Benefits advice please

ilovepink97

Hi everyone  

I won my tribunal for PIP and recieved a backdated payment which I put into savings as I don’t go out due to my poor mental health. I currently claim esa contribution based as it’s non means tested I was told it’s fine if I save the backdated payment and my PIP if I want to. 

I am in the support group for ESA due to my poor health. I was wondering whether it’s posisble to claim Univeral credit also as I have 10k worth of savings which is from PIP. 

I am planning to retake my GCSEs at college so I will be a full time student but I wanted to help pay the rent as I live with my family for free and I feel ashamed for not working as I am over 25 years old now and I feel like I’m not contributing and my family really struggle with money. 

Is it possible to get : ESA contribution based (new style), PIP AND universal credit all at once? Especially because I’m gonna be a full time student  

I would really appreciate some help I’m worried if I apply for UC they may stop my ESA or something so I just feel proper worried to even apply

poppy123456

Yes you can claim both at the same time. 

The backdated payment you received from your PIP claim is disregarded from savings for means tested benefits for a period of 1 year. After this time then it will be counted as savings.

Other savings outside of the backdated money will be counted as savings for all means tested benefits, including your PIP. The payments you receive every 4 weeks are not counted as savings until the end of the period they are paid for. This includes your ESA.

If you claim UC your ESA will be deducted in full from any UC entitlement. As you’re in the Support Group you’ll be entitled to the LCWRA element from the start of your claim.

You said you’re living with family, if it’s close family such as parents, step parents, brothers, sisters and their partners then you will not be able to claim for help with any rent. 

Once you become a full time student if there’s any maintenance loan available to you then it will affect your UC, even if you decide not to take that loan. 

ilovepink97

am I better off not claiming UC as I receive 259 pounds every 2 weeks with ESA and for UC I would probs only get 360 a month? so overall if I claim UC and ESA will my benefits be reduced from what Im getting now?

poppy123456

For UC you will be entitled to the following.
standard allowance (over 25) £368.74/month plus
LCWRA element £390.06/month. 
Total amount £758.80/month.
Deduction for your ESA will be £561/month. Total UC £197.63/month. 

Which family members are you living with? 

You also mentioned savings of £10k how much of that was from your PIP backdated money and how long ago did you receive that? 

ilovepink97

hi poppy, 

thanks so much for ur reply!

I live with my brothers and sister and I got my backdated pip last week but because I'm on ESA contribution based in the support group I was told I was allowed to save as much of my pip as I like as its non means tested.

so if I do switch over to UC I will receive £197.63/month overall and my ESA contribution based will stop?

my breakdown of payments 

ESA new style contribution based: 259 pounds every two weeks
PIP: money paid every two weeks

would u recommend I apply for UC or is it best to avoid it incase I get less money?

im a full time student

poppy123456

As you’re living with your brothers and sisters then unless you’re named on a tenancy agreement you will not be able to claim for help with any rent.

If you claim UC your ESA will continue as normal. The ESA will be deducted in full from any UC entitlement. You will not receive less money by claiming it. PIP is separate so doesn’t affect any UC entitlement. 

Yes you can save your PIP and it won’t affect your ESA because it’s not means tested. 

UC is means tested so savings/capital affect the amount you’re entitled to. The backdated money that you received from PIP is disregarded from savings for means tested benefits for 1 year from the date you received it. Any other savings you had before you received your PIP lump sum will be counted as savings. 

As a full time student if there’s any maintenance loan’s available to you then it will affect any UC entitlement, even if you decide not to take that loan. 

ilovepink97

Thanks so much everyone for your advice and support