ESA Contribution Based

Norman4us

Hello,

I receive ESA and i am in the support group. The ESA I receive is currently contribution & income related. I have just found out that I can now take my occupational pension early due to ill health. this would give me a lump sum over maximum allowed for income related ESA. It would also give me approximately £60 a week.
As I am in the support group, would ESA contribution related still continue? I would be grateful for any advice.

Horseunderwater

When you are in the support group and getting contributions based ESA - extra income from your pension does not matter for that - you can have both. Did they give you an end date for the ESA award? They did for me. It was the same date as my Medical with ATOS. It runs for exactly 3 years and will be reviewed about then. So I am expecting to be migrated onto UC at that point. My Tax credits should have stopped by then, so that will be irrevevant at that point I think. But I will not know for sure until I get a letter from one agency or the other!
It would only affect your income if you were getting income related ESA.

HB58

Contribution based ESA disregards the first £85 per week of pension, so you should be able to keep all of your (C)ESA

Norman4us

Many thanks for the helpful replies, I feel more confident about taking early retirement pension now. I don't seem to have been given an end date for ESA award. Thanks again, I have found this forum very informative & helpful.

pmlindyloo

Since you are contribution based and income based it suggests that you are being paid other benefits - Council Tax benefit? Housing Benefit/Housing costs?

If you are, then please be aware that these are means tested and savings between £6000 and £16000 will reduce your award and any income (your pension) will affect it too.

You need to inform all benefit departments when you take your pension and receive your lump sum about the change of circumstances.