jsa and esa

mummy1726

Hello
Just after someone with some knowledge of these benefits : )
Me and my husband + 3 children have been claiming jsa since last year, I'm on high mobility and low care, my husband has been going to these job things that SS send people on, but things have gradually got worse for my husband with his mental health, he also suffers from psd, the last placement he went to they actually said he's not fit for work and needs to go get a medical certificate from the drs and go on esa, he got a medical certificate and about 2 weeks ago applied for esa, we have just had a letter today to say they need his medical certificate, which is fine I will get that sent to them, whilst speaking to the lady on the phone from the benefits office I enquired about the sickness top up we get for me which I got originally got on IS then we got it jointly for me on jsa, but the lady I spoke to said we won't get it on esa which means we lose around £50 a fortnight, is this right ? When my husband put the claim in for esa 2 weeks ago they said we wouldn't lose it so now we are really confused, does anyone have any knowledge on this please ?

Many thanks
Sarah

Horseunderwater

What sickness benefit do you mean? Normally if you claim income related ESA, then you should get any disability premiums due on top. With ESA as a couple the basic assessment rate is £113.70/week + couple EDP of £22.35. but I'm not sure if that would be paid straight away or not. I only got mine after I was put in Support group & onto income related.
Oh the sick note take a copy & send it in by registered post - they do go missing.

mummy1726

Sorry yes I meant the sickness premium : )

nannytone_2

i never received any disability premiums while i was on assessment rate.
EDP is only paid to those on high rate care DLA/enhanced care PIP or those in the support group, so unless the husband is receiving these benefits already then it wont be payable as the OP states she receives low rate care

Horseunderwater

Did say I was not sure.

mummy1726

Ty, is there a reason why they don't pay the premium on esa ?

Robbie64

I think mummy1726 is referring to the Disability Premium which is paid with IS and JSA but not ESA. This is because the path to additional benefit under ESA is through passing the Work Capability Assessment and receiving either the Work Related Activity Component or Support Component (though other premiums can be paid if certain conditions are fulfilled, as mentioned in an earlier post).

The Disability Premium is paid at a rate of £31.85 per week for a single person and £45.40 for a couple. However if someone on JSA and in receipt of the Disability premium moves over to ESA they then lose this premium and are worse off while in the assessment phase of ESA. And then, even when the person passes the WCA and is awarded a component they are usually still worse off on ESA than on JSA.