ESA Award. Advice Needed

matelot123

I just got a notification letter telling me I am entitled to contribution based ESA and have been placed in the Support Group.This was (thankfully) done without me having to go for a (dreaded) ATOS medical.
The letter says I am entitled to £107.35 per week. I am also in receipt of DLA HRM and HRC and I receive a small occupational pension of less than £70 per week.
My query is that the letter says I may be entitled to claim Income related ESA and I wonder whether this would be necessary or whether it would result in a delay or change in payment. Is it worth applying? (especially as I don't even know what it is or what it will add/subtract from my ESA entitlement).
Any advice appreciated thank you.

schrodie

If you have a partner who works >24 hours a week and/or earns >£150 a week or you have savings of >£16000 then IR ESA is likely not an option.

Also any pension will be taken in account in its entirity. So e.g. £70 would be deducted from any IR ESA if it was payable.

matelot123

Thanks for that. Seems then that this part of ESA is not for me.Thanks for clearing that up for me.

HB58

Were you on IB before the ESA? If not, your pension will reduce the amount of ESA you recieve even if you are on the contributary benefit.

JS477

HB58 wrote: »

Were you on IB before the ESA? If not, your pension will reduce the amount of ESA you recieve even if you are on the contributary benefit.

CB ESA is only affected if your pension is over £85 a week then half the excess is deducted from your CB ESA.

matelot123

Yes, I was on IB before I was moved across to ESA. I had declared my pension when it began to be paid and fortunately, kept details of when I had informed the DWP, as they claimed I had not informed them. Another useful piece of advice I picked up on these boards

JS477

matelot123 wrote: »

Yes, I was on IB before I was moved across to ESA. I had declared my pension when it began to be paid and fortunately, kept details of when I had informed the DWP, as they claimed I had not informed them. Another useful piece of advice I picked up on these boards

You'll probably get another letter off them soon now you've moved off IB onto CB ESA asking for details of how much your pension is, this'll be an annual event so they know if and when your pension exceeds £85 so they can effectively "tax" your CB ESA at 50%!!!!.

You may also get a P45.

matelot123

Thanks for the warning. I don't think my pension will ever go above £85.00 pw. Not sure if that's a good or bad thing :rotfl:

markmarkmark

If you were on IB before 6 April 2001 continuously till the change to ESA then your pension is disregarded even if above the £85/week limit of CB ESA.

Also because you are on HRC DLA the pension should be disregarded on CB ESA.

It might be worth getting this on your file under transitional arrangements DWP Decision Makers Guide section 45 para 45465. It may mean they don't ask about pension again?

matelot123

Thanks for that.I'll give them a call and check it's on file.