ESA and Backpay?

Sgm3392

Hello everyone. I frequently read this forum but I do apologise if I have posted this in the wrong section. Please feel free to move it as necessary.

I am in quite the dilemma at present and have fallen on hard times as we all do, I won’t bore you with that. But basically (sticking to the facts):

I began claiming Employment Support Allowance in April 2016 for anxiety and depression (and later bereavement issues). I expected to have a health assessment within 3 months like most people. But no. And guess what? It’s 2018 and I have still had no assessment. I have contacted them countless times and even asked my GP to speed the process up. No such avail.

After months of not pursuing them, I have just sent them an email in hope that I will receive the assessment soon.

Forgetting all that, what I want to know is, say I am placed in the support group (seems rare to happen these days), will I receive any form of backpay since my claim in 2016? I ask because somebody I know who has basically had the same experience as me, was awarded £2,000 backpay UPON PASSING the health assessment and being placed into the support group. She had been providing sick/fit notes for around a year and a half.

I didn’t even know back payments were even a thing and I’m still not sure why so many people like myself are given backdated payments, I thought my ESA benefit was the same as everyone else’s (just that I was providing sick notes to get it). I was 23 when I started claiming and am 26 now.

If anyone who is far more knowledgeable than myself explain then I’d be grateful. I fear I have misinterpreted a lot. I just want this whole esa thing to end. I want to know what group I’m in and be done with it. 3 whole years.

dunstonh

This would be better placed in the benefits section rather than the pensions section. Hopefully a board guide/mod will move it in due course.

System

yes you would get backpay and if put in the support group and you live on your own with nobody caring for you you would get another payment on top £50-60 extra a week

if this is the case you get be looking at a large sum

something has gone very wrong with your claim by the sounds of it

hope its sorted soon

calcotti

bournemouth_bell wrote: »

yes you would get backpay and if put in the support group and you live on your own with nobody caring for you you would get another payment on top £50-60 extra a week

I think you are referring to the Severe Disability Premium. This is payable if somebody has an income based ESA award, lives alone AND receives at least mid rate care component of DLA or daily living component of PIP. It has nothing to do with being in the Support Group. OP has not said whether they receive DLA or PIP.


OP. Any decision on your claim resulting in additional money will be backdated to the 14th week of your claim.


Even if you are put in the Work Related Activity group you will be due arrears because WRA group were still entitled to extra money in 2016 (before the government removed the money) and if entitled then would still be entitled now.

System

calcotti wrote: »

I think you are referring to the Severe Disability Premium. This is payable if somebody has an income based ESA award, lives alone AND receives at least mid rate care component of DLA or daily living component of PIP. It has nothing to do with being in the Support Group. OP has not said whether they receive DLA or PIP.


yes sorry op this is correct