Esa

DEESIE_2

I was in receipt of contribution based (support group)transferred over from incapacity benefit. Marriage broke down and I had no other form of income and needed a year's assistance with mortgage interest payments while awaiting the financial settlement from divorce. I was told I would need to apply for ESA income based in order to receive SMI, which I did and received as I understood as a top up. Settlement nearly completed so I will not require the SMI payment any longer.
My question is 1. How do I cancel the SMI ? 2. As I will not be receiving an income based benefit , does my benefit revert back to contribution based ESA that I was originally on as I thought it would. Thankyou

pmlindyloo

The contribution part of your ESA has always been in payment but you have been receiving an income based 'top up' so if you are no longer entitled to the income based 'top up' then it will revert to contribution based ESA as you are in the support group. All the time you are in the support group there is no time limit to receive contribution based ESA.

When there is a change of circumstances you need to telephone and tell them. They will then readjust your ESA.

WhenIam64

Settlement nearly completed so I will not require the SMI payment any longer.
My question is 1. How do I cancel the SMI ?

From 6th April SMI is changing over from a payment to a loan. You should have received a letter outlining this and AFAIK you have to opt-in for legal reasons.

Have you had an SMI letter and did you opt in?