ESA

dmwors

Hi
Am on legacy benefits IR ESA and am single mother. When my daughter turned 18 am sure that they sent paperwork to complete (possibly booklet)but was a few years ago. My son is due to turn 18 in August. Do they still send paperwork out or are things different now. 

poppy123456

I have no idea what paperwork you could have been sent when your daughter reached 18. Your ESA claim has nothing to do with your children. The only time it maybe affected is if your ESA included the Severe disability premium because once child benefit ends then the SDP would also end unless all adults you live with either claim a qualifying disability benefit theirself or they are registered blind.

dmwors

Thanks for reply. Yes I do receive Sdo bur my daughter works and son is soon to be 18. Was a pink booklet I think x

poppy123456

If you're no longer claiming child benefit for your daughter and she still lives with you does she claim either daily living PIP or DLA mid/high rate care for herself or is she registered blind? If she doesn't then you shouldn't still be claiming the SDP because you're no longer entitled to it.

I have no idea what the booklet could be because i've never heard of that. The only form i can think of is the ESA3 which assesses entitlement to Income Related ESA, which isn't relevant here.

dmwors

Yes that is correct ESA3 and only changes I’ve had are claiming PIP in 2015 and daughter (not disabled)leaving college and starting work 2016 which they know about. My son is about to do the same of which I will notify but wondered when I would receive the booklet? Thanks

poppy123456

The ESA3 shouldn't be needed at all because you're already claiming Income Related ESA so your son leave education isn't going to change your ESA.

Can you please confirm if your ESA includes the SDP now? If it does then it shouldn't and you will need to ring ESA to tell them.

dmwors

The last time I spoke with them was 2016 to tell
them Daughter was working and I just receive yearly letters showing award. Soon my son is leaving education and will need to ring and tell them. Assumed the pink form was related to the change with my daughter and not
the sdo as they happened quite close together. Pip awarded end 2015 and daughter started work early 2016. This is confusing as have only had those two changes.

poppy123456

You haven't confirmed the answer to my question.

poppy123456 said:

Can you please confirm if your ESA includes the SDP now? If it does then it shouldn't and you will need to ring ESA to tell them.

If your ESA is £135.35/week (£270.70/fortnight) then it will not include the SDP.

When you received the ESA3 form in 2016 that would have been to assess you for the Income Related top up.

dmwors

No its £200 ish per week. I assumed was because I’d informed them my daughter was leaving education and would have to complete another when my son leaves x

poppy123456

Then your ESA includes the SDP but you're not entitled to it. You will need to ring ESA and tell them that your daughter lives with you and she doesn't claim a qualifying disability benefit.

You wouldn't have needed to fill out the ESA3 form because your daughter left full time education and the same applies when your son leaves full time education.

dmwors

They know this. I have never said my daughter claims a benefit. I have only ever reported two changes. My being awarded pip and my daughter starting work. My next change will be my son staring work. Im confused as I don’t see what else there is to report. 

poppy123456

dmwors said:

 Im confused as I don’t see what else there is to report. 

Your ESA includes the SDP and it shouldn't because as i advised a few times because you live with your daughter. To be entitled to SDP you must live alone or be classed as living alone. If you live with other adults they must also be claiming a qualifying disability benefit or be registered blind.

As she's not claiming any benefits then you need to ring ESA and tell them that your ESA includes the SDP when it shouldn't.

Your son starting work will not affect your ESA.

poppy123456

https://www.entitledto.co.uk/help/severe-disability-premium

dmwors

Shouldn’t they make adjustments when you inform them of changes. This was 7 years ago when they were informed. They wouldn’t make a mistake for 7 years x

poppy123456

You are correct the adjustments should have been made when your daughter left full time education and the SDP should have been removed from your claim. If it's an error made by DWP then you may not have to repay anything back to them.

However, you will need to ring them to tell them that your daughter lives with you.