ESA questions — Scope | Disability forum
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ESA questions

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Unna
Unna Community member Posts: 1 Listener
edited March 2023 in Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
Hi, I have a question about ESA.
I am on Contributions Based ESA in the Support Group. When I got a pension of 420 a month last year I sent them details and a document with the amount for the year.
They haven't taken any money from my ESA despite me getting over £85 a week from my pension.
They recently sent me a letter saying my weekly pension is £95 per week (and that my ESA didn't need to change) when it's in fact £105 per week.
Should I point out their mistake? I want to be very clear with them about my pension. 
They also said I need to inform them about any savings in the letter blub. My ESA is non means tested and isn't affected by savings etc. My Dad died recently and I will be getting some money from his estate. Do I need to tell the ESA?
Thank you for your help. 
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Comments

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community member Posts: 54,704 Disability Gamechanger
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    Yes you need to tell them about the error. If your ESA is £117.60/week then it's definitely all contributions based and you don't need to tell them about any savings/capital.
    I would appreciate it if members wouldn't tag me please. I have all notifcations turned off and wouldn't want a member thinking i'm being rude by not replying.
    If i see a question that i know the answer to i will try my best to help.
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  • L_Volunteer
    L_Volunteer Community Volunteer Adviser, Scope Member Posts: 7,978 Disability Gamechanger
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    Hi @Unna. I would just like to say a warm welcome. Please don’t hesitate to let us know if there’s anything else we can do to support you  :)

    Community Volunteer Adviser with professional knowledge of education, special educational needs and disabilities and EHCP's. Pronouns: She/her. 

    Please note: if I use the online community outside of its hours of administration, I am doing so in a personal capacity only.
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  • Breacon
    Breacon Community member Posts: 101 Courageous
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    Hi All,
    I was just reading the message above, I thought you could not have savings over a certain amount, if you claimed benefits, 
    Many thanks for any explanation.
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  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community member Posts: 54,704 Disability Gamechanger
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    Breacon said:
    Hi All,
    I was just reading the message above, I thought you could not have savings over a certain amount, if you claimed benefits, 
    Many thanks for any explanation.

    That applies to means tested benefits only. Unna is claiming contributions based ESA which is not affected by savings or pensions of up to £85/week.
    I would appreciate it if members wouldn't tag me please. I have all notifcations turned off and wouldn't want a member thinking i'm being rude by not replying.
    If i see a question that i know the answer to i will try my best to help.
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  • calcotti
    calcotti Community member Posts: 10,010 Disability Gamechanger
    edited April 2023
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    Breacon said:
    Hi All,
    I was just reading the message above, I thought you could not have savings over a certain amount, if you claimed benefits, 
    Many thanks for any explanation.
    Contribution based ESA is deducted by 50% of the pension amount that is over pension £85/week. A £420/month pension is £96.93/week which would reduce ESA by £5.96/week. 
    Capital has no impact on contribution based ESA.
    Information I post is for England unless otherwise stated. Rules may be different in other parts of UK.
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