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Esa
- Alybongo65
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3 years 11 months ago #259924 by Alybongo65
Esa was created by Alybongo65
I have been a member for a few years & find this site extremely helpful
If I could kindly ask your opinion on a couple off things please or guide me to where perhaps I could find out , many thanks in advance.
I am on ESA in support group contribution based .
receive Living experiences & top up support group extra money .
My question is I’ve had a new amount awarded & nearly 70% higher,
I was not getting certain allowances & out off the blue I am getting .
Severely disabled Extra money
Disability income guarantee extra money
Question ~ should I have been getting these awards all along ? Or is this a new award that’s happening. last thing I need is to have a letter saying you owe us xyz .
I also get pip I was on higher for daily and standard for mobility,
Then from July 2020 the awarded went higher for both daily and mobility.
As at the time I was new to applying I didn’t appeal on the mobility part especially seen a few people went to appeal , people upset failed & some lost there pip all together.
I was & am grateful for having any kind off award .
I’m dyslexic and do find the paperwork rather confusing reading it and reading it over and over still non the wiser .
I've tried to call DWP many times but phones always busy left on hold or told try again later .And am awaiting a call off CAB
my next Question is Should I have been on higher for both all along ...I know that this may be difficult to answer , I read the on the News Board that some people are getting there pip awards looked at, I understand as it’s so complex that you may not be able to advise on individual cases .
Any information no matter how small would be gratefully received.
Alison
If I could kindly ask your opinion on a couple off things please or guide me to where perhaps I could find out , many thanks in advance.
I am on ESA in support group contribution based .
receive Living experiences & top up support group extra money .
My question is I’ve had a new amount awarded & nearly 70% higher,
I was not getting certain allowances & out off the blue I am getting .
Severely disabled Extra money
Disability income guarantee extra money
Question ~ should I have been getting these awards all along ? Or is this a new award that’s happening. last thing I need is to have a letter saying you owe us xyz .
I also get pip I was on higher for daily and standard for mobility,
Then from July 2020 the awarded went higher for both daily and mobility.
As at the time I was new to applying I didn’t appeal on the mobility part especially seen a few people went to appeal , people upset failed & some lost there pip all together.
I was & am grateful for having any kind off award .
I’m dyslexic and do find the paperwork rather confusing reading it and reading it over and over still non the wiser .
I've tried to call DWP many times but phones always busy left on hold or told try again later .And am awaiting a call off CAB
my next Question is Should I have been on higher for both all along ...I know that this may be difficult to answer , I read the on the News Board that some people are getting there pip awards looked at, I understand as it’s so complex that you may not be able to advise on individual cases .
Any information no matter how small would be gratefully received.
Alison
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- LL26
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3 years 11 months ago #259927 by LL26
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Replied by LL26 on topic Esa
Hi Alybongo65,
Thank you for your post, I am glad thatvfind our website helpful.
Firstly, a couple of clarifications. Do you live alone, or without any other adults? Secondly, I'm not sure what you mean by living experiences and support group top up.
If you go live alone, and have no other income apart from benefits, and have little or no savings then you would qualify for income based ESA. This is effectively the same benefit but being means tested you can qualify for all sorts of extra things Including SDP (severe disability premium). On ESAcb that is a flat rate allowance for support group, no SDP can be paid. However, on income based ESA, if you have at least standard rate Daily Living PIP, or an equivalent such as DLA, then you can get SDP if you live alone and no one claims Carer’s Allowance for looking after you.
So, possibly the extra money and SDP you now appear to receive could be a mistake, however, it is also possible that as you say, perhaps you should have always been receiving ESAib?
Historically, DWP had a habit of only awarding ESAcb, even for those who had no other income. And yes, this has meant several people have been very much underpaid as a result.
If you have always had no other income or little savings since you began ESA, then potentially you should have been put in ESAib not ESAcb. If you haven't had anyone claim Carer’s Allowance for you, and should have been receiving ESAib, you would have been eligible for SDP as soon as you were entitled to Daily Living of PIP or at least middle rate care for DLA if you had that previously.
Do you have all your ESA & PIP/DLA award letters from when these benefits started?
It may be helpful to look at these and check when each benefit started, any changes in amounts, apart from just annual increases.Also if you have bank statements for the same time, or could get these, that might help. If you can yourself, of with a friend, see if you can work out whether you had over £6000 savings at any time whilst on ESA. (This is the lower threshold.) Of course if you have never had that much, then you won't need to check!
