Esa premiums

smudge9000

Hi my partner has just been awarded pip enhanced on both daily living and mobility. Is he entitled to any premiums on his esa he is in the support group. I work 10 hours a week 

Just looking for some advice

poppy123456

I see from a previous thread that the ESA is Income Related. As he's the main claimant of the ESA claim do they know that you're working?

Are you claiming any disability benefits yourself such as either PIP daily living or DLA mid/high rate care?

smudge9000

Yes they do know no I'm working and no I don't get any other benefits 

Jimm_Alumni

I'm not going to pretend to know the exact answer to your question, I am sure someone around here does though!

What I am going to say is that you could check out if you are eligible for anything else using a benefits calculator such as the one at Turn2us. Just put in you and your partners situation and it should be able to help see what you could be entitled to

poppy123456

smudge9000 said:

Yes they do know no I'm working and no I don't get any other benefits 

Then he because he's in the Support Group he should already be receiving the Enhanced disability premium. He won't be entitled to the Severe disability Premium unless you're registered blind.

If your earnings are less than £139/week you can claim carers allowance if you look after him for at least 35 hours per week. https://www.gov.uk/carers-allowance/eligibility

Did you check entitlement to Universal Credit, as advised in your other thread? With you working 10 hours per week you will very likely be better off financially by claiming UC because the deductions for earnings will be much less than they are for his ESA. 

This is because you'll be entitled to the work allowance. If you claim for help with the rent it will be £379/month, if you don't it will be £631/month. It means you can receive that amount of earnings each month before any deductions apply.

At the moment with the ESA there's just a £20/week disregard. Which really isn't much at all.

smudge9000

He was only awarded pip on the 21st how much is the enhanced disability premium for esa is it the £27.90 

poppy123456

Yes, £27.90/week for couples. However, if his ESA is Income Related then this will automatically be included anyway because he's in the Support Group. Please note that on ESA letters the EDP is known as Disability Income Guarantee. However, there's the deduction per week for your earnings so the amount he's receives will be reduced. 

This is why i advised about UC.

smudge9000

He rang esa on Wednesday and the lady on phone said he wasn't entitled to any premiums because were not both disabled I don't think that is right 

poppy123456

That's correct for the Severe disability premium as i advised above. The disability premium of £56.80/week is not payable when claiming ESA.

smudge9000

So will he get the 27.90 now he is getting pip should he ring esa back about it 

poppy123456

It will still be in the calculation of his ESA but the reduction for your earnings will wipe it out completely.

How much ESA is he receiving every fortnight, if you don't mind me asking? 

If any part of his ESA was contributions based when you started working then he should be receiving £129.50/week. (£259/fortnight) If all of it was Income Related then this figure will be much less because of your earnings.

smudge9000

Yes he gets £259 a fortnight. Won't he get the 27.90 now he has been awarded pip 

poppy123456

That means his ESA is all contributions based. The reason for this is as i advised, your earnings affects the amount of Income Related ESA he's entitled to. This means there's no entitlement to any of the disability premiums. His PIP award is irrelevant here.

Also be bear in mind that if his ESA was all contributions based since 17th August then he will not be entitled to the next cost of living payment of £300, which is due between 31st Oct and 19th Nov.

In your previous thread here some months ago i advised to look at claiming Universal Credit because with you working, you would be better off by claiming this because this will top up your income. His ESA Support Group would continue but be deducted in full from any UC entitlement. Is there any reason why you didn't look at claiming UC?

Do also be aware that he will not be entitled to any NHS treatment such as eye tests or dental treatment because his ESA is all contributions based.

smudge9000

Why won't he get the cost of living payment 

smudge9000

I'm sick of people saying uc this uc that uc isn't fit for purpose until we're told to change over to uc we are staying as it is not being forced over 😒 

smudge9000

It's all income related his esa got it on a letter 

smudge9000

I will be giving up work soon anyway and claiming carers allowance.

poppy123456

smudge9000 said:

It's all income related his esa got it on a letter 

The amount he's receiving suggests otherwise. If all of his ESA was Income Related then he would be entitled to less per week because of your earnings. As he's entitled to contributions based then he's receiving more per week. ESA letters are well known for making no sense at all.

smudge9000 said:

Why won't he get the cost of living payment 

His ESA is contributions based, which doesn't entitle you to the cost of living payment. You need to be claiming certain means tested benefits for this. See link. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/cost-of-living-payment#low-income-benefits-and-tax-credits-cost-of-living-payment-eligibility

smudge9000 said:

I'm sick of people saying uc this uc that uc isn't fit for purpose until we're told to change over to uc we are staying as it is not being forced over 😒 

I'm actually trying to help you financially by advising to check entitlement to UC. With your earnings there maybe some entitlement. His ESA will continue as normal. If there's entitlement then you're depriving yourself of income but that's your decision.

smudge9000 said:

I will be giving up work soon anyway and claiming carers allowance.

You don't need to give up work, as i advised earlier in the thread. Providing your earnings are less than £139/week this means you can claim carers allowance. Please see the link i posted earlier in the thread.

Jimm_Alumni

I really understand the frustration, it's such a needlessly complex system. It might perhaps be best to sit down with a benefits adviser who can go through it with you in person? Turn2Us - AdviceFinder, just select "Benefits" in the dropdown and search your area. It should give you a list of nearby benefits advisers that you can get in contact with. They will be able to give you more personalised and detailed advice on this complex topic.

smudge9000

Yes I will be going citizens advice first thing tomorrow morning. Thank for your help anyway