esa appeal from wrag to support grou

blue wrote: hi mods, i received benefit award today from dwp which states that they have paid ESA SG backdated to 20 july last year after tribunal states i should have been in that group from that date. yet the letter states they have paid the first payment which includes arrears of 202.10p. i have tried contacting them as i am sure it should be more than that, but no answer from them. could you shed some light on this for me please

We are really not in a position to calculate your arrears, there are just too many factors for us to consider, however, a back payment of £202.10 seems light even if it was just the difference between the WRAG and the Support Group, which in round numbers should be £6 per week or £312 (£6 x 52= £312).

Were you receiving a Transitional Payment as this would potentially affect the amount you are due?

Other than getting face to face advice from a trained advisor who can work out what you should actually be receiving now and therefore what back payments you are owed, your only way of dealing this is to speak to the DWP. The call centre staff are unlikely to be able to give you an answer, so ask for a call back either from the ESA section or the Payments department.

Gordon

blue wrote: yes thanks, i appreciate the position you are in with regards to my question. they are only paying me disability premium from26 april this year let my claim has been backdated to 20/7/12. i cant understand where they are coming from because they should have backdated the premium to last year

Providing you were receiving ESA(IR) at the time that the Tribunal Decision applied to, then you should receive the EDP from then as well.

The ESA rates changed in April, I am wondering if they have made a payment based on current rates and will make a second payment based on the previous rates.

Gordon

blue wrote: hi again, looking at the award again it states that from 26 april me ESA it states from this date i will receive 121.65 per week which is ESA AT 106.50 and 15.15p per week which i assume is EDP. no backdated payment

That sounds correct, the ESA payment system is not very good and struggles to cope with combined payments so at the very least I would expect your to have a payment at the new rate and a second payment which would cover any owed money.

Gordon