DWP Investigation

Targaryan

Hello again!
Further to the above query, my husband was asked to send the DWP any payslips and P60s he had, to clarify the nature of his sickness benefit from his company. These were sent off at the beginning of October. The payslips state long term sickness benefit administered by Unum. We heard nothing so I phoned the DWP today, and spoke to the lady managing his case. She told me that the decision makers weren’t happy with the information. They wanted to know how the sickness benefit came to be. They want to know if it is an insurance policy, and if hubby is still employed by the company. Hubby can’t remember if he paid a separate premium. Looking on Unum’s website, it seems that group protection is an insurance that a company can take out for its employees.

What I want to know is how will this affect his ESA? The lady I spoke to me today said that if it was a health insurance he may have to pay all his benefits back so again anxiety levels are sky high!

Any help would be grateful received 

calcotti

As explained in earlier replies in this thread.
If he is still employed by the company the payments will not affect his ESA.
If he is no longer employed whether or not the payments affect the ESA depends on who paid the majority of the premium. If he paid more than 50% then the payments will not affect the ESA. If he paid less than this then the payments are treated as a pension and there is a deduction of 50% of everything over £85/week.

is your husband still recorded as an employee? If he is he just needs to evidence that (if necessary ask the employer to confirm) and that should be the end of the matter.

Targaryan

He is definitely still employed, although as stated he hasn’t physically worked for them for 29 years. He remembers receiving an invitation to his 25 year service award(!) which would have been about 7 years ago. He has never resigned and the company have never terminated his employment.

So if it transpired that he had actually paid into some sort of insurance policy through the company, would that make any difference to his ESA?

Targaryan

One other thing we just remembered.... the company wrote and offered him a lump sum to terminate his contract. The sum was £25,ooo which was equivalent to five years sick pay, so he declined. Will that impact in any of this?

calcotti

As repeatedly advised, if he is still an employee then none of this should matter. The money he is receiving is effectively a generous occupational sick pay scheme which the employer is able to offer because they have taken out insurance to provide it. 

Any discussion about a lump lump sum settlement has no relevance as it was not taken. If he did take the lump sum then that would change things.

Targaryan

Thank you very much. Your help is very much appreciated.
I have contacted his employer to ask for proof that he is still an employee, which should help end this matter.

calcotti

Good luck.

superbigal

You would think a P60 should be good enough for DWP.   I mean what else can it mean apart from being an employee ?

calcotti

superbigal said:

You would think a P60 should be good enough for DWP.   I mean what else can it mean apart from being an employee ?

I did think that too!

Targaryan

calcotti said:

superbigal said:

You would think a P60 should be good enough for DWP.   I mean what else can it mean apart from being an employee ?

I did think that too!

We did too! But we are just playing along!