Advice needed about pension and ESA deductions

System

This discussion was created from comments split from: Esa support group reassessment.

Queen1968

Hi, I’ve been getting ESA for last 6 years and only recently they moved me to support group. I am getting £130 occupational pension a month. And from day one ESA has been deducting £130 (£30 a week) as other income from my benefit. Only recently citizen advice bureau checked and told me that they shouldn’t deduct any money because I’m allowed to get upto £84 occupational pension. I just wanted to confirm. If so what should I do now? 

chiarieds

Hi @Queen1968 - Citizens Advice are correct. As far as new style ESA goes,

''Your payments will be affected if you get more than £85 a week from a private pension. If you do, half of your private pension income over £85 will be subtracted from your ESA payments each week.

For example, if you get £100 a week from a private pension, then £7.50 will be subtracted from your ESA payment each week''       Please see: https://www.gov.uk/employment-support-allowance/what-youll-get

So, you shouldn't have had any deduction for your occupational pension. I'd contact ESA to try & get this sorted.

poppy123456

Is any part of your ESA Income Related? If so then a pension will reduce this £1 for £1. 

It’s only either New style ESA or the old contributions based where a pension of up to £85/week is ignored. 

spb1612

I receive IR ESA with severe disability premium (I was previously on IB) and an occupational pension of £430 per month, which is deducted from my ESA.

Would I be better off applying for New Style ESA and having this pension disregarded?

poppy123456

spb1612 said:

I receive IR ESA with severe disability premium (I was previously on IB) and an occupational pension of £430 per month, which is deducted from my ESA.

Would I be better off applying for New Style ESA and having this pension disregarded?

You will not be entitled to New style ESA unless you've worked at some point in the last 2 tax years. This is because it's based on your NI contributions and claiming benefits alone in the past 2 years will not entitle you to any payments.