Is there any time when you had other income coming in, or lived with someone who had other income including benefits? If, so write the dates and income if you know it on a piece of paper. Rough amounts would probably ok if you don't remember, but again bank statements may help here.
The reason I ask you to collect this information is that it should show whether you have been underpaid. You have said that you will try and get an appointment with CAB. Take all the award letters, bank statements and income details with you. If you can't get these, or a few pages are missing don't worry, just take everything you can find.
Explain
1. that you have suddenly started to get SDP, is this correct?
2. Should you have been getting ESA income based previously, and from when? (Have you been underpaid?)
3. If you get Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction for the same time would this be affected by getting SDP.? (Could these benefits be underpaid?)
4.Can a full benefits check be done to ensure that you are getting everything you are entitled to.
5. If an overpayment has occurred, can CAB help you deal with this. (If you haven't applied for SDP, and are not entitled, and DWP pay this then whilst it still may be an overpayment it is likely to be made via "official error " which means you shouldn't have to pay this back. ) However if this is an overpayment , then it is important to investigate this, to avoid the possibility of having to pay back a large amount, which could occur if you do nothing.
I hope you can manage to sort this out.
Good luck.
LL26
Thank you for your post, I am glad thatvfind our website helpful.
Firstly, a couple of clarifications. Do you live alone, or without any other adults? Secondly, I'm not sure what you mean by living experiences and support group top up.
If you go live alone, and have no other income apart from benefits, and have little or no savings then you would qualify for income based ESA. This is effectively the same benefit but being means tested you can qualify for all sorts of extra things Including SDP (severe disability premium). On ESAcb that is a flat rate allowance for support group, no SDP can be paid. However, on income based ESA, if you have at least standard rate Daily Living PIP, or an equivalent such as DLA, then you can get SDP if you live alone and no one claims Carer’s Allowance for looking after you.
So, possibly the extra money and SDP you now appear to receive could be a mistake, however, it is also possible that as you say, perhaps you should have always been receiving ESAib?
Historically, DWP had a habit of only awarding ESAcb, even for those who had no other income. And yes, this has meant several people have been very much underpaid as a result.
If you have always had no other income or little savings since you began ESA, then potentially you should have been put in ESAib not ESAcb. If you haven't had anyone claim Carer’s Allowance for you, and should have been receiving ESAib, you would have been eligible for SDP as soon as you were entitled to Daily Living of PIP or at least middle rate care for DLA if you had that previously.
Do you have all your ESA & PIP/DLA award letters from when these benefits started?
It may be helpful to look at these and check when each benefit started, any changes in amounts, apart from just annual increases.Also if you have bank statements for the same time, or could get these, that might help. If you can yourself, of with a friend, see if you can work out whether you had over £6000 savings at any time whilst on ESA. (This is the lower threshold.) Of course if you have never had that much, then you won't need to check!
Is there any time when you had other income coming in, or lived with someone who had other income including benefits? If, so write the dates and income if you know it on a piece of paper. Rough amounts would probably ok if you don't remember, but again bank statements may help here.
The reason I ask you to collect this information is that it should show whether you have been underpaid. You have said that you will try and get an appointment with CAB. Take all the award letters, bank statements and income details with you. If you can't get these, or a few pages are missing don't worry, just take everything you can find.
Explain
1. that you have suddenly started to get SDP, is this correct?
2. Should you have been getting ESA income based previously, and from when? (Have you been underpaid?)
3. If you get Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction for the same time would this be affected by getting SDP.? (Could these benefits be underpaid?)
4.Can a full benefits check be done to ensure that you are getting everything you are entitled to.
5. If an overpayment has occurred, can CAB help you deal with this. (If you haven't applied for SDP, and are not entitled, and DWP pay this then whilst it still may be an overpayment it is likely to be made via "official error " which means you shouldn't have to pay this back. ) However if this is an overpayment , then it is important to investigate this, to avoid the possibility of having to pay back a large amount, which could occur if you do nothing.
I hope you can manage to sort this out.
Good luck.
