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ESA not paid
- keeptrying
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3 years 8 months ago #262859 by keeptrying
ESA not paid was created by keeptrying
I dont know if anyone can help, but my ESA was not paid - a week ago.
I submitted my savings review about 2 months ago but there should not be any change (or a very slight increase).
I rang last Tues and they said it was a computer error and i would be paid that day - They also said the review said 'NO CHANGE'
- but they only paid the basic amount and not the IR part.
So I rang Weds and got a completely disinterested man who couldnt be bothered to read through anything. He just said it was an issue with my savings - i said there should not be one - so he said they (whoever 'they' are) would ring me.
I have so far not heard any more - had no calls, no payments, and dont even know who or when anyone will call.
Added to that I am now concerned because I get free prescriptions etc, based on my IR element.
I dont know what else to do - i REALLY dont want to ring them again but how long should I wait?
Also to make it even more difficult, I am currently away, so cannot even see if they have written to me.
I submitted my savings review about 2 months ago but there should not be any change (or a very slight increase).
I rang last Tues and they said it was a computer error and i would be paid that day - They also said the review said 'NO CHANGE'
- but they only paid the basic amount and not the IR part.
So I rang Weds and got a completely disinterested man who couldnt be bothered to read through anything. He just said it was an issue with my savings - i said there should not be one - so he said they (whoever 'they' are) would ring me.
I have so far not heard any more - had no calls, no payments, and dont even know who or when anyone will call.
Added to that I am now concerned because I get free prescriptions etc, based on my IR element.
I dont know what else to do - i REALLY dont want to ring them again but how long should I wait?
Also to make it even more difficult, I am currently away, so cannot even see if they have written to me.
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- LL26
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3 years 8 months ago #262871 by LL26
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Replied by LL26 on topic ESA not paid
Hi walker,
It is very frustrating when you don't get answers from people, especially DWP! I can only suggest that you keep ringing once a day until you get a proper answer.
Whilst having income related benefits gives rise to automatic free prescriptions etc. You can of course get these whilst on low income. The income limit is actually set somewhat above the equivalent income related amount. You can fill in a form if this is a problem.
However, you were told there was no change to your benefit, so you are still entitled to ESAir and of course free pills etc. Just because the computer currently says no to actual payment, doesn't mean you have become less entitled.
Unless you have an urgent need to collect a prescription or have dentistry etc then don't worry because hopefully the computer glitch will get sorted before you need to get more medicine. Or if you do need urgent medicine, since your entitlement hasn't changed, you can still tick the exempt box.
Failing that, if you are very concerned, you could fill out the form for low income. (HC1) It's available on the NHS website.
Alternatively, you can pay for forthcoming medicines and get a receipt which will allow a full refund when ESAir is being paid.
As an aside. If you claim Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction then phone the council as these benefits often stop if you are no longer paid ESAir. There is an automatic notification via DWP, and certainly in my area, the council cancels benefits quickly, rather than check ongoing entitlement. A quick phone does usually get these benefits back in place.
Hopefully this helps.
LL26
It is very frustrating when you don't get answers from people, especially DWP! I can only suggest that you keep ringing once a day until you get a proper answer.
Whilst having income related benefits gives rise to automatic free prescriptions etc. You can of course get these whilst on low income. The income limit is actually set somewhat above the equivalent income related amount. You can fill in a form if this is a problem.
However, you were told there was no change to your benefit, so you are still entitled to ESAir and of course free pills etc. Just because the computer currently says no to actual payment, doesn't mean you have become less entitled.
Unless you have an urgent need to collect a prescription or have dentistry etc then don't worry because hopefully the computer glitch will get sorted before you need to get more medicine. Or if you do need urgent medicine, since your entitlement hasn't changed, you can still tick the exempt box.
Failing that, if you are very concerned, you could fill out the form for low income. (HC1) It's available on the NHS website.
Alternatively, you can pay for forthcoming medicines and get a receipt which will allow a full refund when ESAir is being paid.
As an aside. If you claim Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction then phone the council as these benefits often stop if you are no longer paid ESAir. There is an automatic notification via DWP, and certainly in my area, the council cancels benefits quickly, rather than check ongoing entitlement. A quick phone does usually get these benefits back in place.
Hopefully this helps.
LL26
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
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- keeptrying
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3 years 8 months ago #262876 by keeptrying
Replied by keeptrying on topic ESA not paid
Thank you for your reply, and no i dont need meds for a couple of weeks.
I have checked my housing benefit online, and it still says a full entitlement. I assumed, like you, that it would have been changed if the dwp had made a different decision - and yes they respond very quickly to dwp updates, here too.
I dont know if i can face calling tomorrow.
i try to only call first thing
I have checked my housing benefit online, and it still says a full entitlement. I assumed, like you, that it would have been changed if the dwp had made a different decision - and yes they respond very quickly to dwp updates, here too.
I dont know if i can face calling tomorrow.
i try to only call first thing
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- keeptrying
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3 years 8 months ago #262933 by keeptrying
Replied by keeptrying on topic ESA not paid
No call, so I rang this morning and spoke to a lovely chap who escalated the phone request to this morning.
I was rung about an hour or so later.
It has taken us about an hour to sort out - as they had more accounts listed for me than i have.
Turns out I have an ISA that changed acc. number when it matured and I totally forgot, because it was months and months ago, so they had 2 accounts for EXACTLY the same amount, but apparently that is not worth mentioning to me. And some other account of which i know nothing.
Also - they did NOT have some info, because it was on the back of one of my submitted sheets, and had not been scanned into their system.
They said i should avoid double siding, but i have never had a problem before, and there is a limit to how many sheets of paper i can fit into their returns envelope.
And - apparently the system is VERY old and cannot cope with lots of changes on someone's claim and since i have had a few account changes (and we really are only talking a few) the system crashed. Now my claim has to be removed from the system and put back on.
Another concern for me, as I am assuming that will now trigger an assessment.
This is all so exhausting and stressful, I feel sick.
I was rung about an hour or so later.
It has taken us about an hour to sort out - as they had more accounts listed for me than i have.
Turns out I have an ISA that changed acc. number when it matured and I totally forgot, because it was months and months ago, so they had 2 accounts for EXACTLY the same amount, but apparently that is not worth mentioning to me. And some other account of which i know nothing.
Also - they did NOT have some info, because it was on the back of one of my submitted sheets, and had not been scanned into their system.
They said i should avoid double siding, but i have never had a problem before, and there is a limit to how many sheets of paper i can fit into their returns envelope.
And - apparently the system is VERY old and cannot cope with lots of changes on someone's claim and since i have had a few account changes (and we really are only talking a few) the system crashed. Now my claim has to be removed from the system and put back on.
Another concern for me, as I am assuming that will now trigger an assessment.
This is all so exhausting and stressful, I feel sick.
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- Catherine
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3 years 8 months ago #262959 by Catherine
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Replied by Catherine on topic ESA not paid
Hello walker,
An administrative muck up on their part should not affect the type and length of your award.
Not everyone can take credit for crashing the DWP's system! I am pleased that they were however able to eventually sort things out for you.
Catherine
An administrative muck up on their part should not affect the type and length of your award.
Not everyone can take credit for crashing the DWP's system! I am pleased that they were however able to eventually sort things out for you.
Catherine
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
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