ESA Assessment Phase & Severe Disability Premiums

Impy170

Hello everyone,

I have been in receipt of DLA ( Middle rate Care & Lower rate Mobility) for the past 7 years. I started receiving Income Related ESA around 17 weeks ago and am still on the assessment rate of approximately £73 weekly. I attended a health assessment (medical) around 2 weeks ago and haven't heard back as yet. I know there is a certain criteria you need to meet in order to qualify for Severe Disability Premium and I can say yes to the following ;

I'm in receipt of IR ESA and Middle rate DLA
I live alone
Nobody gets carers allowance for looking after me

Am I entitled to and should I have been getting SDP since my ESA claim started 17 weeks ago?

If so, can this be backdated to the date of my ESA claim?

If this is the case, what should I do next?

I'm planning on calling DWP later today but would like to be a bit more informed before I call. Any information is greatly appreciated. Thanks for taking the time to read

TELLIT01

On the face of it you should qualify for SDP. What often happens is that a form will be sent out asking for additional information before SDP is paid. I'm assuming you haven't received that.
Call DWP today to check what's happening. If you have been entitled from the start then it will be backdated.

Impy170

Thank you TELLIT01. That's correct, I haven't received any forms. I'll call them shortly to enquire. Thanks again ��

Impy170

I called DWP and I said I was calling about SDP. The advisor said ' You're not entitled to SDP'. I asked for an explanation and was told ' I don't know, there's no notes on the system, it just says here that you're not entitled to SDP'. I mentioned the criteria and told the advisor I fitted all of it. The advisor continued to say I wasn't entitled to SDP but said they'd send an IS10 form out and then it would be up to a decision maker to decide if I was entitled. They also mixed dates up, such as the date I moved to my address and the date I claimed ESA. I have proof of both, but the advisor added another month on. For example, I moved into my house in January 15, but they said it was February 15:think: Surely there wasn't just a note on the DWP system that said 'Not entitled to SDP'? I'm even more confused now...

pmlindyloo

Did your moving coincide with your claiming ESA (or near to that date?)

Were you previously living with someone which would have prevented your receiving SDP?

This is the only thing i can think of!

In any case just complete the form and if you are entitled to the SDP it will be backdated to the start of your ESA income based claim.

TELLIT01

Just being told you aren't entitled, without any explanation of the reason is not acceptable. As you are being sent the form, complete it and send it back a.s.a.p.