ESA and private pension

Hi, just a quick question. I am on CB and Income based ESA in the support group.

I'm now receiving private pension amount of £285 gross per month. I've had a letter from DWP which is counting that pension amount as income and they appear to have reduced my ESA. Am I right in thinking that the first £85.00 a week of a pension is disregarded as income? Thanks

emmandelo wrote:

Hi, just a quick question. I am on CB and Income based ESA in the support group.

I'm now receiving private pension amount of £285 gross per month. I've had a letter from DWP which is counting that pension amount as income and they appear to have reduced my ESA. Am I right in thinking that the first £85.00 a week of a pension is disregarded as income? Thanks

Hi,

The £85 per week disregard only applies in the case of your Contributory ESA. All of your pension will be counted with regard to your Income Based ESA.

Hence it is possible your Income Based ESA is possibly totally wiped out and your contributory ESA will be reduced by 50p for every £1.00 of Occupational Pension over the £85 disregard.

Pete

as Pete says, c / based ESA £ 85 pension limit, also ANY! savings over £6k ESA reduced by £1 for every £250 over that amount, I am in these categorys so info first hand! so much for paying in since 1964 ( first job), and then getting cancer silly me! all the best to you Rap.

Forgive me if this is a double posting. Thanks Pete. I think I understand that now. How do i tell how much of my ESA award is CB and how much of it is Income based? The letter is very confusing.

emmandelo wrote:

Forgive me if this is a double posting. Thanks Pete. I think I understand that now. How do i tell how much of my ESA award is CB and how much of it is Income based? The letter is very confusing.

Hi,

Full Contributory ESA in the Support Group is normally £99.85 per week. Any ESA paid over this amount would be Income Related ESA.

Also sorry to say, if your Income Related ESA is wiped out by Pension income or savings (as mentioned in the post above), you may also lose certain 'passported' benefits such as full Housing and Council Tax Benefit and free Prescriptions, glasses, dental etc. Albeit you may still qualify for some level of means tested benefits based on your income.

Pete

Okay, thanks very much. I'll wait and see how much I get when it's due and then try and work it out.