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ESA huge reductions in November 2018 but why?

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6 years 2 weeks ago #208369 by Ollie
Hi
Can anyone advise please.
Rate of my ESA basically always the same, however I have received a letter stating and updating what I get and will be getting this year.
It the states that in November I’ll get approx £88 per week less because of age change!!
I’ll be 65 by then, could it be that ?
But why? As I’ll still be in same position
They never mention state pension, but forecast says I’m due this in November!
Would it mean I’ll then claim state pension, plus this much reduced amount of ESA?
I really don’t know !!!!

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6 years 2 weeks ago #208381 by Gordon
Ollie

Based on your post it will be because your ESA will cease when you start to receive your State Pension.

Gordon

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

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6 years 2 weeks ago #208387 by Ollie
Thanks Gordon
But as said I thought this
However, it doesn’t say cease its days approx £88 less than I get now.
So with the reduced ESA in November and if plus my state pension, I’ll have more in total!
But if less than I’ll have a lot less than I receive now!
Maybe I should call them

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6 years 2 weeks ago #208389 by Gordon
Ollie

Your ESA isn't being reduced, it ceases, you cannot receive ESA and the State Pension at the same time. It's possible that it is a last payment which is not a full week.

Yes, if still in doubt then call them.

Gordon

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

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6 years 2 weeks ago #208396 by cyclops
Replied by cyclops on topic ESA huge reductions in November 2018 but why?
dear ollie, If it is any comfort exactly the same thing has happened to me. the letter I got seems to be gobbledegook saying that my ESA will go down in November 2018 after I have reached 65. There are some thing we have to do in this situation, consider claiming PIP particularly mobility, or advance claim Attendance allowance. You can make an advance claim for state pension four months in advance of retirement age, if you were born on or before 5/11/53 then your pension credit age is July 2018, as is your pension age if you are a woman, after that it is when you reach 65. Gordon is quite correct that ESA stops at state retirement age which why it is important to make an advance claim for both pension credit and state pension because you could be left for months without any money including housing benefit if you do not. According to my last conversation with the Pension Service it takes 35 working days to process a pension credit claim, I presume that's the lucky ones. It is possible to experience extreme delays in state pension decisions because of the incompatibility of the historic computer systems going back to the sixties. There seems to be difficulty in transitioning from working age benefits to older benefits that I cannot believe is accidental.

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