ESA & Pension!!!

celinepatricia

Can anybody help me?


My husband is in the ESA support group and has a terminal illness. He receives 243.30 per fortnight. At the beginning of December he received a visit from a compliance officer concerning a small company pension that he receives.


The pension works out at 35.88 per week and today we have been told that his weekly benefit of 121.65 is going down by 34.80 which means he will receive 86.85.


surely this cannot be correct.. his pension is 35.88 per week and they are stopping 34.80 which actually means his pension is 1.08.


He last got any payment on 6/12 and since then not a penny!


If a compliance officer is coming to your house do they have to let you know beforehand or is it normal for them just to show up?
If you are in the support group can they just stop your money and not inform you?
are you not allowed a small pension without it affecting your esa payment


thanks for you help in advance.

killerkev

Yes pension payments will reduce ESA and all income related benefits.
I was on IB but it was reduced because of my pension, on failing the ESA test did not qualify for JSA because of my pension and wife's income .

mikey_bach

Is he on ESA IR or ESA Conts.?
Are you on his claim ?

Chorlie

If he's getting Contribution Based ESA than his Pension shouldn't effect it since its only amounts over £85 (Gross) per week; then you're ESA is reduced by 50p for every £1 over the £85.

However, if he's on Income Based ESA the whole pension amount effects the ESA.

So it depends which he's getting, it sounds like he's on Income Based.


Is he also claiming DLA / Attendance Allowance and have you looked into Cares Allowance?

celinepatricia

He worked for over forty years and never claimed a thing. he has been ill for a couple of years so I think he started out claiming contribution based but it has now changed to income based. he does get DLA but as I work 30hrs per week cant claim carers allowance etc. the pension payment was paid into the bank and paid for council tax... don't know how we will pay that now!!

celinepatricia

I don't understand why income/contribution are different?

mikey_bach

If he is claiming Income Based ESA now and you are working 30 hours then he should not be able to claim ESA IR. He is not entitled
A partner can only work up to twenty four hours on a claim. If they work more then the claim closes
Are they aware you work?
Sorry if I have got crossed wires somewhere

just read your reply if he is in the Support Group then I think he will still be on ESA conts.
the pension should not effect this at all.
Have ESA made a mistake putting him on IR??

killerkev

celinepatricia wrote: »

I don't understand why income/contribution are different?

Contribution based on paying national insurance and is paid for a limited time then it is switched to income based in which household income is taken into account

nannytone_2

conts based is paid because of NI contributions that have been made in the past 2 full tax years.
income based is paid when there are insufficient contributions and is based on household income.

your post has confused me.
if you are working 30 hours a week, he wouldnt be entitled to any ESA ( income related)
are you sure he isnt on conts based?

Torry_Quine

If he was switched to support group ESA from IB and remained in the support group then it will be contribution based.

nannytone_2

killerkev wrote: »

Contribution based on paying national insurance and is paid for a limited time then it is switched to income based in which household income is taken into account

not entirely correct.
if in the support group, sonts based ESA has no time limits.
thats why i asked if the OP is sure that her husband is on income based