SEVERE DISABILITY PREMIUM [Entitled? / Change of circumstance?]

Pete1

Hi, I am currently on the old-style Income related ESA [support group] & PIP, my wife has just been awarded PIP at standard rate care, we also have our son [in his twenties] who has ESA [support group] & PIP, we all live together,

We get two carers’ allowances: - I care for my son and my wife receives carers allowance for looking after me,

Now I guess that because my wife has just been awarded PIP [standard rate care] I have received a letter saying we might be Entitled to Extra money – SEVERE DISABILITY PREMIUM, [this is to fill in ten pages asking if anyone receives carers etc, etc.]

Question 1., will we receive/entitled to this Extra money and how much better off?

Question 2. If we apply for Severe Disability premium will this trigger a change of circumstance and then transfer us over to universal credit which from what I understand make us worse off?

Thank you very much for any help

poppy123456

As your wife claims carers allowance for caring for you then you will be entitled to single SDP of £76.40/week in your ESA. This should be backdated to the start of her PIP award assuming she qualified for it at that time.

The quickest way to claim it is to ring ESA and ask to apply for it over the phone. 

poppy123456

Just to add some more information. If your son is claiming Income Related ESA then he will also be entitled to the SDP, which should be backdated to the same time as the single SDP for your ESA. (the start of your wife's PIP award)