How to switch from Universal Credit to new-style ESA allowance

Q. I have been claiming Universal Credit with my husband for around six months now, and I have been looking for work.
Universal Credit.Universal Credit.
Universal Credit.

I have now been diagnosed with anxiety and depression and I don’t feel able to look for work at the minute.
I want to end my Universal Credit claim and go onto Employment and Support Allowance, but I’m not sure how to do it.

A. Once you are claiming Universal Credit you do not need to end the claim in order to claim something else.
Instead, you would make an application for ‘New-Style’ Employment and Support Allowance if you have been working and paying National Insurance contributions over the past few years.
New-style Employment and Support Allowance is not means tested and can be paid alongside any earnings that your husband may have.

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If you have not paid sufficient National Insurance Contributions then you can remain on Universal Credit, but self-certify for the first seven days.

You would then need to submit a sick note by giving the details on your Universal Credit online account and then posting the sick note to the address given.

For the first 14 days of your period of sickness you do not have to look for work, but you may have to participate in ‘work preparation activities’ – that is unless you have had two previous periods of sickness.

From day 15 any work-related activity must be reasonable bearing in mind the health condition that you have.

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After you have submitted sick notes for four weeks you will be referred for a Work Capability Assessment, to confirm whether or not you are capable of work at that time.

If you are found to have limited capability for work then you will continue on Universal Credit, but will not have to complete your work searches.

You will have to complete work preparation such as building your CV and attending courses.

If you are placed in the Support Group and found to have limited capability for work-related activity, then you will not have to participate in any work preparation or searches.

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If you are found fit for work then you will have to resume the conditions given when you claimed Universal Credit as a job seeker.

If you do disagree with any decision then you do have the right to request a Mandatory Reconsideration of the decision within one month of the decision.