ESA and Prescription Charges

Pinkdebster

Hi everyone

I hope I've posted this in the correct place - if not, I apologise!!

I am in the Support Group of ESA and have always believed this is income-based. I have used my letter at the Dentist without a problem and I have always completed my prescriptions to this effect.

I have received a letter from the NHS Authority to say one of my prescriptions was "spot-picked" and that I do not qualify for free prescriptions. I forwarded them a copy of my award letter etc and today I have received a reply to say that award letter does not clarify/specify whether the benefit is income or contribution based and that I need to send further information in order to avoid a heavy fine.

Can someone possibly please advise?? I am at a loss as to what else to send??

Many thanks.

nannytone_2

prior to claiming ESA, were you working?

if you were wroking was it full/part time and how lonng had you been employed.

alternatively you could ring up ESA and ask them what type of ESA you arer getting

Pinkdebster

Hi, thanks for your reply. Yes, I've worked all my life full-time prior to becoming sick - I'm sure I was told it was contributions based for the first six months then I was swapped over. I'm just confused that the award letter doesn't say anything??

nannytone_2

i dont understand why theyd swap you over.
you'll have to phone and ask

sunnyone

Pinkdebster wrote: »

Hi everyone

I hope I've posted this in the correct place - if not, I apologise!!

I am in the Support Group of ESA and have always believed this is income-based. I have used my letter at the Dentist without a problem and I have always completed my prescriptions to this effect.

I have received a letter from the NHS Authority to say one of my prescriptions was "spot-picked" and that I do not qualify for free prescriptions. I forwarded them a copy of my award letter etc and today I have received a reply to say that award letter does not clarify/specify whether the benefit is income or contribution based and that I need to send further information in order to avoid a heavy fine.

Can someone possibly please advise?? I am at a loss as to what else to send??

Many thanks.

How much money do you get per week?

If you get under £100 its contributions based and you have been shouldnt have been claiming free scripta etc. and you will have to repay the whatever amount you have defrauded from the system alongside a penalty.

Pinkdebster

sunnyone wrote: »

How much money do you get per week?

If you get under £100 its contributions based and you have been shouldnt have been claiming free scripta etc. and you will have to repay the whatever amount you have defrauded from the system alongside a penalty.

It's over £100???

sunnyone

Pinkdebster wrote: »

It's over £100???

Do you get DLA?

sunnyone

My husband gets 15p under £100 per week contributions based ESA in the support group, you get more if you are entitled to income based ESA, do you have savings or a working partner?

Pinkdebster

Not at the moment - I have just applied for it on the advice of the Job Centre (I met with an advisor when I was in the assessment stage and she rings me periodically to see where I'm at).

The reason for the switch to contributions to income was..............when I first applied, my husband I were still together. He had been made redundant and was claiming Job Seekers (contribution based). He was in the process of being switched over to income-based when I became ill. We therefore made a joint claim for EAS and I'm absolutely certain I was told it was to be income-based. My husband and I have since split (the illness just put much pressure on us) and he left. I advised the powers that be that he had left and my award was put into my sole name and adjusted accordingly.

EDITED: No savings - my only income is the ESA and I also get HB.

Muttleythefrog

The DWP need to sort these letters out. Mine says 'we call this Contrib based and Income related ESA'... that could mean anything.. but it turns out to be the thing I least expected... mostly contrib and a bit income related (something that is distinctly not presented in the breakdown figures). Have a look at the breakdown on your last 'how much we pay you' type letter. I panic everytime I carry my award letter in case someone doesn't understand whether I'm getting IR or not. If you're getting Enhanced Dis Benefit (I think they refer to it as dis. income guarantee... to add more confusion) paid as part of ESA (for being in Support Gp) then I think this would imply Income related ESA.

sunnyone

Pinkdebster wrote: »

Not at the moment - I have just applied for it on the advice of the Job Centre (I met with an advisor when I was in the assessment stage and she rings me periodically to see where I'm at).

The reason for the switch to contributions to income was..............when I first applied, my husband I were still together. He had been made redundant and was claiming Job Seekers (contribution based). He was in the process of being switched over to income-based when I became ill. We therefore made a joint claim for EAS and I'm absolutely certain I was told it was to be income-based. My husband and I have since split (the illness just put much pressure on us) and he left. I advised the powers that be that he had left and my award was put into my sole name and adjusted accordingly.

EDITED: No savings - my only income is the ESA and I also get HB.

It sounds like you are on income based, ring and ask for a letter to clarify this for the NHS.