Possible reduction in ESA

Does anyone know whether the loss of DLA (and refusal of PIP) has a direct effect on amount of Employment Support Benefit?

Every since I got my PIP refusal I have been worried I will next get sent for an assessment for ESA. The disability rights person I went to see said this is unlikely as I am in the support group. I have since found out by looking at my medical notes that the dr did sign a form for ESA although I dont know what he wrote but it was enough for the DWP or ATOS to decide i was not fit for work. Ironically I told my GP a few months ago that I was very keen to try and become self employed and I was looking into ways of making this possible and he was very pleased because it's highly unlikely I'll ever do a 9-5 job. Now that's on a backburner because im so stressed out.

Anyway, I''m quite worried that the amount of ESA I get will go down. I've been trying to find my letter that gives you a break down of why you are entitled to what but all my paperwork is a jumble since the door fell off my filing cabinet.

I used to received severe disability allowance since the late 90s and I think this might have been changed when I switched to ESA earlier this year. No-one claims carer's allowance for me but I think I get some kind of disability component for living on my own. I dont really undersand all this stuff so I dont know if I'm worried about nothing or if I will be on a lower rate very soon.

If I do go on a lower rate there is a very real chance I could become homeless as I have a package deal with my landlord which includes rent and bills.

This might be impossible to comment on because everyone's situation is different. I do receive housing benefit but it doesn't cover my rent - even if you disregard the cleaning cost and cost for bills. It was very hard for me to find a house to suit my needs (and to find a landlord who didn't discriimate against folk on benefits) so naturally i am very worried about what will happen to me.

Lynsey wrote: Does anyone know whether the loss of DLA (and refusal of PIP) has a direct effect on amount of Employment Support Benefit?

Every since I got my PIP refusal I have been worried I will next get sent for an assessment for ESA. The disability rights person I went to see said this is unlikely as I am in the support group. I have since found out by looking at my medical notes that the dr did sign a form for ESA although I dont know what he wrote but it was enough for the DWP or ATOS to decide i was not fit for work. Ironically I told my GP a few months ago that I was very keen to try and become self employed and I was looking into ways of making this possible and he was very pleased because it's highly unlikely I'll ever do a 9-5 job. Now that's on a backburner because im so stressed out.

Anyway, I''m quite worried that the amount of ESA I get will go down. I've been trying to find my letter that gives you a break down of why you are entitled to what but all my paperwork is a jumble since the door fell off my filing cabinet.

I used to received severe disability allowance since the late 90s and I think this might have been changed when I switched to ESA earlier this year. No-one claims carer's allowance for me but I think I get some kind of disability component for living on my own. I dont really undersand all this stuff so I dont know if I'm worried about nothing or if I will be on a lower rate very soon.

If I do go on a lower rate there is a very real chance I could become homeless as I have a package deal with my landlord which includes rent and bills.

This might be impossible to comment on because everyone's situation is different. I do receive housing benefit but it doesn't cover my rent - even if you disregard the cleaning cost and cost for bills. It was very hard for me to find a house to suit my needs (and to find a landlord who didn't discriimate against folk on benefits) so naturally i am very worried about what will happen to me.

Hi L,

Failure to gain a PIP Award should not adversely affect your "core" ESA payments, i.e. Personal Allowance + Support Group Component Addition.

It may affect any ESA Premiums that you were receiving in addition to the above.

Different benefits, different qualifying criteria !

Just as someone who was legitimately entitled to HR DLA Awards may fail to gain any PIP Awards, different benefits, different qualifying criteria.

If you were previously entitled to "Disability Premiums" before being transferred to ESA, then you should still receive them when you were transferred, if your personal and financial situation hadn't changed.

You were also covered under "Transitional Protection" where you could receive no less on transfer to ESA that you were receiving previously, but you could receive more.

If you were previously receiving The Severe Disability Premium (SDP) on top of your ESA payments for being in receipt of a MR or HR Care DLA Award, being classed as living alone, with no one receiving CA for providing care for you, you will lose that if you have not been award a Standard or Enhanced Daily Living PIP Award.

See : ESA Premiums

You may still receive The Enhanced Disability Premium (EDP) for being in The ESA Support Group.

See : Benefit Rates 2015/16

Putting your details into these : Benefits Calculators. may help you gain an idea of your current entitlement to benefits.

If you are unsure what ESA payments you are now entitled to, you could ring ESA :

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

Asking them to send you a current "Benefit Breakdown" letter which should include all payments that you are entitled to.

bro58

Thanks for this. I appreciate the time spent writing it out. I dont really understand it all but I will treat things as if I have lost this premium untili such times as I find out for definite.

I am being represented by a disability rights person now so I will ask about this the next time I meet/correspond with her.

Lynsey wrote: Thanks for this. I appreciate the time spent writing it out. I dont really understand it all but I will treat things as if I have lost this premium untili such times as I find out for definite.

I am being represented by a disability rights person now so I will ask about this the next time I meet/correspond with her.

Hi L,

Yes, it can seem quite complicated !

Basically, if you were previously receiving The SDP top-up to your ESA payments as you were in receipt of Middle Rate or Higher Rate Care of DLA, but have failed to be awarded a Standard or Enhanced PIP Daily Living Award on being transferred, you will no longer have entitlement to payment of The SDP, so you will lose it.

From the "ESA Premiums" link that I provided in my first response :

"Severe Disability Premium


(to qualify for payment of The SDP)

You or your partner must satisfy all of the following:

be receiving the Care component of Disability Living Allowance (middle or higher rate) or Personal Independence Payments Daily Living (either rate)

live alone (there are exceptions to this rule)

no one else must be getting carer's allowance for looking after you

There is a couple rate if both of you qualify."

I hope that clarifies it somewhat for you.

If you were being paid The SDP, it would have been paid with your ESA payments as a top-up.

It is currently £61.85/Week for a single person and £123.70/Week for the couple rate.

From : Benefit Rates 2015/16

bro58

LIke I said, I will just assume I am not going to be in receipt of it till I have been told otherwise. It keeps things simple.

Interestingly enough, now having gone through the medical records in more depth I have discovered that the things my dr wrote about my medical confdition which is permanent (which dwp were satisfied with) they've now decided I dont have these problems when it comes to PIP. I dont mean they dont think they just dont fit the PIP descriptors in the right way I mean they've actually decided I dont have them at all. F***ing idiots. One hand doesn't know what the other is doing.

I'll be quite honest and say i think I should either be in receipt of both these benefits or neither. For example in terms of the ESA they appear to be in agreement with the fact that I have executive dsyfunction and cannot plan or organise things on my own and that my memory problems are so severe that I cant leave the house without another person most of the time because I cant remember where I am. (This is true, I've had this problem 23 years) Yet they have said on my PIP form i have 'a good memory' and can plan and follow a route unaided.

Anyway I look forward to hearing what rubbish they send me in the post next.

I dont know if it makes any difference but I actually received severe disability allowance since before 2000 and continued to be entitled to this benefit after it was scrapped. I say received but it didnt actually get paid it was cancelled out by another benefit... I dont really know.

It doesn't matter I suppose. I have been to see an accountant and it looks like I will be able to stay in my house even if I dont get PIP. Social work have now gotten involved and are aware of my situation. My doctor has written me a letter supporting my claim for PIP. There's nothing else I can do except wait.

Oh and also. The DWP are so incapable of getting things right that they've written to my mother to tell her she is no longer entitled to carer's allowance. She hasn't even claimed carer's allowance for me for around a decade and she doesn't even live in the same country as me.
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