Been awarded DLA Higher rate from lower rate.

Hi everyone first post, so be gentle with me

I receive Contributions based ESA benefits. I also received DLA benefit, lower rate for mobility and care.

I have today been awarded higher rate for care, am I entitled to more money with my ESA benefit?

regards

JB

Hi,

Welcome to Benefits and Work

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This can be done quite easily by following the instructions on this FAQ :

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Being in receipt of a High Rate Care DLA Award may well give to entitlement to The Enhanced Disability Premium (EDP) if you are not already receiving it for being in The Support Group (SG) of ESA

The HR Care DLA Award may also give you entitlement to payment of The Severe Disability Premium. (SDP)

Although, as you will see from this FAQ, : ESA Premiums having a HR Care DLA Award is only one of the qualifying criteria for The SDP.

To be paid any ESA Premiums, not only must you fulfill the qualifying criteria above, you must be able to pass the means test for entitlement to payment of Income Related (IR) ESA with respect to capital, assets, savings, household income and any hours worked by a partner if you have one :

Asset rule for ESA(IR)

24 hour work rule for ESA(IR)

All ESA Premiums are paid as IR ESA only, so no entitlement to IR ESA means no payment of ESA Premiums, even if you fulfill all the other qualifying criteria.

If you are currently being paid CB ESA only, you would need to request an ESA 3 Financial Assessment Form from the DWP.

This will capture all your personal and financial details to see whether you can pass the IR ESA means test :

Sample ESA 3 Form

You should be able to request this over the phone :

THE ESA PHONE NUMBER DWP : 0345 608 8545 Press Option 3 for ESA.

Send a copy of The HR Care DLA Award letter with the ESA 3.

If you are entitled to payment of IR ESA/ESA Premiums, they will be paid as IR ESA top ups to your CB ESA payments.

If you are entitled to any IR ESA payments at all, this will "passport" you to other "benefits" such as Housing Benefit, Council Tax Support, help with your mortgage interest payments and free prescriptions and dental care.

The following may help with your understanding of this issue :

Calculating Income-Related (IR) Employment and Support Allowance Age UK.

Here are two online Benefits Calculators that you can use to give you some idea of any entitlement :

Benefits Calculator

Benefits Calculator

Congratulation on The HR Care Award !!

Please reply to this topic if you have any further queries.

bro58