Daughter's Contribution-Based ESA ended. Income-Related ESA = O?

sanctuary

Hi everyone. My 20-year-old daughter has been diagnosed with a debilitating mental disorder and has been on contribution-based ESA for a year. She has made some progress, but she is still a fair bit away from being able to leave the house.

We received a letter today (dated 30 April) that her contribution-based entitlement has ended because it's been over 365 days.

Fair enough. But then the letter goes on to say that "we will pay you income-related ESA from 1 May - you will get £0.00 a week." :question:

We phoned JobCentrePlus. The woman we spoke with seemed to think it must be a mistake, but as they were about to close for the bank holiday weekend, I was told to phone back on Tuesday morning.

My daughter is now in a state of panic. If the notification is correct that she is no longer entitled to any form of ESA, would she now have to go on to JSA? If so this would mean that her benefits have been cut off abruptly, without warning.

I'm hoping someone here might be able to provide some clarification on what this means. The DirectGov page is vague and sheds no further light.

Thanks so much in advance.

Torry_Quine

After a year you become eligible for income based ESA unless you have a working partner or savings over £16,000.

sanctuary

Hi Torry. Yes, that's what confuses me. The letter says they will pay her income-related ESA. But then it says the amount will be £0.00

The woman at JCP seemed to believe it must be an error. I'm hoping she's right. Does it sound like a mistake?

Muttleythefrog

DWP letters regarding ESA seem to rarely be helpful or accurate. As above... she should get income related ESA (greater than 0!) if she meets the relevant savings/income criteria. I presume she has no partner, large amounts of savings or other relevant income? Hopefully someone will advise on how you can apply to get them to properly assess income related entitlement.

sanctuary

No partner, no savings, no income.

What's panicking her is that it appears all her benefits have stopped already (as of 1st May) without warning. So if she has to apply for income-related ESA, there will surely be a waiting period during which she'll be receiving no money whatsoever.

Very distressing.

schrodie

No income or partner or savings should means she comes off CB ESA and onto IB ESA. Hopefully the JCP office will sort it out quickly. She could ring them up and ask what she does in the meantime for money.

If the DWP start to drag their heels contact your MP it's amazing how things get done when they get a call from an MP!!!

Muttleythefrog

I think she needs to call them (number at top of DWP ESA letters) ASAP next week... tell them that she appears to have been transferred to income related ESA but the letter says she is getting £0 and this can't be correct as she has no income, partner or significant savings. Demand to be assessed for Income related... a form ESA3 may be supplied. I am guessing they may have inaccurate or lacking information and as such have defaulted a zero amount on the letter. Bottom line is they don't seem to care much for the claimant or accuracy/relevance of letters going out... in fact they may pat themselves on the back in this case since they actually achieved sending out a letter that may in part be true. Moving from contrib to income related should be a fairly smooth seemless event.

sanctuary

Thank you so much for the helpful and reassuring responses.

We will indeed 'phone on Tuesday, and I'll come back and report on this thread (and hopefully offer advice/information to others in a similar situation).

Thanks again and have a great Bank Holiday Weekend, folks. :j

Muttleythefrog

sanctuary wrote: »

Thank you so much for the helpful and reassuring responses.

We will indeed 'phone on Tuesday, and I'll come back and report on this thread (and hopefully offer advice/information to others in a similar situation).

Thanks again and have a great Bank Holiday Weekend, folks. :j

If she isn't already getting DLA then she may well qualify for some award (she sounds as screwed up as me.. perhaps she fancies a date..lol.. at her place and mine)... a completely separate matter. First port of call to check is probably. http://www.benefitsnow.co.uk/questions/dlagatewayquestions.asp

HB58

DWP said that the transfer from (C) to (IR) would be seemless...

Would it suprise you to hear that people have been told the DWP have 'run out' of ESA3s?? :mad:

sanctuary

Just reporting back in case it will be helpful to others in a similar situation.

We called Job Centre Plus and it was indeed an administrative error. My daughter's income-related ESA came through on schedule (and while it's been reduced from her contribution-based amount, it's certainly not £0.00 - as per the letter!).

Thank you to everyone who replied.