Between October 2010 and Spring 2014 customers who receive Incapacity Benefit, Severe Disablement Allowance and Income Support paid on the grounds of illness or disability may be converted to Employment and Support Allowance.
This will not affect people due to reach state pension age by the 6 April 2014. It will not affect people already receiving Employment and Support Allowance.
The conversion from Incapacity Benefit, Severe Disablement Allowance and Income Support paid on the grounds of illness or disability to Employment and Support Allowance will be made by the Job Centre Plus.
If you are a customer who falls into one of the categories above you do not need to do anything and the Job Centre Plus will write to you in due course.
Effect on Housing and Council Tax Benefit
Once a decision has been made to convert one of the above named benefits to Employment and Support Allowance; if your new Employment and Support Allowance amount is lower than your previous benefit award; a top up known as Transitional Addition will be included in your Housing/Council Tax benefit Applicable Amount to ensure you are not worse off following the conversion.
Transitional Addition will be paid for the life of your claim, but will reduce following any changes that increase your Applicable Amount.
Your Applicable Amount (set by the government) is the amount you need to live on dependant on your circumstances.
The types of changes that will increase your applicable amount are:
• Annual up-rating in April
• Birth of a child
• Partner moving in
• 18th birthday of you or your partner
• 25th birthday of you or your partner
• You or your partner reaching pensionable age
If your award of Incapacity Benefit, Severe Disablement Allowance and Income Support paid on the grounds of illness or disability is not converted to Employment and Support Allowance; the Job Centre Plus have an appeals process in place. If this scenario applies to you the Job Centre Plus will contact you to talk through the options available.
Southampton City Council
