Hi juerra,
I assume that you are on old style ESA, (often called legacy benefits). There are 2 limits for savings, which can include money in the bank, stocks and shares and other investments. The first limit is £6000. ESA, and other legacy benefits such as Housing Benefit are not affected by up to £6000. Once you have savings etc of over £6000, you can still receive benefit, but for every £250 over £6k, £1 will be deducted off your benefit. No benefit will be payable if you have over £16,000 in savings.
I believe that the £10,000 amount refers to people in a care home n ESA, or pensioners claiming either Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction. As a pensioner you can still claim these benefits, but if you only have state pension and/or non means tested benefits such as PIP then you would need to claim Pension Credit. There are higher savings limits once on Pension Credit.
I hope this helps.
LL26
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