The only way you can remain on the contribution based is if your in the Support (protected) group. Everyone starts on cb and then if you not in the Support (protected) group they switch you to income related.
They often sell it to you as you’ll qualify automatically for certain other benefits and get you to fill in the form to see if you qualify. I never have, my career had to call them to tell them to stop sending the forms.
First time it was just the form no letter with it at all. Then as i didn’t fill it in another came with a letter saying we sent you a form and you have not returned it. You maybe better off, but you don’t need to fill the form in. please call us if you don’t want to apply, I don’t call no one. Then another form and a letter and another. Everytime a letter drops from them my anxiety increases.
We could however apply for a blue form to get free prestrictions and dentist, but that will stop now my mrs back in work. But if it’s cold we didn’t get a cold weather payment or any help in the form of a loan if needed.
But what they don’t tell you is you can have less savings on income based esa than on cbesa if you do or your partner works your benefit will stop or be reduced.
The dwp don’t care never have, all they care about is pushing people to the edge, trying to trip people up somehow, to get them off the books, by hook or crook. The anxiety they cause me, I use against them now. I do not engage with them or speak to them or look at them or do anything they want and ask me to do.
Having both mental health issues and physical ones they are added to by them, but it never ends as my current pip award has no end date just we are issuing it for longer.