ESA Letter

Stewsart

A few days ago received a letter informing me of current rates of ESA and new ones applicable from April.  The last paragraph informs me of my ESA from 29. Jan.2021 ( 4 days before my official retirement age of 66)  My EAS will be far less Almost £60 per week less.   I phoned to enquire why and for an explanation but the woman was unsure. Left on hold while she enquired and told me the system was wrong and lots of letters should not have gone out. As from 29.Jan 2021 I will get no ESA.

My question is :   I have written confirmation of what they will pay and therefore is this not a legal obligation on the part of DWP or can they just move the goal posts and claim system is wrong ?

Spoonie_Turtle

Stewsart said:

A few days ago received a letter informing me of current rates of ESA and new ones applicable from April.  The last paragraph informs me of my ESA from 29. Jan.2021 ( 4 days before my official retirement age of 66)  My EAS will be far less Almost £60 per week less.   I phoned to enquire why and for an explanation but the woman was unsure. Left on hold while she enquired and told me the system was wrong and lots of letters should not have gone out. As from 29.Jan 2021 I will get no ESA.

My question is :   I have written confirmation of what they will pay and therefore is this not a legal obligation on the part of DWP or can they just move the goal posts and claim system is wrong ?

Doesn't the State Pension mean you can no longer claim ESA? 

calcotti

I think you get a final pro rate payment for any part week between your normal payment and state pension age. Is the payment indicated equivalent to 4 days?

in response to your final sentence the content of the letter is not a binding contract.

KilGore_3

Just as a side question .. what happens if your ESA is equal to or greater than Your State Pension.. Somebody might not have notched up even the minimum(10years).. wouldnt this leave them heavily out of pocket

elle_may

Stewsart said:

A few days ago received a letter informing me of current rates of ESA and new ones applicable from April.  The last paragraph informs me of my ESA from 29. Jan.2021 ( 4 days before my official retirement age of 66)  My EAS will be far less Almost £60 per week less.   I phoned to enquire why and for an explanation but the woman was unsure. Left on hold while she enquired and told me the system was wrong and lots of letters should not have gone out. As from 29.Jan 2021 I will get no ESA.

My question is :   I have written confirmation of what they will pay and therefore is this not a legal obligation on the part of DWP or can they just move the goal posts and claim system is wrong ?

My husband received the same letter with less money because of age changes as he will be retired in march 2021.  We knew that you don't get esa and the state pension. We therefore thought it might be a run on of benefits been in arrears. But i also will be retired 6 weeks later. We have a joint claim, so my question is this, is this money for me or do i have to claim something else for myself till then.  Can anyone enlighten me  before i phone DWP.
 

poppy12345

elle_may said:

My husband received the same letter with less money because of age changes as he will be retired in march 2021.  We knew that you don't get esa and the state pension. We therefore thought it might be a run on of benefits been in arrears. But i also will be retired 6 weeks later. We have a joint claim, so my question is this, is this money for me or do i have to claim something else for myself till then.  Can anyone enlighten me  before i phone DWP.
 

It will be better to start your own thread with the question. Askng questions on another person's thread causes confusion because people read the first post and answer that.

elle_may

poppy12345 said:

elle_may said:

My husband received the same letter with less money because of age changes as he will be retired in march 2021.  We knew that you don't get esa and the state pension. We therefore thought it might be a run on of benefits been in arrears. But i also will be retired 6 weeks later. We have a joint claim, so my question is this, is this money for me or do i have to claim something else for myself till then.  Can anyone enlighten me  before i phone DWP.
 

It will be better to start your own thread with the question. Askng questions on another person's thread causes confusion because people read the first post and answer that.

As the first part of his thread was the same as we have received, and DWP said others had this letter to, i think it is a follow on question on the same post. I don't just read the first post i read the answers. I am sure others do to. 

calcotti

KilGore_3 said:

Just as a side question .. what happens if your ESA is equal to or greater than Your State Pension.. Somebody might not have notched up even the minimum(10years).. wouldnt this leave them heavily out of pocket

It's irrelevant whether they are better off or not. ESA is a working age benefit and entitlement ends when pension age is reached and State Pension cannot be claimed until pension age is reached. If State Pension is low then it may be possible to top up with Pension Credit.

calcotti

elle_may said:

My husband received the same letter with less money because of age changes as he will be retired in march 2021.  We knew that you don't get esa and the state pension. We therefore thought it might be a run on of benefits been in arrears. But i also will be retired 6 weeks later. We have a joint claim, so my question is this, is this money for me or do i have to claim something else for myself till then.  Can anyone enlighten me  before i phone DWP.
 

Although both people are taken into account for calculating ESA payable the claim is in the name of one person. Who is claiming the ESA, you or your husband? If it is in his name the ESA will end when he reaches pension age. As a mixed age couple you may be able to claim some Universal Credit but this will entirely depend on your finances. Any UC entitlement would then end when you reach pension age.