Esa / esa3

tommytynan123

Mrs (53) gets ESA (was IB) and DLA.
I am retired (58) and have been for almost 2 years with pension income. In those 2 years I have also earnt about £500 and also do voluntary work. I claim nothing.

Just moved house (both private rental) and informed DWP of move. DWP sent ESA3 and ESA suspended while we complete it. Appreciate that ESA can be affected by partners (me) income. Started to complete tonight and am confused.

1. Mrs is claiming for herself not for herself + partner.
2. Do I (as partner) have to also complete ESA3 under ''partner'' ? I'm assuming I do in order to show income and savings (below the threshold)
3. On ESA3 the claimants details (Mrs) are generally easy to answer. Her only income is ESA/DLA and she has no savings.
4. Confusion is because some of the questions under ''partner'' seem to lean towards a joint type claim (Mrs + partner) which it is not.
5. Also, the form keeps stating ''... since last claim'' and we have no idea when that was made although the change from IB to ESA has been in the last 2 years so would have been after my retirement.

After a steer if possible so I can get the form back asap.
Thanks

Horseunderwater

If her award was 2 years ago and she is still getting ESA, then I expect that she got awarded Contributions based ESA and put in the Support group. That is not time limited like the WRAG to 365 days, but the awards do get reviewed around every 3 years as a maximum. So there would not have been a need to put you onto her her claim. Your income would not be taken into account. However, if her award has not ended or is being reviewed then I can see no need to fill out the ESA3 as that is for income related ESA and then your income would be taken into account and you could end up worse off financially. To see what would happen you can enter your details into the entitled 2 benefit checker tool: http://www.entitledto.co.uk/calculator/entitlementcalculator.aspx - try both scenarios and see the difference.

epitome

Is she in Support Group or Work Related Activity Group on ESA?

Is her ESA... ESA Conts or ESA IR?

How much was she being paid on ESA before suspension? Do you know the award amount before deductions or just how much she was getting paid?

tommytynan123

epitome wrote: »

Is she in Support Group or Work Related Activity Group on ESA?

Is her ESA... ESA Conts or ESA IR?

How much was she being paid on ESA before suspension? Do you know the award amount before deductions or just how much she was getting paid?

I've unpacked some boxes from house move and .. found the documentation.:T

28 Feb 2013 - Contribution based in SG and £106.50 pw

The award has not ended and this ''review'' has only come about because we told them about change of address.

Am I now correct in thinking that being Contribution based in SG means my details are not relevant and a phone call to DWP tomorrow is the best way ahead. ???

Thanks

epitome

If she was getting 2 x 106.50 = £213 per fortnight AND NO MORE THAN THAT.... then yes they don't need your details.

How did you inform them of the change of address? by letter or by phone?

As far as I can see she does not need to fill out any form for a change of address, other than the verbal form they do over the phone......and this verbal form should be filled out for ESA C if it is an ESA C claim (less questions will be asked if it is filled in as ESA C Change of Address verbal form.)

Even if it is ESA IR and changing address changed no other circs, i.e. she was living with you and only you before and now she lives with you and only you afterwards then assuming she changed her address *by phone* in the first instance there is no need to fill out an ESA3. If she notified a change of address by letter and it is ESA IR then the form becomes necessary.

When you phone ESA double check it is ESA C or ESA IR. And you will need to book a callback from your BC to confirm the form can be ignored because it is an ESA C claim and ask that the suspension is lifted and payment issued.

epitome

If you look at your previous thread you will see this has all come about because you informed them by letter of the change of address. Strictly speaking they should not have suspended her ESA C claim.. They sent the ESA3 incase there was now a need to claim ESA IR due to a change of circs.

What she should do is phone ESA and ask to report a change of address on the verbal form over the phone, ensure the agent you speak to ticks the box that it is ESA C. Then ask them to send that form to the BC with a request for callback to confirm suspension will be lifted.

von

Alternatively you could complete the ESA3 to check if your partner is entitled to Income Related ESA. I don't see how you have anything to lose by completing it as even if she isn't entitled to ESA(IR) they will continue to pay ESA(C).

tommytynan123

Thankyou all :T(particularly epitome) Yes - we wrote thinking that change of address would be needed in writing not over the phone !! Live and Learn. Few phone calls tomorrow and fingers crossed - sorted.
BC ??????????

tommytynan123

It gets better and better !!:mad:
Mrs talked to DWP (I spoke as well) explaining that the last assessment was Feb this year and its contribution based ESA (SG) so is the form required.??
Answer was ''if you've been sent it then fill it in'' to which I said ''my details are not part of this claim so my info is irrelevant'' Can we just change address over the phone with a call back.
''No - fill in the form''
Now - do we just fill it in or do we try another phone call or will popping in the jobcentre help ??''
Seems a mountain out of a molehill to me.

tommytynan123

Forgot this bit :rotfl:
They had our postcode as SN99 8AJ
Thats theirs !!!!!!

Horseunderwater

If they will only accept this form, whichto me seems daft - Give them the new address - do not fill in your income details and stress on the front that you still wish your wifes ESA to remain as Contributions based. If necessary write it in black marker pen on front cover as well as ticking any boxes - that is about all you can do I think.