LL26
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
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- Alybongo65
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3 years 11 months ago #259935 by Alybongo65
Replied by Alybongo65 on topic Esa
Hi many thanks for you reply it’s been very useful,
It’s definitely a mine field the system is so very confusing, I did have a dreadful experience in 2019 I’ve always been on contribution esa in a support group as I’ve savings ,& was told it was none means tested , I had no clue on what exactly that was but just carried on & again being dyslexic and having no help with paperwork .
I had unbeknown to me was put on contribution and income related to top my money up . I was getting about approximately £100
I didn’t think much off it as that was all I was getting . ( again I don’t mean to be ungrateful) I have a mortgage and that esa just about covered it , my savings was a endowment that I had been paying 25 years , but like I said I was told I was on contribution and was not aware that this was not allowed , but saying that if I didn’t have it I wouldn’t have afforded to live and probably would have had to seek my house .
I live in my own except my 2 cats who are my life line especially during the viris .
my son was living with me but not working after leaving university & on jobs seaker ,he moved out and living with his girlfriend,After getting a job
I had a extremely difficult letter saying I was going to have a phone call in a month no reason but I must take the call , well I went into complete panic mode , I found out on the call that someone said I was working which was untrue as I am extremely vulnerable and definitely not in right mind to work , this deeply upset me as I didn’t know who would say that and made me question everyone , again because my metal health it wouldn’t leave my mind and even to this day upsets me . So they requested statements going back to my endowment 4 years ago , after nearly 6 months with no esa , I had a bill for Approximately £6.000 plus a council tax bill for £2700 ,I did get back pay for my esa but that was swallowed up with the overpayments,
I was absolutely beside myself and because my bipolar depression anxiety and extreme PDSD owe to into total melt down. And on multiple medication.
So yes I’m more than aware off being over paid and sadly learnt the hard way , so when again they wanted statements from 2019 to date as my saving had gone down with everything over £200 ,
I had to pay back nearly £10.000 , I have bills morgage off over £1000 a month not including food clothing car services petrol and getting £113 a week , And sadly money does not last forever also the money so yes my money had gone down . Not spent on Gucci or exotic holidays that’s for sure. They would have seen this on the statements .
I had a call after 4 moths off nail biting, saying everything was fine and next I get a back payment off £700 and a letter saying I’m getting all these extra payments.
They are also aware off all money as they have up to date statements.
Yes I get pip
And thankfully had guidance of swan advocacy who also accompanied me to meeting . They are amazing . There’s no way I could have done it on my own with my anxiety and other mental health issues.
I was awarded
standard Mobility
High daily living
But On my renewal I was upgraded to high for both Last year and a extension till 2023
So as you can imagine seeing this paperwork I went into automatic panic zone .
I do get council tax reduction and pay £29 a mouth my council tax band F
I’ve just had a council tax form to see if I’m getting what I should . So have to fill out that out .
No one receives Carer allowance For myself
I’ve never had any other income other than my endowment, that I have paid back & never received a letter to say I have but I did call and it says it on the system. I didn’t think that was good as again I was did they get it didn’t they .
When I said about the figures
I Meant I got £74 living and the Support allowance which added up to £113 a week . Bad spelling sorry .
I did not get DLA never have ,
Letters I do but would have to sort them out , I know I’ve never had any other payment. Other living costs and support group Payment . These payments are definitely new.
Think I’ve covered everything.
It’s definitely a mine field the system is so very confusing, I did have a dreadful experience in 2019 I’ve always been on contribution esa in a support group as I’ve savings ,& was told it was none means tested , I had no clue on what exactly that was but just carried on & again being dyslexic and having no help with paperwork .
I had unbeknown to me was put on contribution and income related to top my money up . I was getting about approximately £100
I didn’t think much off it as that was all I was getting . ( again I don’t mean to be ungrateful) I have a mortgage and that esa just about covered it , my savings was a endowment that I had been paying 25 years , but like I said I was told I was on contribution and was not aware that this was not allowed , but saying that if I didn’t have it I wouldn’t have afforded to live and probably would have had to seek my house .
