migration from IB to ESA

I'm not clear about initial rates of ESA for people who have been long term on IB and are being reassessed as part of the mass migration. Will I be put on the basic rate of ESA during my reassessment even though it is lower than what I currently receive on IB and Income Support? Does anyone know the answer to this?

Whilst you are being assessed, you will continue to receive IB.

Once you are assessed, if you are awarded ESA, you will receive ESA rates if they are higher, or your existing IB rate if it is higher. If you continue on your IB rate, it will not increase with inflation and you will mark time on it for a while until ESA catches up.

Which is the higher will depend on which rate of ESA you are awarded and whether you get any premiums.

Survivor wrote:

Whilst you are being assessed, you will continue to receive IB.

Once you are assessed, if you are awarded ESA, you will receive ESA rates if they are higher, or your existing IB rate if it is higher. If you continue on your IB rate, it will not increase with inflation and you will mark time on it for a while until ESA catches up.

Which is the higher will depend on which rate of ESA you are awarded and whether you get any premiums.

Re the bold bit, thats not true though is it? If, like me, you have been on IB since the early 90s it is not taxable and my small ill health pension does not affect the amount I currently receive.

My understanding is that, despite the pledge that no-one will be worse off on migration, those in my position will actually be FAR worse off as my ESA will immediately become taxable AND will be reduced due to my pension being over £85 a week

froglegs wrote:

Survivor wrote:

Whilst you are being assessed, you will continue to receive IB.

Once you are assessed, if you are awarded ESA, you will receive ESA rates if they are higher, or your existing IB rate if it is higher. If you continue on your IB rate, it will not increase with inflation and you will mark time on it for a while until ESA catches up.

Which is the higher will depend on which rate of ESA you are awarded and whether you get any premiums.

Re the bold bit, thats not true though is it? If, like me, you have been on IB since the early 90s it is not taxable and my small ill health pension does not affect the amount I currently receive.

My understanding is that, despite the pledge that no-one will be worse off on migration, those in my position will actually be FAR worse off as my ESA will immediately become taxable AND will be reduced due to my pension being over £85 a week

I too have looked into this and your correct it becomes taxable and pension taken into account

I apologise - I forgot to take into account the tax implications.

I didn't mean you were being untruthful survivor, I meant the government