Owe ESA money but appealing and now on UC?

Hello,

My mother has had a letter from ESA saying she owes them £7000 and has been overpaid for the past couple of years, She had a small amount of savings I believe she did not declare which is the reason for this however she does not have any savings now therefore will struggle to repay them in the first place... not ideal I know.

When her ESA was stopped we appealed it which is awaiting a tribunal date and she is claiming the basic UC in the meantime which are waiting to hear back from UC following on from a completion of a health questionnaire too see if she can receive the higher payments which we believe she is fully entitled too as her health is constantly declining.

I don't feel however we will be successful at appeal with ESA as she now owes them money and the dispute is that they stopped it in the first place. Please advise?

Can we still continue to receive UC and aim to receive the higher rate? Should we continue with the ESA appeal regardless? I know they are both linked to the DWP but UC is a different benefit to ESA therefore I believe she can continue too receive this and it wont be affected following on from her owing on ESA?

Please help

Thank you, Jade

Hello,

Ok thank you. So should we still continue with the Appeal for ESA also?

Thank you, Jade

Hello,

Also my mum sent the medical questionnaire back to UC roughly 2 months ago, How long is it until we should expect to receive a response from them? Thank you, Jade