
I was sent a migration letter to move from Income Related ESA to UC at the end of March this year.

My local Citizens Advice helped me fill in the form to claim, and things seemed to be going okay, when I got a message in my UC journal about "your claim for New Style ESA yesterday(11th July 2025).

I have left a message querying this, but I'm extremely worried, as I also read in my payments section under Health: "You said your health affects you at work or prevents you from working. You might need to have an assessment before we can consider if you will get extra money for this."

I'm assuming this is referring to having to do another Work Capability Assessment? I'm now panicking, as I only did a WCA just over a year ago, and was moved into the Support Group?

Any ideas would be very welcome.

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1 week 3 hours ago #307460 by BIS
Hi Sarahmac

Please try not to panic. A lot of people have automatically been moved onto New Style ESA (without their knowledge).

The bit about your health is a standard statement that everyone receives. I haven't heard of anyone in the support group being called for an assessment during this migration process.

BIS

Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
The following user(s) said Thank You: Sarahmac, soulgal

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5 days 6 hours ago #307581 by wightrider
I also got a migration notice in March and I have also received a letter telling me Contribution Based ESA is being replaced by New Style ESA, and they have made an appointment for me to talk to someone from the Jobcentre about it next week.
I was confused as I was getting Income Related ESA (Support Group), not Contribution Based, or so I thought.
I contacted Citizens Advice today to ask them about it and this is what they told me:
"Lots of people do not know but they were actually on a combination of Income Related and Contribution Based ESA. It can be hard to tell because they don't always make it clear in your letters, but that's what it sounds like has happened here. Then the Income Related ESA gets transferred over to Universal Credit and during that process the Contribution Based ESA turns into New Style ESA.
What that means practically is you will still get ESA payments, and this will be taken off your Universal Credit. You will still get the same amount of money it will just come to you a little differently."
I hope that helps you.
The following user(s) said Thank You: BIS, Sarahmac

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2 days 3 hours ago #307676 by Sarahmac
Thanks for that. That's what I was thinking.

However, I had a telephone appointment booked for today at ten past one to discuss my claim for New Style ESA with someone from my local Jobcentre. No-one phoned.. A neighbour came and sat with me for moral support, so it wasted most of their afternoon as well.

I phoned the Universal Credit helpline. They said I had an appointment at the Jobcentre. I told them it was a phone appointment, and the message was in my journal!.

They also said that I wasn't on Contribution Based ESA, and it was a new claim?

I don't know what on earth is going on now. The helpline person put a note "on the system" about the failed appointment. She said they'll probably be in touch about a new appointment, or they'll just ring me (worst case scenario).

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1 day 1 hour ago #307740 by BIS
Hi Sarahmac

A relative of mine had a similar situation to yours and they ended up doing a home visit - which was over in less than 10 minutes. I know it's confusing and I wish I could tell you what, is what - but we can't tell you why they are saying it's a new claim. You will have to raise it with them when they call.

BIS

Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems

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