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ESA: How much is Income-Related top up to Contributions-based claim?

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1 year 4 months ago #281621 by FlemingWay
I was told my ESA claim is a combination of both versions of legacy ESA: Contributions-based with an Income-Related top-up.
I am in the Support group and was previously on Incapacity benefit. However the last reference I can find to my being entitled to both Contributions based AND Income-related is from 2016. My latest award letters make no reference to Contributions-based but call it all ‘income-related,’ although if I lost Contrib-based I was not informed of this change.
My question is a) How can I find out if I’m still on Contributions-based with an Income-Related top up (I have read that the fact that I’m receiving the Disability Income Guarantee means I am indeed on both, but I’m not 100% sure if this is true) and

b) what amount the Income-Related top up is?
This second bit is key as I reckon I’ve been overpaid due to a change in circumstance while I was too unwell to manage my affairs and inform them. I think I’ll have to repay the income-related portion of my ESA, but my question is how much?

I have been advised – though I’m not clear if this is accurate – that the breakdown of the ESA award is as follows:
Your living expenses = Contributions-based
Extra money because you are severely disabled = Income-Related
Extra money because of the Disability Income Guaranted = Income-Related
Extra money because you are in the Support Group = Contributions-based

Is the above correct to your knowledge? And is there any way to check this other than directly calling the DWP myself? A database an advocate can use? Thank you.

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1 year 4 months ago #281676 by Gordon
FlemingWay

The ESA Entitlement Letters are widely regarded as being c@@p, however, as this has been the case since 2008 it is unlikely that they will change now.

If you were successfully transferred from IB to ESA and your claim has been continuous then you remain entitled to Contribution Based ESA.

The Disability Income Guarantee (the Enhanced Disability Premium) indicates that you are also entitled to Income Related ESA.

ESA is made up of two allowances and a number of premiums.

For you, there is a Personal Allowance and the Support Group, both of these are payable for ESA(CB) and ESA(IR).

The premiums are only payable with ESA(IR), in addition to the EDP (see above) there is also a Severely Disability Premium referred to as "Money because you are severely disabled", there are also other premiums such as a Carers Premium and a Pensioners Premium.

Gordon

Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems

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1 year 4 months ago #281757 by FlemingWay
Thank you Gordon

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