ESA Support Group 2014 allowance

minimadtrix

Hi all,
Hubby went into the ESA Support Group in October 2012, having been on IB for years, so this year is the first year of having the letter telling him of what he will be on for the forthcoming year and we're confused. The long and short of it is his money has not increased from the 2013/14 payment.

So, this year, he's getting £72.40 living expenses, £35.75 for being in the support group, has had his Christmas bonus removed and has then been given a £14.14 top. As I say, this equates to the same as he was getting last year. Is this right?

Thanks in advance

Indie_Kid

That's not right. Income based ESA support group for the current year is £121.65 per week and 2014/15 it's £123.70 per week.

Do you or him have any other income or savings over £6k?

minimadtrix

Ok, so the figure for last year was £122.29, as it is this. I wonder if an over payment last year has counteracted this years?

He does have a small pension of approx £120 a month, no savings and doesn't pay tax (not sure if that helps, but I thought I'd through that in

I have always worked full time.

Mrs_Bones

I've had the same type of letter OP only for the other group. The amount it states the benefit will be from April is exactly the same as I'm getting now. I think it's something to do with the cross over from IB because that and ESA is paid at slightly different rates. I think they add a slight top up, in my case 20p to make it the equivalent of what I would have got on IB, so we didn't lose out in the change over and I don't think we'll see an increase until we no longer need that top up of the difference and the two amounts are evenly matched, then we'll follow the true rate of ESA.

HB58

Mrs Bones is correct. People who were migrated from IB got the same amount ESA as they had IB, even if it was more than current ESA payments. Their payments will not rise until standard ESA is more than they had on IB.

The letters are saying £00.00 Christmas bonus but it will be paid if you are still on ESA when the bonus is awarded.

kpj12

Hi there i claimed esa in may 2012 and had an assessment in october 2012 was award esa sg for 1 year atos sent me a ressesment form back in september last year havent heard anything i called them up they said due to backlog what does that mean someone give me some advice please because i heard recently had they wont resseass you until 2016 due to the backlog

diceydeb

I know someone who has been battling to get a reassessment for over a year whose circumstances have much deteriorated and has been put in the wrag group wrongly in my opinion. Even with help from the law society and many letters and appealing they are still dragging their heels over the matter. It seems they have so many to assess on first time round basis they have not got the time to re look at people. Its all wrong and people are suffering in the meantime.

Mr_Lawnmower

kpj12 - the suspension is of referrals for routine reassessment. As your reassessment was already underway before the suspension took effect, you should expect it to be completed. There is no known process to abandon reassessments that were already underway before the suspension.

kpj12

they said on the phone that once someone has had a look at it they will let me know but ive been waiting for over 6 months now so whats the point of sending me a form if its gonna take this long I don't understand

kpj12

would I need to go back to atos for a medical if im being reassessed

HB58

kpj12 wrote: »

would I need to go back to atos for a medical if im being reassessed

Some people will be caleed for a face2face, some won't.