Is this award for ESA correct?

MoneySaverForever

Hi moneysavers, this is my first ever post here but I've seen Martin Lewis on the television once or twice and I thought I would do an internet search of him because he seemed to know what he was talking about, didn't realise he had a forum full of other people who can share information with each other and after having a look around I can see it's full of lots of helpful people. I wonder if you can help me too?

A few months ago I took ill and, because of that, my doctor told me to put in a claim for ESA which was new to me because I haven't dealt with anything like this before. For the first 13 weeks he provided me with certificates on a monthly basis and the benefit continued to be paid at what I believe was called an "assesment rate". Unfortunately, my condition has now got a whole lot worse and I've been provided with a home help, support worker to help me get out and about for shopping and things and a social worker visited to tell me that they'll be representing me and that normally people have to attend medicals to continue to claim this benefit but that this is't necessary in my case and that the benefit people have placed me into the Support Category?

The social worker sent a benefits advisor from the local council to visit me a few weeks ago and just this morning I received a letter outlining everything about my claim. Please forgive me but I've never claimed benefits before and I honestly think there must be some mistake as the amounts seem too high. I really appreciate all the help being given to me but I would hate for there to be some mistake and then have to pay this money back as the last thing I need right now is stress in my life. I asked a friend who's the same age as myself (24) and they said that if you're unemployed you're only supposed to get £50 a week? anyway, here's what the letter says, maybe you can make more sense of it than me?

Your living expenses: £67.50
Extra money because you are saverly disabled: £55.30
Extra money because of the Disability Income Guarantee: £14.05

Limited capability for work addition

Extra money because you are in the Support Group: £32.35
Which gives a total Employment and Support Allowance amount: £169.20

Income and Benefits

DLA - Care Comp for you is not counted as income towards Employment and Support Allowance
DLA - Mobil Comp for you is not counted as income towards Employment and Support Allowance

The amounts on this page apply from 26 April 2011 to 28 November 2011.

Many thanks for your help.

MrsManda

The Support Group rate is £99.85
The rest of the premiums sound about right as you've been classed as being severely disabled.

Officially for single people under 25 the assessment rate is £53.45 which I presume is where your friend got £50 from. But you've now been assessed, hence getting the £99.85 plus additional premiums.

If you are not already claiming DLA it sounds like you ought to be.

Two4Tuesday

If you're getting DLA mid-rate or high rate care then the Severe Disability Premium may be correct.

However, if you are living with any non-dependents in your household then you might not be entitled to the Severe Disability Premium.

Did you complete an IS10 form, or were you awarded the Severe Disability Premium without being asked for that?

G51shopaholic

Tell your support worker you want to request the support group rate is BACK DATED to the 1st day of your claim! It is your right.

I receive ESA Support Group Rate but mine is Contribution based so I do not get any of the ad on's BUT I did get
mine backdated to the 1st day of my claim.

Good luck

Cpt.Scarlet

G51shopaholic wrote: »

Tell your support worker you want to request the support group rate is BACK DATED to the 1st day of your claim! It is your right.

I receive ESA Support Group Rate but mine is Contribution based so I do not get any of the ad on's BUT I did get
mine backdated to the 1st day of my claim.

Good luck

The full rates of ESA are paid from the beginning of week 14 of your claim, they can't be paid before this.

G51shopaholic

Cpt.Scarlet wrote: »

The full rates of ESA are paid from the beginning of week 14 of your claim, they can't be paid before this.

Oh yes they can - if you read the Act you will see that the claimant has the right to ask to be placed in a group PRIOR to a medical.

I GOT MINE BACKDATED TO 1st day of ESA claim, NO 3 DAY WAIT!

I posted re this back in early 2009.

I was off sick for 28 weeks then told I had to claim ESA (1st though I was given wrong information by jobcentre staff and put a cliam in for Incapasity benefit) I got ESA Support Group Rate and this was backdated after I mentioned I read the Act.

Cpt.Scarlet

G51shopaholic wrote: »

Oh yes they can - if you read the Act you will see that the claimant has the right to ask to be placed in a group PRIOR to a medical.

I GOT MINE BACKDATED TO 1st day of ESA claim, NO 3 DAY WAIT!

I posted re this back in early 2009.

I was off sick for 28 weeks then told I had to claim ESA (1st though I was given wrong information by jobcentre staff and put a cliam in for Incapasity benefit) I got ESA Support Group Rate and this was backdated after I mentioned I read the Act.

Yes, because you were covered under the Advanced Award rules, the OP is not and therefore the full payment is only payable from the begining of week 14.