Repercussions of closing ESA claim in favour of Pension Credits.

Whiteknight

I did not think you could end a contribution based benefit in order to get more money from an income related benefit. As Pension Credit would look at you depriving yourself of an income - if the 'Conts' based benefit is stopped and you don't appeal it then Pension Credit will look to increase the amount they pay.

murrayfan_2

Whiteknight wrote: »

I did not think you could end a contribution based benefit in order to get more money from an income related benefit. As Pension Credit would look at you depriving yourself of an income - if the 'Conts' based benefit is stopped and you don't appeal it then Pension Credit will look to increase the amount they pay.

But they're both contribution based aren't they?.

epitome

Whiteknight wrote: »

I did not think you could end a contribution based benefit in order to get more money from an income related benefit. As Pension Credit would look at you depriving yourself of an income - if the 'Conts' based benefit is stopped and you don't appeal it then Pension Credit will look to increase the amount they pay.

This has been debunked as a myth. But the OP does not need to close the ESA C anyway.

murrayfan wrote: »

But they're both contribution based aren't they?.

No, PC is income based.

murrayfan_2

epitome wrote: »

This has been debunked as a myth. But the OP does not need to close the ESA C anyway.

No, PC is income based.

Thanks, I just panicked a minute ago because I found an old thread where someone else was also talking about the deprivation thing.

Here's the latest - I had a telephone appointment with C.A.B yesterday, and the benefits adviser told me that they would advise my husband to terminate his ESA claim right away and just have his money from the one source, Pension Credits. I also rang the Benefits Enquiry Line and they told me the same. So I write out 2 letters, one to P.C, one to ESA, explaining that we'd like to do this as per the advice given to us.

I felt really relieved that we wouldn't have to go through the appeal process as I really don't feel well at the moment and can barely keep up with everything. But I haven't posted the letters yet and now I'm getting anxious again .

I can't understand how it could be classed as deprivation of income when both things are benefits coming from the same source? . And if my husband stayed in the work related group he's been put into, then ESA (contributions based) would cease in one year and he'd have to get just the Pension Credits anyway :think:.