ESA Success & Query

I had my letter through today, I'm in the support group. Not even a medical this time around. Thanks so much for all the material and advice, I'm quite sure it helped. A big worry gone!

This means a raise in my ESA payments, but I am worried that this will immediately be lost to a reduction in housing benefit or council tax. Can you advise if this is likely to be the case?

In addition to ESA I am also in receipt of PIP, at standard rate for both daily living and mobility.

I am presently on contributions based ESA. As I live alone with no carer I understand there is a severe disability premium available, but only for income related ESA. Will I be better off applying for income related ESA instead, in order to get this premium - again if I did, would it simply be swallowed by housing benefit/council tax benefit reductions?

Tromador wrote: I had my letter through today, I'm in the support group. Not even a medical this time around. Thanks so much for all the material and advice, I'm quite sure it helped. A big worry gone!

This means a raise in my ESA payments, but I am worried that this will immediately be lost to a reduction in housing benefit or council tax. Can you advise if this is likely to be the case?

In addition to ESA I am also in receipt of PIP, at standard rate for both daily living and mobility.

I am presently on contributions based ESA. As I live alone with no carer I understand there is a severe disability premium available, but only for income related ESA. Will I be better off applying for income related ESA instead, in order to get this premium - again if I did, would it simply be swallowed by housing benefit/council tax benefit reductions?

Hi T,

Congratulations on The SG Award without the need for a "medical" !!

Thanks for the positive feedback !

You may find : This Post helpful.

With respect to the increase in your ESA payments as a result of being placed into The SG.

If it is all Contribution Based (CB) ESA, it "may" affect your HB & CT Support, so you should inform the Council/LA that administers them.

However, if you are entitled to any Income Related (IR) ESA top-ups, even a penny, in addition to your CB ESA payments, this would not have an adverse effect on HB or CT Support.

In fact, being in receipt of any payment of IR ESA automatically passports you to your full HB and CT Support entitlement.

It also give entitlement to free prescriptions and dental care, as well as other schemes such as : The Warm Home Discount Scheme qualification being under "The Broader Group" (receipt of IR ESA)

All : ESA Premiums can only be paid if you are in receipt of a "qualifying benefit", (e.g. SG for The Enhanced Disability Premium (EDP) PIP Daily Living for The Severe Disability Premium (SDP) ) fulfil the other qualifying criteria, and also have entitlement to payment of IR ESA.

So, as you are in The SG, and have a PIP DL Award, you may be entitled to The EDP, and The SDP paid as IR top-ups in addition to your CB ESA payments.

You would need to pass the IR ESA means test 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)

To gain a financial assessment to see whether you have entitlement to IR ESA and payment of any IR ESA Premium top-ups, you need to request an ESA 3 Form from The DWP :

THE ESA PHONE NUMBER DWP : 0345 608 8545 Press Option 3 for ESA. (Open 8AM-6PM. Mon-Fri.)

See : Sample ESA 3 Form

If you have entitlement to payment of The IR ESA Premium additions, payment should be backdated to the date of the decision to award you the "qualifying benefits" (SG & PIP DL)

As an aside, and in case you are not already aware, being in receipt of a Standard Mobility PIP award also entitles you to a Blue Badge and 50% reduction in car Road Tax.

This is only applicable if you scored the 8 points Standard Mobility under "The Moving Around" Descriptors, not "The Going Out" ones.

i.e. for physical walking limitations rather than mental health issues.

Have a look at : This Topic.

Hope this helps !!

bro58

The bottom line then, is that I need to get the forms filled and sent back as I can only improve my position by doing so.

Thanks for the advice.

Tromador wrote: The bottom line then, is that I need to get the forms filled and sent back as I can only improve my position by doing so.

Thanks for the advice.

Correct T !!

You have nothing to lose and "all" to gain by requesting and filling in an ESA 3 financial assessment form !!

bro58