ESA severe disability premium

balletdude

Hi everyone, looking for advice/ maybe reassurance. I’m about 8/9 months into a DRO. I have been awarded PIP which I know doesn’t count towards the DRO. But with this I am also entitled to the severe disability premium on my ESA, plus the back pay.  Does the back pay approx £4000, and/or the weekly increase of £65 affect my DRO? Currently having panic attacks as I’m really unsure what will happen and how I’ll be able to afford things, I thought the money would be able to go towards things like transport costs etc. I’ve contacted various departments from insolvency service, but due to the Pandemic, am unable to speak to any one as their phone lines are closed, 

hope some one can give me some advice, feeling really anxious now 

best

simon

mwarby

From what I can see on https://debtcamel.co.uk/dro-income-up/ (debt camel is quite well regarded on here)the back payment need not be a big issue. You do I think need to make contact with the DRO office to let them know

balletdude

I've emailed them, but may be a while getting back as I believe they are working from home 

I think I read about the back payment, it's more the weekly increase of ESA due to the sever disability premium. I spoke to step change and they seem to thing that with it being a disability premium it may not count, plus I will have a use for it eg added expenses such as travel which  couldn't afford before

Thank you for your reply

best

Simon

balletdude

Spoke to the DRO office today, no issue with the severe disability premium and the DRO

mwarby

Good news, hopefully that's you set to complete your DRO now