nav[aria-label="Primary Navigation"] { padding: 0; & ul { list-style: none; width: 100%; display: flex; flex-direction: row; justify-content: start; align-items: start; gap: 30px; padding: 0; & li { margin: 0; } & ul li { list-style: none; } } }

We want to hear from you: please tell us about your experience of the online community.

Severe Disability Premium

Katrina65

Hi there can someone please advise I have just found out that ever since I have been on ESA I should’ve been getting the Severe Disability Premium. I have had standard rate care and enhanced rate Mobility for 20 years. After speaking with the DWP today she confirmed I should be getting it but disagreed it can be backdated as I didn’t request to apply for it. I informed her that as you make me do a Work Capability Assessment Questionnaire every 3 years how on earth was the owness on me to make a claim, is this not calculated and added automatically please help. I just know they are going to tell me something like that

Find more posts tagged with

Comments

calcotti

Katrina65 said:.., is this not calculated and added automatically please help. ..

No it isn’t.

Currently, if someone on ESA gets a PIP award ESA usually contact them to gather the additional information they need in order to determine when the SDP applies. I think that 20 years ago they probably didn’t do that.

You can ask them to confirm the decision not to backdate in writing. If they refuse to backdate you can challenge the decision https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/benefits-introduction/problems-with-benefits-and-tax-credits/challenging-benefit-decisions/challenging-a-decision-by-the-dwp-or-hmrc/challenging-a-benefit-decision-mandatory-reconsideration/

Katrina65

I was originally on income support and in 2018 was transferred onto the ESA and they told ME what they were paying me. But in the Assessment I have to do every 3 years it clearly asks what elements of PIP I get surely that gets adjusted then?

poppy123456

PIP was only introduced in 2013 so you couldn't have been claiming it for 20 years. You must have claimed DLA before PIP.

Katrina65 said:

But in the Assessment I have to do every 3 years it clearly asks what elements of PIP I get surely that gets adjusted then?

They don't ask about any PIP award for the work capability assessment. PIP has nothing to do with a work capability assesment and neither does the SDP.

If you haven't already applied for the SDP then you need to do that and ask for it to be backdated to when you became entitled to it. If they don't backdate it then you can request the MR.

Katrina65

But on the government website it clearly states it is awarded automatically by the DWP if I have always qualified? Not sure why I need to apply for something that I may not even been aware that was available (which I clearly didn’t)

poppy123456

It doesn't say the SDP is automatically added. When it says you do not have to claim it, this is referring to the disability premium (£36.20), which can't be claimed when claiming ESA anyway. The SDP has never automatically been added and i've been claiming it since 2013. https://www.gov.uk/disability-premiums/how-to-claim

How to claim

You do not have to claim disability premium. If you’re eligible, it’s automatically added to your:

Income Support
Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
housing benefit

Katrina65

So I am right in thinking that I have now asked for it to be added and that I have also asked for it to be backdated from when I qualified which was 2014

poppy123456

I have no idea if that's what you've asked for. I do know it can be backdated from the date you qualified. To claim it you need to contact ESA and it will be down to a decision maker to look at your claim and you'll be contacted once a decision is made.

Katrina65

Thanks all for your help

L_Volunteer

I just want to add a warm welcome @Katrina65. It is great to see you have joined us.

Please don't hesitate to let us know if we can do anything else to support you. We are all here for you and listening to you

Katrina65

Many Thanks I’ve already found some really helpful information suffering in silence is no longer an option. I have had lots of things taken away from me with my disabilities but I will fight the DWP now with all I have. How dare they make people who were entitled to a disability premium feel as though they were in the wrong to not claim it. It makes me very sad to think of all the thousands of people that are out there that aren’t even aware of the fact they’re losing out 😥

L_Volunteer

Glad to hear you're no longer willing to suffer in silence @Katrina65! And that you've already found some really helpful information

Queen1968

Hi, only recently I came to know about SDB and I applied for it. I’ve been receiving ESA for last 20 years and never got SDB. It has been more than 9 weeks now since I’ve applied and still I haven’t heard anything from them.
Can someone tell me is it normal for them to take this time for them to process? And will they pay me for last 20 years as well?

poppy123456

Queen1968 said:

Hi, only recently I came to know about SDB and I applied for it. I’ve been receiving ESA for last 20 years and never got SDB. It has been more than 9 weeks now since I’ve applied and still I haven’t heard anything from them.
Can someone tell me is it normal for them to take this time for them to process? And will they pay me for last 20 years as well?

ESA wasn't introduced until October 2008, it was Incapacity benefit before that. As the timescale they are looking at is historic then it could take a few months for a decision. If you were entitled to it then it should be paid.