Income Related ESA & Savings.

Hi Team
I understand that the Savings threshold for IR ESA claimants is £16,000 before eligibility is lost. I also understand the tariffed amounts between £6,000 & £16,000. But I am trying to decipher though if the £16,000 is as an annual amount or if the claimant receives staggered amounts throughout a financial year that had to be used for essential items, then if this amount, if added up, would go above £16,000, but this would not have been over the threshold in the bank account due to the essential ongoing spending.
Sorry if the question is not very clear, but basically I am trying to find out if the criteria looks at the level of savings not going above £16,000 at any one time, or if the claimant is generally only allowed £16,000 over a whole year.
Thank you for any advice you can give.

Thank you Gary
I don't really understand the answer sorry.
So if someone, for example, had £14,000 & had to spend say £2,000 on white goods, then in the same year had another £3,000 as a gift from a will, the £3,000 then would not be considered as taking them over the £16,000 limit.? (ie: £14,000 + £3,000).

are there savings limits if you are in the support group, but it is contribution based ?

Your (or your partner's) income and savings will generally not affect how much contribution-based ESA you're paid. ... There's no time limit if you're in the support group or if you're getting income-related ESA. This may carry on beyond 12 months, provided you still meet the qualifying criteria.24 Mar 2021