Talked to DWP, would love some help please.

0ptimistic

Hello,I am on contributions based ESA as I get a works pension of £611 a month.

After making a post on here and Poppy advising the DWP may not be deducting enough ESA as I get a works pension, from her calculations, I talked to them and they said they were right but I still don't understand and would like some help please.

I am on the autistic spectrum, in the support group and on contributory based ESA.

I get £611 a month from a works pension.
I get £190.94 ESA fortnightly.

Here is the letter they gave me with the figures.

Your living expenses £84.80
Limited capability for work addition.
Extra money because you are in the support group, £44.70.
Which gives a total income – related amount £129.50.

Income and benefits.
Personal health insurance of work-related pension for you £25.96.
Your total income £25.96.

Your income belated amount is £129.50 less £25.96 so you would have been entitled to £103.54.

However, because you are entitled to contribution based employment and support allowance, we will pay you £103.54.

The amounts on this page apply from the 13th of April 2023 to 29th of November 2023.

Many thanks

poppy123456

You said you receive £190.94/fortnightly. Then you said DWP said you’re entitled to £103.54/weekly, which is £207.08/fortnight. Is the £190.94 before the April increase? 

0ptimistic

poppy123456 said:

You said you receive £190.94/fortnightly. Then you said DWP said you’re entitled to £103.54/weekly, which is £207.08/fortnight. Is the £190.94 before the April increase? 

Yes, I did not want to cause confusion.

poppy123456

Your pension is £611/month. Which works out at £141/week. Are you 100% sure that’s exactly what your pension is? 

A pension of more than £85/week will reduce your ESA by 50p for every £1 over £85. Your pension is £141/week, which is £56/week over £85. This means your ESA would reduce by £28/week. DWP have deducted £25.96/week from your ESA, which suggests that your pension is just slightly less than what you say it is. 

My calculations say that your ESA should be £101.50/week, rather than £103.54 as DWP figures say. 

If DWP say it’s correct I wouldn’t worry about it providing they have your correct pension details. If there’s an error then it’s their fault, not yours. 

0ptimistic

poppy123456 said:

Your pension is £611/month. Which works out at £141/week. Are you 100% sure that’s exactly what your pension is? 

A pension of more than £85/week will reduce your ESA by 50p for every £1 over £85. Your pension is £141/week, which is £56/week over £85. This means your ESA would reduce by £28/week. DWP have deducted £25.96/week from your ESA, which suggests that your pension is just slightly less than what you say it is. 

My calculations say that your ESA should be £101.50/week, rather than £103.54 as DWP figures say. 

If DWP say it’s correct I wouldn’t worry about it providing they have your correct pension details. If there’s an error then it’s their fault, not yours. 

Thank you.
Those figures have just changed, but when I was talking to you on here yes I was getting £611 a month. DWP said they did a calculation where they divided it by 52.
They rang on bank holiday and I wasn't expecting the call, so I couldn't take all the maths in on the phone. 

poppy123456

0ptimistic said:

poppy123456 said:

Your pension is £611/month. Which works out at £141/week. Are you 100% sure that’s exactly what your pension is? 

A pension of more than £85/week will reduce your ESA by 50p for every £1 over £85. Your pension is £141/week, which is £56/week over £85. This means your ESA would reduce by £28/week. DWP have deducted £25.96/week from your ESA, which suggests that your pension is just slightly less than what you say it is. 

My calculations say that your ESA should be £101.50/week, rather than £103.54 as DWP figures say. 

If DWP say it’s correct I wouldn’t worry about it providing they have your correct pension details. If there’s an error then it’s their fault, not yours. 

yes I was getting £611 a month. DWP said they did a calculation where they divided it by 52.

How much is your pension now? To get the weekly figure from the monthly figure you "times" the monthly figure by 12 and then divide that number by 52 and you'll have the weekly amount.

0ptimistic

poppy123456 said:

0ptimistic said:

poppy123456 said:

Your pension is £611/month. Which works out at £141/week. Are you 100% sure that’s exactly what your pension is? 

A pension of more than £85/week will reduce your ESA by 50p for every £1 over £85. Your pension is £141/week, which is £56/week over £85. This means your ESA would reduce by £28/week. DWP have deducted £25.96/week from your ESA, which suggests that your pension is just slightly less than what you say it is. 

My calculations say that your ESA should be £101.50/week, rather than £103.54 as DWP figures say. 

If DWP say it’s correct I wouldn’t worry about it providing they have your correct pension details. If there’s an error then it’s their fault, not yours. 

yes I was getting £611 a month. DWP said they did a calculation where they divided it by 52.

How much is your pension now? To get the weekly figure from the monthly figure you "times" the monthly figure by 12 and then divide that number by 52 and you'll have the weekly amount.

Hi it's £643.97 
Weekly figure 148.60

poppy123456

Thanks. This means with £85/week of pension ignored this will be £63.60/week over that amount. There will be a £31.80/week deduction in your ESA. Total ESA payable is £97.70/week. (£195.40/fortnight)

0ptimistic

poppy123456 said:

Thanks. This means with £85/week of pension ignored this will be £63.60/week over that amount. There will be a £31.80/week deduction in your ESA. Total ESA payable is £97.70/week. (£195.40/fortnight)

I was getting 190.94 a fortnight but now I get £202.84 a fortnight which is odd as I have not yet sent my updated pension letter I will today.