Bafflement?!

I got a letter from the DWP dated 23/03/2010 telling me to apply for Incapacity Benefit. I downloaded the forms from the internet And also got forms for ESA and went to the CAB armed with both.

After much ado I was helped to fill in the ESA form and told the letter was a mistake as IB doesn't exist for new claimants anymore. If this is so, why can the application forms still be downloaded?

Should I complete and send both, with a covering letter explaining why?

I only ask because last time I had to claim ESA they took several weeks to process my claim and cost me a fortune in bank charges. I'd hate them to fanny on for weeks then say "We TOLD you to claim IB, see it says so in the letter."

Any help gratefully accepted dudes.

You lucky person! The DWP wrote to you! You must have a magic spell or something, I haven't had a reply to any of my letters to the DWP in 14 months. I wish I knew your secret. To be serious, I'm taking the case further.

Trust me, it's not always a good thing!

Hi I think if it is a brand new claim that you are making it will be ESA,(I am not a qualifed adviser). Best wishes.

If you've been on IB and get ill again within a certain time, you claim IB again, so that would explain the presence of the IB forms for downloading.

Survivor wrote:

If you've been on IB and get ill again within a certain time, you claim IB again, so that would explain the presence of the IB forms for downloading.

It is what is known as the linking rules which exist with IB.