2013 ESA reduced based on tax years 2002-2003?

wmk

Hi, I've suffered Cerebral Palsy from birth and currently claiming ESA, and today I received a letter saying that "We have used tax years ending 5 April 2002 and 5 April 2003 to assess your claim". Which seems to have resulted in me losing £60 week, compared to last year, which I desperately need. I worked briefly part time from 2001-2004 (but struggled and had to give up), would that be taken into account a decade later?

Any help would be much appreciated.

sammyjammy

For how long have you been claiming benefits?

Were you claiming Income support or Incapacity Benefit before ESA?

Are you in the support group or WRAG?

Horseunderwater

What benefit were you on before? Was it Income support or incap benefit?
If the latter then that may be why they are stating about the NI contributions being from 02/03? But they should not be reducing your benefit by £60/ week. If you have been put into the Support group, then I think that you should be on Income related ESA paid at the IB rates - so I'd definitely ring them up and ask what is going on.

epitome

You probably got IB & Income Support and you got money for your children.

ESA does not pay for children so you now have child tax credits which will take up the difference and probably pay you more than the £60

wmk

Thanks for the help. I started claiming Income support from 2000, then moved to ESA support group last year.

wmk

epitome wrote: »

You probably got IB & Income Support and you got money for your children.

ESA does not pay for children so you now have child tax credits which will take up the difference and probably pay you more than the £60

I don't have kids, I'm single and always lived with my parents due to my disability.

Dogger69

How much were you receiving, and how much do you receive now? Do you receive DLA?

epitome

Why have you made a new claim? If that is what you have done.

How much were you recieving on IS and IB and break it down into your allowance & premiums that you had.

Then break down how much ESA you are to get.

sammyjammy

wmk wrote: »

Thanks for the help. I started claiming Income support from 2000, then moved to ESA support group last year.

When you worked though did you come off benefits? If so that is why they are using those tax years, it goes back to when you first started your claim. If you were only claiming Income support (not IB) then it doesn't matter what tax years they use as your benefits will be means tested.

You need to answer Epitomes questions about the breakdown of your benefit so we can help further.

wmk

I came off benefits when I worked in 2001, though the job was only seasonal (worked 8 months in each of those years) and would then claim IB from November to March. In November 2004 I applied for both IB & IS, which I then received IS and I've been on that since been moved to ESA last year.

Anyway, today I (and my parents) spoke to the Job center and DWP who couldn't understand why they've used those tax years but stated I've lost my severe disability premium because I am not living on my own. This arose due to my change of address. I've never even lived on my own and they knew that already from my original ESA application

I'm now waiting for another form to fill in, which they supposed to have sent to me when I changed my address 2 weeks ago.

I'm now getting £121 a week, but they haven't broken down what I'm receiving.

I've also had DLA (middle care/high mobility) for life.

I appreciate all of the help.

Dogger69

They are correct, you should not have been receiving the SDP. Do you have a copy of your original application, can you prove that you said you were living with your parents?

There will be an overpayment. Whether this needs repaying will depend on who it is determined made the error. What is certain is that you will no longer receive the additional SDP. Surely you can manage on £120 a week, your outgoings will be low if you are living with your parents?