CR vs IR ESA

positiveR

Can someone explain please the "real-life" difference/pros and cons between CB andIR ESA?Is one worth more than the other? Assuming the claimant has no other income or savings?

Also how can someone on CB also be eligible for IR?

I realise you cant choose which you get but, does it really matter?

(Yes there is a reason for my questioning but, for now at least, trying to keep this post generalised to avoid tangents and in-post squabbles!!!

Tommo1980

CB doesn't automatically entitle you to free prescriptions/dental treatment/eye care. The same is true of HB/CT support. You may qualify but it's down to you to find out and apply for each individually.

If you had other income/significant savings/a partner who earns you would likely not qualify for IB, or it would be paid at a reduced rate. The same does not apply to CB.

As you say you can't pick and choose. If you are on CB and you have no other household income/savings over the threshold you may qualify for income based disability premiums, if applicable to your situation.

Tom

Diary

Making several assumptions and going purely on the very small amount of information you've given - there would be no difference in payment if you claimed CB based or IR Esa.

You would be eligible for an income related 'top up' to CB based Esa as the payment from cb based Esa is below the amount the law says you need to live on.

The real life differences are impossible to even hazard an educated guess as you don't want to reveal your circumstances.

If you're reluctant to give details on an anonymous forum like this the cab is usually very good.

positiveR

I was "reluctant" to say too much as I know how this posts go off on a tangent etc but, if it helps, here goes:

Its a relative (honestly) and they were initially on Incapacity Benefit and at the relevant time, moved over to CB ESA. They were on DLA and, at the relevant time, moved over to PIP (at a reduced rate but this is not the place to rant about the stick-up of an assessment).

They have no other income and total across all accounts under £1500.

They get £109 pwk ESA, and have just been reassessed and remain in the Support Group. They have been unable to work for a few years and, as their health and medical conditions are worsening, unlikely to return anytime soon.

Having read snippets elsewhere, was questioning if they should be receiving a disability premium and, the letter received confirming the outcome of the ESA reassessment mentions they may be eligible for IR ESA aswell???

Spent nearly 30 mins on the phone to DWP on hold yesterday so before trying again on Monday, wanted to get our facts straight here.

TIA for keeping on topic (trolls bog off!)

TELLIT01

Apart from the effort required to fill the form in, there would be nothing to lose by requesting an ESA3, change of circumstances form. Complete that and send it it and the claim will effectively be reassessed to see if there is any further entitlement.
When they were transferred from IB to ESA there should have been a complete assessment to determine any Income Related entitlement, but in very many cases that was never done. IB, as you may know, was a contributions based benefit.
I love the last line by the way!

positiveR

Hah, so far the last line is working!!!

As you say, there was no income assessment; simply a medical one. Therefore, before I get their hopes up, is it possible they have been on the incorrect rate all this time and can ask for it to be recalculated and backpaid?

Even if not, going forward, is it correct you can receive both CB & IR ESA - i.e. double what she now gets?

TELLIT01

IR isn't double the rate of CB. The basic rate for a single person is the same but it's possible that premiums should have been added, dependant on other benefits in payment.
It's unlikely, although not impossible, that a claim for backdating would be accepted. It would need to be shown that there was an entitlement to Income Related benefit at the time the claim was transferred from IB to ESA and that could be difficult.

positiveR

I didnt mean its double the rate - the letter says "you could also be entitled to IR" which means doubt;e what they're getting now.

I appreciate its hard to prove past income etc but, should they not be getting a disability add-on as being on PIP (previously DLA); that can be traced on the timeline.

poppy12345

positiveR wrote: »

I didnt mean its double the rate - the letter says "you could also be entitled to IR" which means doubt;e what they're getting now.

I appreciate its hard to prove past income etc but, should they not be getting a disability add-on as being on PIP (previously DLA); that can be traced on the timeline.

The ESA premiums are not paid with CB ESA.

positiveR

So is there a way to dispute they should have been on IR ESA all along. The reason I ask is having read, on a different forum, of a man being told by the DWP that he has been incorrectly on CB ESA for 17YEARS and has a sizeable backpay cheque en route.

Ames

ESA hasn't existed for 17 years, so there's some crossed wires somewhere.