Old Contributions Based ESA - What is a change of circumstances?

JKS$(

Hi All. Hope someone can help me as I’m getting different advice from different places.

I’ve been claiming the old style contributes based ESA for a few years, placed into the Support Group after a F2F in December 16, which is where I expect to remain.

I took ill health retirement in March 17 & receive an occupational pension which reduces the amount of CESA I get. That pension increases each financial year so I’m trying to provide the DWP with the new figures now then new financial year has started.

Is reporting a change in the amount of occupational pension I receive a change in circumstances for CESA?
Can it trigger a change to UC?

I can find info about IRESA changes triggering a UC change but not CESA.

Should I be getting the Disability Premium of £34.35/week? I’m registered blind, single (have a 16 year old at home so get child benefit & child tax credits), also get PIP (standard daily living & enhanced mobility)

Thanks in advance.

sportsarb

It’s not a relevant change of circs and you won’t be transferred to UC because of this. Depending on how much pension you get and other circumstances you could claim UC in addition to ESA(C).

Disability premium isn’t payable on ESA or UC.

calcotti

JKS$( wrote: »

Should I be getting the Disability Premium of £34.35/week? I’m registered blind, single (have a 16 year old at home so get child benefit & child tax credits), also get PIP (standard daily living & enhanced mobility).

The premiums are only applicable to income based ESA. Any pension income is deducted in full for income based ESA.


Your weekly contribution based entitlement is made up of
single person allowance - £73.10
support component - £38.55
Maximum entitlement - £111.65
50% of any pension income over £85 is deducted so if you receive £95 of pension there is a £5 deduction reducing your contribution based payment to £106.65


Your income based ESA entitlement would be made up of
single person allowance - £73.10
support component - £38.55
Enhanced disability premium - £16.80
Severe disability premium - £65.85

Total income based maximum entitlement - £194.30
From this is deducted your contribution based entitlement and your pension income in full so for pension income of £95/week the calculation is £194.30 - £106.65 (c-ESA) - £95 (pension) which is less than zero so no income based ESA is payable.


If you were to claim UC your entitlement would be less than under income based ESA (because there is no SDP) so you would not be entitled to any UC.

JKS$(

Thanks for the quick replies both!

Looking at CAB website it says UC is only replacing IRESA - no mention of CESA. Is this correct? If so I assume I can stay on CESA indefinitely. I’m certain my sight can’t be restored & am already in the support group. Subject to recurring F2F assessments of course.

When my child leaves home later this year to join the Navy I’m assuming my entitlement to child tax credit will stop & my claim will end rather than trigger a change to UC - is this correct? Child Benefit will also stop. Will I continue to receive PIP & CESA as I do now?

JKS$(

Looking to the Disability Premiums pave on Gov.uk (can’t seem to posts links) it says -

you usually need to be eligible for the disability premium to quality for the severe or enhanced premiums.

If you get IRESA you can only get the severe or enhanced premium. 9 I don’t get IRESA)

Disability Premium- you must be under pension credit age (I’m 50) & either registered blind (I am) or get .... (list of benefits not mentioning CESA but including PIP)

Can anyone explain why I’m not entitled to the disability premium when I fit into their criteria? What am I missing?

sportsarb

UC only replaces income related benefits. You will only ever have to claim UC if you need to claim an income related benefit, and as calcotti has calculated, you would currently have no entitlement.

Disability premium is only payable on JSA and IS, not ESA or UC, as you don’t claim a benefit where it exists you don’t get paid it. You seem to have procured the right information but not taken in what it says.

JKS$(

Thanks Sportsarb.

Not disputing what you say but I couldn’t find any info on the Gov.uk website to say disability premium is only payable on JSA & IS (or to say that is isn’t payable on CESA) which is why I’m puzzled. I’m grateful that there are people on here who know the rules/have the information & give their time to answer questions.

I’ve been told by ESA staff more than once that UC will replace all forms of ESA, not just IRESA. It’s frustrating when the staff don’t give the correct advice.

sportsarb

JKS$( wrote: »

Thanks Sportsarb.

Not disputing what you say but I couldn’t find any info on the Gov.uk website to say disability premium is only payable on JSA & IS (or to say that is isn’t payable on CESA) which is why I’m puzzled. I’m grateful that there are people on here who know the rules/have the information & give their time to answer questions.

I’ve been told by ESA staff more than once that UC will replace all forms of ESA, not just IRESA. It’s frustrating when the staff don’t give the correct advice.

There will bo nowhere that says DP isn’t paid on ESA, in any official sense, but there will be a complete lack of anywhere saying it is payable on ESA.

I agree getting incorrect information from official sources is frustrating. It’s been an issue for as long as I have worked in benefits and has got worse rather than better over that time.

calcotti

JKS$( wrote: »

When my child leaves home later this year to join the Navy I’m assuming my entitlement to child tax credit will stop & my claim will end rather than trigger a change to UC - is this correct? Child Benefit will also stop. Will I continue to receive PIP & CESA as I do now?

You will continue to receive PIP and C-ESA. These are not means tested and are not affected by other benefits.

JKS$(

Final question - will moving from England to Wales trigger a move to UC?

I don't claim HB or any council tax benefits/reductions apart from the 25% single adult reduction. Just CESA & PIP.

I've been told it will & it won't by different people on the benefits helpline (is it really that complicated a question to answer correctly?) at different times, hence double checking on here.

sportsarb

JKS$( wrote: »

Final question - will moving from England to Wales trigger a move to UC?

I don't claim HB or any council tax benefits/reductions apart from the 25% single adult reduction. Just CESA & PIP.

I've been told it will & it won't by different people on the benefits helpline (is it really that complicated a question to answer correctly?) at different times, hence double checking on here.

The ESA(C) claim can continue as it is from area to area and isn't impacted by UC full service areas. I have no doubt that you will continue to be told that you need to make a UC claim but insist that your ESA(C) claim is kept open regardless of anything else.

You can even move to northern Ireland and keep your ESA(C) claim and we are jurisdictionally different from DWP.