ESA confused???

I have been on contributions based ESA for over a year now, passed my medical last year and its coming up for renewal in the next couple of weeks so they told me id have to go for another medical.
They messed up paying me which took 3 days to sort, anyways they have sent me a ESA3 form to fill out, im rather confused, it says that my circumstances have changed or i want to claim income based ESA, the only thing that has changed is i now get DLA (only just) i have filled it in and im going to send it back tomorrow, but does anyone know why they have sent it to me?
Will they be stopping my benefits or reducing it?
My partner cant work as he looks after me full time, and i have just put a claim in for carers allowance for him.
Im scared my moneys going to stop!

It may be an idea telephoning the JCP office that deals with your ESA why they've sent you this form.

I will have to ring them tomorrow, they said it was for a change of circumstances but nothings changed! weird!

Believe me...it pays to get any reasons in writing, and if in doubt, definitely have them formally look at the decision again or appeal. There have been too many instances where phone calls weren't remembered or I have been ill advised.

I'm not 100% sure, but I thought you could only be paid the contribution based benefit for 182 days. The mistake might be that they will make you now claim income based - which you should have been notified about long ago.

I was on JSA CB, and sent several letters advising this benefit was due to run out. Advised by JCP to complete an JSA3 (change in Circs) to claim JSA IR. Not likely they will admit the back office is a shambles, but see how far you get. Good luck!

ESA is not time-limited in the way that Contributions-Based JSA is. If you qualify for C-B ESA to start with, you carry on being qualified, it doesn't run out.

If the DWP think Contributions-Based ESA is less than you need to live on, you can claim Income-Based ESA on top, so it is possible to get both at the same time, I think I'm right in saying.

Elaine

Hi All,

Yes Elaine, you are right.

Katie, the change of circumstances is likely to be your award of DLA. Depending on what your DLA award is it may be that you are now entitled to income-related ESA on top of your contribution based ESA.

Good luck,

Steve