ESA compliance interview

manutdsc

Hi to all

I'm desperately seeking advice about a letter I've received today about my benefits, I currently claim Employment Support Allowance (support group) and Personal Independence Payment (standard rate). Im 22 and been claiming for exactly a year due to my depression and anxiety .

But this letter I have received from the Local Service Compliance part of my local Job Centre plus has really tipped me over the edge and made me consider suicide again- I've already attempted it and nearly died, almost a year ago. The letter says:

We are reviewing your benefit claim. We've arranged a time to talk to us about any changes which could affect your benefits. It then goes on to say that attendance is compulsory, I need to bring ID and recent bank statements etc and its got me in a frenzy. At first I only claimed the standard rate of ESA but was upgraded to the support group and enhanced premium through no action on my own part, just receiving a letter which said I was getting more money. What I didn't realise though was that this part if ESA was to do with savings and I have savings of over 16k.


This has just put me into suicidal mode again. I'm worried that they're going to bankrupt or prosecute me despite not knowing it was income/savings related!

Torry_Quine

manutdsc wrote: »

Hi to all

I'm desperately seeking advice about a letter I've received today about my benefits, I currently claim Employment Support Allowance (support group) and Personal Independence Payment (standard rate). Im 22 and been claiming for exactly a year due to my depression and anxiety .

But this letter I have received from the Local Service Compliance part of my local Job Centre plus has really tipped me over the edge and made me consider suicide again- I've already attempted it and nearly died, almost a year ago. The letter says:

We are reviewing your benefit claim. We've arranged a time to talk to us about any changes which could affect your benefits. It then goes on to say that attendance is compulsory, I need to bring ID and recent bank statements etc and its got me in a frenzy. At first I only claimed the standard rate of ESA but was upgraded to the support group and enhanced premium through no action on my own part, just receiving a letter which said I was getting more money. What I didn't realise though was that this part if ESA was to do with savings and I have savings of over 10k.


This has just put me into suicidal mode again. I'm worried that they're going to bankrupt or prosecute me despite not knowing it was income/savings related! I've got so much stress at the moment, my parents divorcing, dealing with obsessive thoughts, being unhappy and depressed and now this letter is the latest in a long line of stresses. That's all my life is, constant stress, a struggle all the time. After this letter for an interview in 2 weeks time, I don't really see the point of carrying on, Im just chronically unhappy. I can't sleep any more and my quality of life is about nil because this letter has really pushed me over the edge. What do I do, I just see no hope or escape from this.

Sam

if you are feeling that awful then contact the Samaritans.
First you need to try and relax as getting into a panic won't help. If you are receiving income based ESA then all savings over £6000 affects how much money you get and you will have signed to say how much you had when asked about your finances. Why we're you not able to get contributions based?

You need to contact your GP about. your health and get some advice from CAB/welfare rights or some other organisation re your compliance interview.

Londonsu

Its a compliance interview if they had concrete information that you are claiming more than you should it would be an interview under caution.


Take all the information you have, if you were upgraded in a letter then take the letter with you.


Did you work before claiming ESA if you did then your current award may be contribution based and your savings not taken into account that lasts a year then its income based where you have to show all your savings and income to claim, so it may just be a case of switching from one to the other.


It may distress you but you are claiming benefits and the DWP and the tax payer have every right to check that you are entitled to them.

FBaby

Firstly you need to deal with the immediate, your urge to hurt yourself, so you need to contact your MH team, who I am assuming you are still under the care of, so that they can provide urgent support.

Secondly, you need to help to deal with the compliance appointment. If you have not declared essential information, you need to face that fact and deal with the consequences. They are yours and no one else can take it away for you. However, that doesn't mean the end of the world, what it means is that you will need to go through a process to resolve the issue. Take it step by step as directed and be honest at all time.

emmsie123

All it will likely mean is a repayment.
savings over £6000 mean that £1 is deducted for every £250.
Please don't worry.
unless you really do have £50000 and are getting income based.

nannytone_2

i was asked to go for a compliance interview just a few months after i began claiming ESA.

the man that interviewed me ( very nice and friendly) just said that the letters are poorly worded and wasn't meant to indicate there was an issue with my claim. it was purely because i was a first time claimant and they wanted to make sure i was still in the same circumstances and was claiming the benefit i was entitled to

Darksparkle

emmsie123 wrote: »

All it will likely mean is a repayment.
savings over £6000 mean that £1 is deducted for every £250.
Please don't worry.
unless you really do have £50000 and are getting income based.

How does interest affect ESA, is it counted as income?

manutdsc

I think interest is counted but only has a nominal impact on things. As I have just found out with income based ESA, if you have savings over 6k, you get deducted £1 per week for every £250 above £6,000. If someone has over £16,000 in savings they only get the non-income related part of ESA which is the standard £55 a week.

Torry_Quine

manutdsc wrote: »

I think interest is counted but only has a nominal impact on things. As I have just found out with income based ESA, if you have savings over 6k, you get deducted £1 per week for every £250 above £6,000. If someone has over £16,000 in savings they only get the non-income related part of ESA which is the standard £55 a week.

Not strictly true. If a claim is income based and you have over £16000 then you get no money but only your NI credits

Cheeky_Monkey

emmsie123 wrote: »

All it will likely mean is a repayment.
savings over £6000 mean that £1 is deducted for every £250.
Please don't worry.
unless you really do have £50000 and are getting income based.

OP's previous posts very interesting!

TELLIT01

I know it's not easy in this situation but it is important not to over react. You aren't going to be made bankrupt and you aren't going to jail if all that has happened is that you failed to declare savings. They would need to prove intent for major action to be taken. Any over payment will have to be paid back and there may be a fine on top.
I don't where the figure of £50k has appeared from as the OP says over £10k.