The Government has begun a national roll-out to convert claims for people who are getting some sickness and disability benefits into Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).
The benefits affected are:
• Incapacity Benefit
• Severe Disablement Allowance (SDA)
• Income Support based on disability grounds.
If you are currently getting one of these benefits, the Social Security Agency will write to you between now and March 2014, inviting you to an assessment.
If you reach the state pension age before 6 April 2014 you will not be reassessed and will continue getting your benefit as normal. To check when your retirement age is you can visit www.nidirect.gov.uk
If the assessment finds you meet the qualifying conditions for ESA, you will be automatically transferred to this benefit. You won't have to make a new claim.
If you're currently getting Incapacity Benefit or Severe Disablement Allowance (SDA), your benefit will be converted to contribution-based ESA.
Contribution-based ESA is usually worked out according to how much you've paid in National Insurance contributions. However, if you're switching from Incapacity Benefit or SDA, it won't matter how many NI contributions you've paid.
If you're currently getting Income Support, your benefit will be converted to income-related ESA.
If your benefit is converted to ESA, you will be paid the higher rate of ESA straightaway. Usually ESA is paid at a lower rate for the first 13 weeks of the claim.
You may also be entitled to extra money while your benefit is switched to ESA which is called a transitional allowance. It makes sure that you won't be getting less money than you were receiving before but this extra money will eventually stop.
If the assessment finds that you're not entitled to ESA, your Incapacity Benefit, SDA or Income Support will stop. You will then have to make a new claim for Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) or another benefit that suits your needs.
If you attend an assessment and are unhappy with the way it's carried out, or you don't agree with its outcome, you can get advice on what to do from your nearest Citizens Advice Bureau.
Citizens Advice has also produced a short fact sheet on the main changes which you can view by clicking here
For more information on reassessments visit www.nidirect.gov.uk
BBC On Your Behalf and Professor Eileen Evason have also published a fact sheet on the reassessment which you can access by clicking here