Esa stopped help please

schrodie

I would have thought that the lump sum shouldn't be included as that's separate and just her pension income should be used.

A phone call is needed I think to clear the matter up.

Even if the lump sum is taken into account that should only reduce her ESA by about £3 a week.

jobdone1

I agree totally I am so frustrated she is very ill and this is testing me why can't people do their jobs properly is beyond me. I feel the department is trying it on in the hope she does not appeal

Alice_Holt

jobdone1 wrote: »

She was due for an assessment last week that was canceled by the centre as they did not have the staff to do the assessment and reassured us that it was because of their staffing problems they would send a new date within 4 weeks and that her benefits would not be affected.

Does seem like a DWP mistake. Have you got a decision letter detailing why?
A decision letter can be challenged - may be worth a trip to your local CAB.
If no DWP letter of explanation, do phone them.

It is worth doing some research on ESa before attending the assessment. It is a points-based assessment, so see where you think she would score the necessary points. Have a particular look at the Support Group descriptors, and see if she should qualify.
Take copies of medical evidence to the assessment (if you haven't already supplied them with the ESa 50 form), and have examples of how she can't do the ESa activities "safely, reliably, repeatedly, in a reasonable time, and for the majority of the time".

Will you be going with her?

Benefits and work has useful info-
http://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/personal-independence-payment-pip/pip-self-test

Good luck.

TELLIT01

If she only claimed on 1st March, even if she has had her assessment she would remain in the assessment phase for 13 weeks i.e. 31st May. I don't understand why she is getting more than the basic £73.20 at this stage, but set that aside for the moment.
If she qualifies for Conts based the amount of pension stated would not affect her benefit at all. If she is on Income Related it would be taken into account. I'm not sure if there is any amount disregarded on IR claims any more. There may have been changes since I worked on ESA.
It is possible that the pension amount has been put in as a monthly rather than annual amount. A call to ESA should help shed light on the situation. Be aware that staff will not be able to give you any information unless your m-i-l has already given them permission to speak to you. If she hasn't done that, they will need to speak to her to confirm certain details and will then be able to carry on speaking to you.

jobdone1

Thanks guys it's very much appreciated. I am pulling what hair I have out. They are in effect expecting her to live off her pension of £58.11p. As stated and you guys are fully aware pip is not accounted for. With regards to what type she has been claiming it is contribution based esa. They cancelled the first assessments due to staffing as said and in the letter of decision it clearly states due to her private pension. My head Herts.

TELLIT01

The only way closure on the basis of her pension make sense is if they put the pension on the system as either a weekly, or more likely a monthly, amount instead of as the annual amount.
I understand it's stressful for you, but if that is what has happened it is easily corrected.

jobdone1

Thankyou tellit01

pmlindyloo

It is difficult to know exactly what benefits your MIL should have as you don't give us enough details about her personal circumstances.

If she lives alone and no one receives Carer's Allowance for her then, as she is on enhanced rate daily living PIP, she should be receiving

Assessment rate ESA £73.10
Enhanced disability premium £15.75
Severe Disability Premium £61.85
Total £150.70

http://www.entitledto.co.uk/help/disability-premiums-in-benefits

The added premiums make her claim contribution based with an income based top up.

If she now receives a pension of £58.11 then this will be deducted £ for £ as she now has an income based part to her claim.

That should leave her with £92.59.

If she does not get the SDP because she does not meet the rules then she will lose the EDP but will still keep the contribution part of ESA (73.10)

Letters from the DWP are often worded strangely and it could be that they have stopped the ESA while they are adjusting the figures.

Or they could have made a mess of it all!

Let us know how you/she gets on.

jobdone1

Hi guys firstly thank you all for your support and help. I have had a chat with esa this morning and it turns out that my mother in laws pension of £3022.11 per year had been put in as a month. As my mother in law says it would be nice. Again thanks guys.

Peter333

Glad this was sorted, but last year, a friend of ours was on ESA for a couple of years, and then she started to receive a pension at the age of 65, and her ESA was stopped.

Despite several letters, phone calls, and an appeal, she never got put back on it.

Glad your friend's outcome was different.