Private Pension on ESA and DLA confused ?

I would be so grateful for any info you could give as I am at a loss what do do. Initially on incapacity benefit I was then moved to ESA which as far as I can recall was combined Contribution and Means tested? Also on DLA High level care and mobility and receive child benefit for 1 child. I recently discovered I have a private pension £22k which I am able to access (several ways)aged 55 and under ill health. My health/disabilities are progressively deteriorating in line with my health condition my quality of life is diminishing. Given my need for additional adaptive equipment financial difficulties I would like to access my pension or some of it but am so so afraid it will affect my present and future benefits. Any advice at all would be gratefully appreciated.

Thank you so so much. I had no idea about pension as its been so long since I was able to work and did not make any further contributions when I stopped work I can not thank you and this site enough. We have no CAB in our area and I although I did gain advice from Pension Wise who focused on pension options but they were unable to give any advice regarding benefits. Probably like everyone else I live with the constant fear of benefits I live on as a disabled person being reduced or taken away. Sadly with my condition my life span is shortened and I had hoped this unexpected money would offer me an opportunity to ease financial pressures. thank you

As a rough guide, you could try putting your figures into an on-line benefit calculator and see if it says you are (still) entitled to benefits.

Note that this is only a rough guide but it might have to do if you really cannot get face2face advice.

I was in a similar position 2 years ago with 2 small pensions ( each around 40k ) I was on ESA(CB) so rang DWP and received a letter confirming that benefit would not be affected. I cashed one in completely and took the 25% tax free from the other, with a resulting small income.

You should be able to take 25% tax free which would still keep you under the 6k starting point. Any income then from your pension would then need to be declared. In reality, the ammount you will receive as income should not affect things like council tax credit