ESA disability element can anyone explain?

brittone05

My husband has recently had another medical with ATOS and his letter has come through saying that his ESA will change from April to include a disbility element.

Can anyone please explain what this means? I wasn't aware that disabilities are done via ESA and didn't think he was entitled to claim DLA as one of his medical problems relates to mental health.

Thank you in advance for any useful insight xxx

sja75

Hello

Click on;

https://www.nhs.uk/CarersDirect/moneyandlegal/otherbenefits/Pages/ESA-how-much.aspx


... Look for Premiums at the bottom of the page, gives you all the info.

brittone05

Thanks SJA.

It says on the link that you only get the disability elements if you are in receipt of DLA at either middle/high rate for severe premium if you don't have a carer or high rate DLA for the enhanced premium.

My husband receives no DLA and hasn't done so since he was originally signed off work.

Am I right in interpreting it that we should have been receiving DLA or am I reading it all wrong? xxx

EDIT - to add, it must be the Enhanced disability premium that he will receive as his ESA will go up by approx £30 per fortnight. I really don't understand DLA at all and hope someone can help xx

sja75

If your husband has being placed in the Support Group he will receive the Enhanced Disability Premium.

Have a click on this regards DLA, he maybe entitled to claim.

http://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/disability-living-allowance-dla/dla-aa-cuts/2-min-mh-test

sja75

And if you think you have a potential claim...

Have a click on:

http://www.nacc.org.uk/downloads/dis...AdultGuide.pdf

Whilst a lot of may not relevant, its a document that will 'walk' you through the application.

brittone05

He doesn't have to attend a support group hun or any work finding related meetings etc.

Why do they haveto make it so confusing xx

sja75

How much does he get paid for his ESA?

brittone05

He gets the £133 per week and as from April, it will go up to £166 per week or thereabouts ( without double checking the letter ) xxx

sja75

Sounds like he is in the Support Group of ESA to me...

There are two 'groups' to ESA.

Firstly the Support Group. People placed in this group have being judged too far away from working due to their condition. Any work related activity is voluntary.

Secondly is Work Related Activity Group (WRAG). People placed in this group have being judged to nearer to get back to work and have to do work related activity.

brittone05

Ahh I thought it meant like a group he had to attend or something hun sorry.

He has been in this group then since he originally went onto ESA which was when it first came out but only now does it say about the disability premium and the increase in payments. Is the increase because it is going up in general would you think?

Thanks so much for your help hun xx

sja75

Click here for all the benefit rates from April:

http://data.parliament.uk/DepositedPapers/Files/DEP2012-1830/ScheduleofproposedbenefitratesfromApril2013.pdf