ESA Severely Disabled Allowance stopped

Hi Paperman

The reason why a SDP would stop is:

The SDP became payable from the first day that all three of the following applied.

1. You had an award of ESA and we’re receiving or were entitled to receive Income Related ESA.

2. You had an award of PIP Daily Living

3. You met the criteria for payment of the SD Premium, namely that you lived alone or were considered to be living alone and no one receives Carers Allowance against your PIP award or as a couple you can qualify if both you and your partner get a qualifying benefit (PIP daily living).

From the sounds of it your PIP daily living component may have stopped or has someone claimed Carers Allowance for looking after you or has a partner recently moved in? You need to contact DWP PIP and ask for a copy of the assessors report which is called a PA4, also contact DWP ESA and ask why your ESA is being reduced.

Gary

Hi Paperman

You are correct when you say 'PIP daily living component and PIP mobility component does not count towards ESA.' but if you receive the daily living component of PIP and you live alone in receipt of IR ESA then you are eligible for additional premiums which is paid with your ESA.

At this moment it is a guessing game, you need to contact DWP to find out why your ESA is being reduced and then contact them again in regards to your PIP and ask for the assessors report.

Gary

Hi Paperman

If your daily living component has stopped then the assessors report should give you a good idea on the areas you need to concentrate on when requesting a Mandatory Reconsideration (MR)

Have a look at our guide on PIP Appeals (which includes Mandatory Reconsiderations). It might help you make up your mind. If you are going to put in for an MR you need to do it within one month of the decision. You should also ring and ask for the assessment report which will give you more details on you were scored. www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/help-for-claimants/pip

Understand that the assessor is offering an opinion when they say that you can do the PIP activities, tackling these head-on is unlikely to be successful, you need to show that the basis of that opinion is founded on incorrect information, so try and refer to your evidence to undermine what they have said.

Also, try and stick to issues that lead to your scoring points, I often hear members referring to the assessors spelling, as an example, whilst it may show a lack of professionalism, raising it as an issue isn't going to help you get an award.

Your primary task is to show that you meet the criteria, there are many reasons you may have failed, you need to address each of these but don't get bogged down in criticising the assessment report unless you can clearly show that it is incorrect, it is a lot easier to argue the facts of the situation;

Lastly, make sure that you understand the criteria that you are being assessed against you can put the best case forward that is possible but you won't score points if you do not meet the PIP Descriptors.

When you have a better idea of the issues with your claim, come back to the forum and we will do our best to help.

Gary