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Worrying letter following recent change (no change

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7 years 7 months ago #165755 by Chrissy
Hello I have put my quesions in red so mods can read them easier.

Today I got a letter saying
"We have looked at your claim again following a recent change.

There has been no recent changes.

The worrying thing is, I have not notified them of a recent change, so why are they saying there has been a change?


They say, From 14 April 2016 your ESA is going upto £88.93 per week.

I am on a pension of £539.14 a month, since April of this year.
It has gone up, due to a tax code change, ( I dont know why my tax code changed, even though my pension amount has not changed from last year to this.

Last year I was getting £533.74 pension, even though my pension letter clearly states the amount has not gone up, since April I have been getting
I am paid contributory ESA and am on MRC DLA



The last time I sent them anything, was my annual pension statement, and my annual pension has not gone up this year, but this was back in May.

In May of this year, in my annual pension review enquiry from the DWP, the DWP said I had told them last year, I was getting £544.94, (dunno where they got that figure from) when I was actually getting £533.74, and my employer said my tax code had changed this year, hence me getting £539.14, even though the pension amount has stayed the same.

I always send in my pension statement from my employer to the DWP together with their form
I don't know why my tax code changed.

I am worried sick, and daren't phone them cos I go to pieces on the phone, especially with the likes of DWP.

The letter says that my circumstances mean I will qulify for a Christmas Bonus of £10.00 per year.

How come I am suddenly eligible for a Christmas Bonus?
They've given me a breakdown of figures which are listed as

Limited capability for word addition
Living expenses £73.10 a weeek
Extra money because I am in the support group £36.20
Total income related amount £109.30

Income and benefits
Personal health insurance of work related pension from you £20.37
Your total income £20.37

It then goes on to say "Your total income related amount is £109.30 less £20.37 so you would have been entitled to £88.93
However because you are entitled to contribution based ESA we will pay you £88.93

The amounts on this page apply from 14 April 2016 to 30 November 2016
"What happens on 30th November 2016?"
Why this date?

I was last assessed for ESA in May 2013, and was told that my next assessment would be June 2015.
I was placed in the support group in December 2013?
Does this mean I will get an assessment in Nov or Dec 2016?

If I'm being underpaid ESA by a few quid, I dont want to ring as I dont want to rock the boat, but I cannot tell if I am being overpaid, do I need to phone them?
Will this trigger a reassessment?

Many thanks
I darent ring them to ask my prognosis date, as I cannot handle the extra anxiety.

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7 years 7 months ago #165781 by Gordon
Chrissy

This appears to be a standard ESA entitlement letter, the change they are referring to is likely related to your sending them your pension information in may, sometimes it takes the DWP ages to process these things.

I can't easily validate the amounts but trying to work backwards;

A deduction of £20.37 would be based on a pension that is £40.74 in excess of the £85.00 disregard (2 x £20.37).

That gives a total weekly pension of £125.74 (£85 + £40.37).

And a monthly pension of £538.89 (£125.74 / 7 = £179.63 x 30 - £538.89)

If the deductions are wrong then you will need to contact the DWP, you don't need to phone you can write.

The Christmas Bonus is paid to claimants receiving ESA(CB).

The date in November is the administrative date for the processing of the Christmas Bonus it has nothing to do with when your ESA will be reassessed.

Gordon

Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
The following user(s) said Thank You: Chrissy

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7 years 7 months ago #165785 by Chrissy
Gordon

The increase in pension this year, despite the pension people telling me it hadnt changed is due to me paying less tax, cos of the tax rate changing from £10,600 to £11,000

If I write to them, will this trigger a reassessment of my ESA

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7 years 7 months ago #165786 by Gordon

Chrissy wrote: Gordon

The increase in pension this year, despite the pension people telling me it hadnt changed is due to me paying less tax, cos of the tax rate changing from £10,600 to £11,000

If I write to them, will this trigger a reassessment of my ESA


No it won't :)

Gordon

Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
The following user(s) said Thank You: Chrissy

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7 years 7 months ago #165787 by Chrissy
thanks for the reassurance about the reassessment.
Thanks also for the reassurance absout the christmas bonus admin thing.

It looks like I have been underpaid ESA but i dont mind, cos I am neurotoc, I have borderline personality disorder and CPTSD and withdrawing from tranquilisers, and I am scared stiff of rocking the boat. I know you reassured me, and I trust you and this site, its the DWP I don't trust.

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7 years 7 months ago #165911 by Chrissy
Hi and sorry to come back with more questions.
I'm getting bad anxiety at the moment and am unable to go to the CAB, due to the claustrophobic waiting room, I'm going to try to phone them, but again, as they put you on hold, my anxiety builds up and I often have to hang up before I am put through.

I have enclosed some new information, my employers pension statement from the year before with pre-tax figures. (The annual figures on the employers pension statement are always pre-tax)
Before April 2015 It said I was getting £6461.69 (pre tax, when the allowance was £10,600
It showed I would be getting £6539.23 from April 2015 onwards, again, pre-tax, and as mentioned above, has not changed this year.

The DWP said in their letter dated 3rd May 2016, that I told them I was getting £544.94 a month, when I was actuallly only getting £533.74.
Do I still need to contact the DWP/CAB?
Thanks and sorry for the inconvenience.

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