I live in my own except my 2 cats who are my life line especially during the viris .
my son was living with me but not working after leaving university & on jobs seaker ,he moved out and living with his girlfriend,After getting a job
I had a extremely difficult letter saying I was going to have a phone call in a month no reason but I must take the call , well I went into complete panic mode , I found out on the call that someone said I was working which was untrue as I am extremely vulnerable and definitely not in right mind to work , this deeply upset me as I didn’t know who would say that and made me question everyone , again because my metal health it wouldn’t leave my mind and even to this day upsets me . So they requested statements going back to my endowment 4 years ago , after nearly 6 months with no esa , I had a bill for Approximately £6.000 plus a council tax bill for £2700 ,I did get back pay for my esa but that was swallowed up with the overpayments,
I was absolutely beside myself and because my bipolar depression anxiety and extreme PDSD owe to into total melt down. And on multiple medication.
So yes I’m more than aware off being over paid and sadly learnt the hard way , so when again they wanted statements from 2019 to date as my saving had gone down with everything over £200 ,
I had to pay back nearly £10.000 , I have bills morgage off over £1000 a month not including food clothing car services petrol and getting £113 a week , And sadly money does not last forever also the money so yes my money had gone down . Not spent on Gucci or exotic holidays that’s for sure. They would have seen this on the statements .
I had a call after 4 moths off nail biting, saying everything was fine and next I get a back payment off £700 and a letter saying I’m getting all these extra payments.
They are also aware off all money as they have up to date statements.
Yes I get pip
And thankfully had guidance of swan advocacy who also accompanied me to meeting . They are amazing . There’s no way I could have done it on my own with my anxiety and other mental health issues.
I was awarded
standard Mobility
High daily living
But On my renewal I was upgraded to high for both Last year and a extension till 2023
So as you can imagine seeing this paperwork I went into automatic panic zone .
I do get council tax reduction and pay £29 a mouth my council tax band F
I’ve just had a council tax form to see if I’m getting what I should . So have to fill out that out .
No one receives Carer allowance For myself
I’ve never had any other income other than my endowment, that I have paid back & never received a letter to say I have but I did call and it says it on the system. I didn’t think that was good as again I was did they get it didn’t they .
When I said about the figures
I Meant I got £74 living and the Support allowance which added up to £113 a week . Bad spelling sorry .
I did not get DLA never have ,
Letters I do but would have to sort them out , I know I’ve never had any other payment. Other living costs and support group Payment . These payments are definitely new.
Think I’ve covered everything.
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- Gary
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3 years 10 months ago #259975 by Gary
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Replied by Gary on topic Esa
Hi Alybongo65
If you are only receiving Contribution Based ESA then a lump sum will not affect your ESA but a regular payment will. If the pension is more then £85/week then there will be a £1/week deduction for every £2 in excess of the £85.
If you are receiving any Income Related ESA, either in part or in whole, then it will affect your ESA.
First, there is an assets and savings rule if you take a lump sum, see
Asset and savings rule for ESA(IR)
Secondly, any regular payments will be deducted £ for £ from any ESA(IR) that you receive.
If the ESA(IR) is fully eroded then you will lose access to passported benefits such as free prescriptions and dental care.
As you are in receipt of enhanced Daily living component of PIP then you will receive an additional premium in your ESA called EDP (enhanced disability premium).
As your son has moved out and you live on your own and no one claims carers allowance for caring for you then you will be entitled to SDP ( severe disability premium).
if DWP were not aware of your endowment policy then it will create an overpayment as you were in receipt of both IR and CB ESA. Savings are not taken into account for CB ESA but they are taken into account for IR ESA.
Gary
If you are only receiving Contribution Based ESA then a lump sum will not affect your ESA but a regular payment will. If the pension is more then £85/week then there will be a £1/week deduction for every £2 in excess of the £85.
If you are receiving any Income Related ESA, either in part or in whole, then it will affect your ESA.
First, there is an assets and savings rule if you take a lump sum, see
Asset and savings rule for ESA(IR)
Secondly, any regular payments will be deducted £ for £ from any ESA(IR) that you receive.
If the ESA(IR) is fully eroded then you will lose access to passported benefits such as free prescriptions and dental care.
As you are in receipt of enhanced Daily living component of PIP then you will receive an additional premium in your ESA called EDP (enhanced disability premium).
As your son has moved out and you live on your own and no one claims carers allowance for caring for you then you will be entitled to SDP ( severe disability premium).
if DWP were not aware of your endowment policy then it will create an overpayment as you were in receipt of both IR and CB ESA. Savings are not taken into account for CB ESA but they are taken into account for IR ESA.
Gary
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
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