ESA and State Pension

Hi neptuno

ESA is not paid at the enhanced rate, you are getting it mixed up with PIP.

You can start your application up to 4 months before you reach State Pension age.

You can claim any time after you reach State Pension age but your claim can only be backdated for 3 months. This means you can get up to 3 months of Pension Credit in your first payment if you were eligible during that time.

There is a Severe Disability Element payable as part of Pension Credit, you may need to request it is added, the eligibility criteria is the same as ESA.

www.gov.uk/pension-credit

If you are receiving the Enhanced Disability Premium, also known as the Disability Income Guarantee, paid if you are in the Support Group or because you have DLA HRC or PIP Enhanced Daily Living then this is not payable under PC.

Gary

neptuno

If you reach State Pension Age before 8 January then you can start the process tomorrow, if not then you will have to wait.

Whether you should make the claim as soon as you are able is a decision that only you can make, perhaps you should start by finding out how much you might get?

www.gov.uk/check-state-pension

Gordon

neptuno wrote: Will ESA automatically stop as soon a state pension starts ? I’m trying to pre empt a double payment scenario.....

Yes, the day before you reach State Retirement Age.

Gordon