ESA-Support group

blue_star87

Hi everyone
I am trying to help a family member with his paperwork. He currently gets contribution based ESA but is also in the support group due to various issues. 

I’ve read different pages online about his benefits and I’m totally confused!

Can anyone confirm if being on contribution based ESA and being in the support group means he has a limit on what savings he has?

Many thanks in advance

calcotti

For contribution based ESA savings and all other income apart from pension income is ignored. If there is any pension income then there is a deduction of 50% of the pension income in excess of £85/week.

Spoonie_Turtle

Contribution-based ESA is not means-tested. 

Any income-based element is means-tested, with a proportional reduction for savings over £6,000 and no entitlement with savings above £16,000.

So that members may advise more thoroughly if necessary, may I ask whether he claims any other benefits (Housing Benefit, Council Tax Support, etc.)?

Edit: cross-posted with calcotti

blue_star87

Hi everyone 
thanks for this. 

Spoonie_Turtle said:

Contribution-based ESA is not means-tested. 

Any income-based element is means-tested, with a proportional reduction for savings over £6,000 and no entitlement with savings above £16,000.

So that members may advise more thoroughly if necessary, may I ask whether he claims any other benefits (Housing Benefit, Council Tax Support, etc.)?

Edit: cross-posted with calcotti

He gets help with his council tax (being a single person as well) and his rent is paid for. 

All his paperwork says his income amount is £xx so he would have been entitled to £xx. Then it goes on to say ‘however because you are entitled to contribute based ESA we will pay you £xx.’

I’m just so confused

calcotti

Can you confirm how much ESA he is receiving? If it is more than £114.10/week then some of it is income based. (ESA can be a mix of contribution based and income based.)

Does he have capital in excess of £6,000?

blue_star87

He gets exactly £114.10 per week.  Unfortunately due to various reasons he does have capital over £6000. 

calcotti

blue_star87 said:

He gets exactly £114.10 per week.  Unfortunately due to various reasons he does have capital over £6000. 

The ESA is contribution based then. Do the local authority (who deal with Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction) know about the capital? Any capital over £6,000 will affect those.

(Note, a 25% discount on the Council Tax bill is not Council Tax Reduction.)