ESA, IIDB & Pension Credit - is it a waste of time?

rotoguys

We receive ESA (Support Group) & DLA for me, AA & OAP for my wife and have our income topped up with Pension Credit including two lots of Carers Allowance + all of the mortgage interest paid.

I have only recently realised that I could have PC increased by the same amount if I close the ESA claim. That's something I have in my mind. I believed up until recently that you HAD to claim ESA if you were sick irrespectively if you have a means tested benefit.

Now for the past 15 months I have been fighting for IIDB. Been to a Tribunal and have now won 40% until Feb 2014.

Today I have received a letter telling me that the PC claim is to be reduced by this new award.

Is this right?

If it is, am I wasting my time claiming all of these disability benefits (ESA & IIDB). Going through endless assessments with ATOS, getting medical evidence together, asking for updated medical reports?

I have a horrible feeling that I should just be putting my feet up, enjoying the financial support I am getting, getting on with my hobbies etc., instead of facing endless assessments & re-assessments for the DWP.

Whiteknight

Yes, it is right any IIDB is taken into account as an income for Pension Credit, if you've been awarded 40% that would be about £60 a week.

A word of warning to you, depending on the benefit you are getting if you cancel it to increase your award of Pension Credit the Pension Service could still treat you as having it.

I've known someone cancel Incapacity Benefit and taken a reduction in income in order to qualify for Pension Credit and they were still treated as having the IB and therefore did not qualify.

Anyway I thought you were having difficulties spending the benefit money you were currently getting!!

veryunsure

rotoguys wrote: »

We receive ESA (Support Group) & DLA for me, AA & OAP for my wife and have our income topped up with Pension Credit including two lots of Carers Allowance + all of the mortgage interest paid.

.

May I ask, why two lots of Carers Allowance?

krisskross

veryunsure wrote: »

May I ask, why two lots of Carers Allowance?

I don't understand the Carers Allowance x 2 either. My husband is in receipt of higher rate AA but as I already claim State pension then Carers allowance can't be claimed.

I know it can happen but still see it as bonkers that someone can claim a fairly high rate of DLA and have someone claim carers allowance for them as they need minimum 35 hours care a week but can then claim Carers allowance for looking after someone else disabled for over 35 hours. Completely mad.

Mojisola

It's an underlying entitlement which doesn't give the full amount of CA but does give a bit extra.

rotoguys

Whiteknight wrote: »

Yes, it is right any IIDB is taken into account as an income for Pension Credit, if you've been awarded 40% that would be about £60 a week.

A word of warning to you, depending on the benefit you are getting if you cancel it to increase your award of Pension Credit the Pension Service could still treat you as having it.

I've known someone cancel Incapacity Benefit and taken a reduction in income in order to qualify for Pension Credit and they were still treated as having the IB and therefore did not qualify.

Anyway I thought you were having difficulties spending the benefit money you were currently getting!!

Thanks for that advice. Yes it is £60.12 a week.

Right so it is not as simple as closing the ESA & IIDB claims down which bring in £159.97 a week and claiming the £159.97 as an increase through Pension Credit.

I can't understand that as the government would still be paying out the same money. I can understand it if it was done to get the extra add ons you get with Pension Credit if you weren't already receiving it. In that case the government would be making you claim less money by claiming each individual benefit instead of just Pension Credit. Very crafty of them I would say!!

Yes I have now received the back pay which is fine and already spent on a holiday later this year to somewhere warm.

The weekly income is another matter. Having learned to live on nearly half of what we are now getting now makes it difficult to decide what to do with the rest. We are not ones to spend money just because we have it. We have given up the High Mobility for a new car.

We will have to see what we can do.

rotoguys

veryunsure wrote: »

May I ask, why two lots of Carers Allowance?

My wife gets AA and I have an underlying entitlement to CA for looking after her and get £31 a week, and I get DLA - MRC & HRM for which she gets an underlying entitlementto CA for looking after me of another £31 a week.

rotoguys

krisskross wrote: »

I don't understand the Carers Allowance x 2 either. My husband is in receipt of higher rate AA but as I already claim State pension then Carers allowance can't be claimed.

I know it can happen but still see it as bonkers that someone can claim a fairly high rate of DLA and have someone claim carers allowance for them as they need minimum 35 hours care a week but can then claim Carers allowance for looking after someone else disabled for over 35 hours. Completely mad.

I agree entirely with you. It is mad!!

But that is what we were told to claim for and Pension Credit have agreed it.

rotoguys

Mojisola wrote: »

It's an underlying entitlement which doesn't give the full amount of CA but does give a bit extra.

Yes you are right. Instead of getting £55.55 for each of us, they have reduced it to £31 for each of us.

krisskross

Mojisola wrote: »

It's an underlying entitlement which doesn't give the full amount of CA but does give a bit extra.

Doesn't give us any extra and I only get a reduced pension of £60 odd a week.

creditcardhelp11

rotoguys wrote: »

Yes you are right. Instead of getting £55.55 for each of us, they have reduced it to £31 for each of us.

They don't actually reduce your carer's allowance. The extra money because you're entitled to Carer's Allowance but not paid is the Carers Premium on Pension Credit. You should both also be getting the severe disability premium as you are both classed as severely disabled. The IIDB would reduce the Pension credit because Pension Credit is means tested and will be reduced by most forms of income. However, ESA-C, SP, IIDB, DLA and AA are non-means tested. For those with lots of savings or income, it is better to claim ESA, IIDB etc… rather than claiming Pension Credit as it is means tested. However, Pension credit can come with an Assessed Income Period. If for example you win the lottery during that period then you do not have to inform the pension service and your pension credit would not be reduced during that period. However, changes such as new benefit entitlement (IIDB) and moving address must be conveyed to the pension service.