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Underclaiming income related ESA

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7 years 3 weeks ago #182086 by sue77
Underclaiming income related ESA was created by sue77
Hello,

I'd be grateful if anyone can help,please?

I was awarded contribution based ESA ( support ) in 2014.. At the time I misunderstood and thought I'd to fill in the accompoanying form after a year and left it.....I'm getting very slow at grasping things. When looking at it again, I then realised that I could apply for income related ESA though hesitated as it asked for landlord's name and address. I'm in receipt of Housing Benefit and landlord's ok with that though unsympathetic of other benefits and I've kept my situation private. I rang DWP and it didn't feel reassured that my ESA wouldn't be divulged to my landlord so never applied.
I now want to apply as it would help massively & been borrowing money and learnt I may also be eligable for help with heating costs and council tax .
Does anyone know why they need a landlord's details?

Would it be a good idea to attach my Housing Benefit details and briefly ask if they keep my ESA status confidential from my landlord? Or ring them again and know wht questions to ask?

Would they wan to know why I hadn't initially claimed? ( I'm due to reapply for ESA this summer. I'm now 62)

If I'm awarded this, will it then be deducted from Housing Benefit?

I do feel silly to have been so fearful and would be grateful for advice.

Thank you very much

Sue

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7 years 3 weeks ago #182120 by Gordon
Replied by Gordon on topic Underclaiming income related ESA
Sue

As I understand it, the form asks for your Landlords information so that a claim for Housing Benefit can also be made, however, you have already done this so I don't see why it would go any further. If they were to contact your Landlord then it would be in connection with HB and not ESA.

To be clear there is absolutely no reason for the DWP to discuss your ESA claim with your Landlord, in fact their doing so would likely be a breach of the Data Protection Act.

Any increase to your ESA will not be deducted from your HB.

Gordon

Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems

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7 years 3 weeks ago #182187 by sue77
Replied by sue77 on topic Underclaiming income related ESA
Thank you very much Gordon for taking the time ....you've been very helpful and I now feel confident about applying.
Sue

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