ESA contribution based savings limit

Hi Brassed Off, I am not a mod and as they say you need specific qualified advice locally. Just to mention to check whether your personal situation and the estate would allow for you to be classed as 'vulnerable' and your share whether capital or income, put in a trust for you. There is info about this on the .gov website. If this were possible and was done, it could not affect your benefits as you do not have control of the money. So you would need a Trustee[/s] you could trust to pay out whenever you wanted say private dental treatment, replacements for your home or a holiday etc.
Regards,
Denby

Hi again Gary,
I have been trying to contact my local citizen advice bureau before ringing DWP but they never answer the phone!
I eventually plucked up the courage to contact DWP yesterday and mentioned that I may be due to inherit 50% of my mother's estate and said I wanted to ensure that this wouldn't affect my Contribution-based ESA as I am in the support group. The young lady on the phone said anything over £16,000 would affect my ESA! I was quite shocked at hearing this as having heard on this forum and various other websites that savings and money from the sale of a property would not affect my contribution-based ESA. I just wanted to hear it from DWP to be clear in my head that this would be totally above board and now I am very confused, to say the least. I also spoke to the local Industrial Injuries Department (which I have awarded for life) and they confirmed that any Inheritance from my mother's estate will not affect my benefit, I was wondering where I go form here and where I can get this clarified? many thanks.

My mother has passed away, sorry for misleading you. The estate has been left to my sister and me. I am so worried about losing my ESA, Will the citizen advice bureau be able to give accurate information on this?

Hi Brassed off,

I am also on CB esa (new style) suppport group, my husband works and I have never been asked if I have savings etc , it says that it is not a means tested benefit?

I copied this from gov website

Why should you claim New Style Employment and Support Allowance?
Your (or your partner’s) savings will not affect how much New Style ESA you’re paid. If your partner works, it does not affect your claim.

Most income is not taken into account (but a personal pension can affect the amount you may receive).

While you receive New Style ESA you’ll earn Class 1 National Insurance credits, which can help towards your State Pension and other contributory benefits in the future.

It is a regular fortnightly payment.

This table shows what you may be able to claim depending on your circumstances.

Your situation New Style ESA Universal Credit
You’ve lost your job and you’re too sick to work. You need help with living costs e.g. rent.

You’ve paid and/or been credited with NI contributions in the last 2 to 3 years (employed or self–employed). You can claim New Style ESA – even if your partner works or you and your partner have savings over £16,000 You can also claim UC if you (and your partner) have £16,000 or less in savings between you.

Your partner’s income will be taken into account as you will need to claim UC as a couple.

Obviously as there seems to be some doubt I would double check it, I think maybe the person you spoke to @ DWP may not understand the difference between CB and IR esa?

Hope you get sorted