Contribution based ESA ending.

Frodobaggins

My husband is in end stage heart failure and has been placed in a support group and is currently receiving contribution based ESA payments. His payments are due to end later on this month, but am I right in thinking he will not be entitled to income based ESA as my full time earnings will be too high?

He does receive the higher rate PIP but we do not claim any Council tax reduction as I work full time, and one of our adult children living at home works full time, and the other one is on a 3 year apprenticeship course.

Any help or advice would be much appreciated.

calcotti

If he is in the Support Group he will continue to receive contribution based ESA for as long as he stays in the Support a Group. The 365 day time limit does not apply to the Support Group.

However I am not clear if you are saying is in the Support Group for ESA or in a Support group unrelated to ESA.

Frodobaggins

Hi Calcotti, thanks for your reply. When he was first assessed for ESA he was put in a support group, but we have had a letter stating his contribution ESA is awarded until later on this month. I am not sure what happens after this. The letter also states he will receive a Christmas bonus payment in December. I thought this was a little odd if his ESA payments are not continuing.

[Deleted User]

If he is still in the support group then ESA will not end, he needs to contact them to sort it out.

calcotti

Can you confirm how much ESA he has been receiving.

pmlindyloo

This may be one of those confusing letters from the DWP about the Christmas Bonus.

Does the letter actually say that the ESA will be stopping or does it give a breakdown of dates and ESA amounts including the Christmas bonus.

Have seen this before and it is a blip in the IT system which makes the letter suggest that ESA will stop but, in actual fact, the week the Christmas bonus is paid means that the usual payment ends but after the Christmas bonus is paid it then reverts to the usual amount. Just doesn't say this!

calcotti

pmlindyloo wrote: »

This may be one of those confusing letters from the DWP about the Christmas Bonus.

Does the letter actually say that the ESA will be stopping or does it give a breakdown of dates and ESA amounts including the Christmas bonus.

Have seen this before and it is a blip in the IT system which makes the letter suggest that ESA will stop but, in actual fact, the week the Christmas bonus is paid means that the usual payment ends but after the Christmas bonus is paid it then reverts to the usual amount. Just doesn't say this!

I'd forgotten that - I too have seen that in the past. I am of the view that ESA letters are the worst DWP letters (despite the other appalling competition). Typically award letter have calculations that don't make sense and relate to a period of time that differs from that covered by the letter.

Frodobaggins

Thanks for you replies.


He gets paid £110.75 per week paid fortnightly.


He is still in a support group. All seems well in the letter until the final sentence when it says :
However because you are entitled to contribution based Employment and Support Allowance we will pay you £110.75.
The amount on this page apply from 11 April 2018 to 27 November 2018.


So this is why I'm not sure what happens after this date?

poppy12345

Frodobaggins wrote: »

Thanks for you replies.


He gets paid £110.75 per week paid fortnightly.


He is still in a support group. All seems well in the letter until the final sentence when it says :
However because you are entitled to contribution based Employment and Support Allowance we will pay you £110.75.
The amount on this page apply from 11 April 2018 to 27 November 2018.


So this is why I'm not sure what happens after this date?

That's the Support Group CB amount but as has been stated it's paid for as long as you remain in that group. I agree with others, a lot of time letters from DWP make absolutely no sense.

tazwhoever

If you are in CB SG it doesn't stop after 1 year. Yes, they can reassess you at anytime but they will issue you ESA5O first then decide whether you could claim ESA and which group. If it's CB WRAG, this lasts 1year. Normally CB SG lasts 3 years before being reassessed.

The November date is confusing, it doesn't stop on that date.

Frodobaggins

Many thanks for you help and advice, this has helped put are minds at rest. Their letters are never straight forward!