Advice regarding ESA and Carers Allowance

BodieGirl

Hi, I have posted before but to cut a long story short . . .

I have claimed ESA for 2 consecutive months (my current fit note is due to expire on 31st of this month).

My child has been awarded middle rate DLA from 8th August and I have made an application for carers allowance to begin on 8th August. I will therefore not apply for ESA again.

I have received a letter this evening as just got in from DWP - It says that I am entitled to carers allowance from 8th August but that they cannot pay me from 8th Aug 14 to 4th June 15 as the amount of ESA Im getting is more than the CA that could have been awarded.

Is this just a typo or do they assume that I will be continuing to claim ESA? Do I need to inform anyone? Obviously going to give them a call but offices aren't open until tomorrow morning.

Thanks

rogerblack

You can claim both.
If you do so, then what happens is that (usually), the above happens.
But - then you get a carers premium added on to your ESA.

BodieGirl

Thanks - but I dont want to continue claiming ESA. I am planning to claim Income Support instead (with the carer's premium).

pmlindyloo

BodieGirl wrote: »

Hi, I have posted before but to cut a long story short . . .

I have claimed ESA for 2 consecutive months (my current fit note is due to expire on 31st of this month).

My child has been awarded middle rate DLA from 8th August and I have made an application for carers allowance to begin on 8th August. I will therefore not apply for ESA again.

I have received a letter this evening as just got in from DWP - It says that I am entitled to carers allowance from 8th August but that they cannot pay me from 8th Aug 14 to 4th June 15 as the amount of ESA Im getting is more than the CA that could have been awarded.

Is this just a typo or do they assume that I will be continuing to claim ESA? Do I need to inform anyone? Obviously going to give them a call but offices aren't open until tomorrow morning.

Thanks

You cannot claim Carer's Allowance and Contribution based ESA. They are what are called overlapping benefits.

http://www.nhs.uk/CarersDirect/moneyandlegal/carersbenefits/Pages/CarersAllowance.aspx

If you wish to claim CA and IS instead of ESA then you need to close your ESA claim.

BodieGirl

Thank you.

pmlindyloo

Sorry, but I have assumed that you are on contribution based ESA as the letter suggests that this would continue just for a year.

But they could have made a mistake if you are on income based ESA. As roger says you can claim income based ESA and CA and they will deduct the CA as income from the ESA and then add on a Carer's premium.

I know you don't want to continue claiming ESA so you do need to close your claim but just wanted to clear things up in case this thread is useful for other readers.

epitome

pmlindyloo wrote: »

Sorry, but I have assumed that you are on contribution based ESA as the letter suggests that this would continue just for a year.

But they could have made a mistake if you are on income based ESA. As roger says you can claim income based ESA and CA and they will deduct the CA as income from the ESA and then add on a Carer's premium.

I know you don't want to continue claiming ESA so you do need to close your claim but just wanted to clear things up in case this thread is useful for other readers.

No, you were correct, the letter she received is because she has an entitlement to ESA C, and that entitlement will end on 4/6/15 (unless she goes into ESA SG). Where there is an entitlement to ESA C and ESA IR on the claim then CA is not paid but the CP on ESA IR is paid. So in assessment phase the ESA would be 72.40 + 34.20 & CA would be £0.00.