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Savings over 6,000

Stacystar

Hello, I got a letter from the benefits office to tell me my ESA payment will increase in April. In the letter it mentions informing them of any changes in circumstances, my circumstances have not changed but I read it anyway.
It says if I have over 6,000 in savings let them know. I do have over 6,000 around 7500. I thought it was allowed as long as it is not 16,000.
I have done some googling and think I might be in trouble..
I will call them first thing Monday morning what will they do, I will pay back any money I owe no problem I honestly thought ESA was non means tested same as pip.

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Comments

Stacystar

Thank you noman,
I was awarded contribution based ESA, looking into it am I right in thinking after 1 year I am no longer on contribution based ESA? So I will need to pay back every thing over 6,000 since I switched over?
So every £250 I pay back £1 per week?
I have anxiety and genuinely did not realise I have done something wrong,

Kimi87

Which group are you in? Only ESA CB WRAG is time limited to 1 year.
So if your ESA is wholly CB in the Support Group then you have nothing to worry about.

Stacystar

Thank you Kimmy, I have got my paperwork out. I worked all my life so not sure how it works.
2021 I got ESA contribution based. I got put in the support group.
On my last letter it says I am still in the support group! No idea how as I thought it only lasted 1 year

Kimi87

ESA letters are quite difficult to understand!

If you are wholly on CB ESA then it is not affected by savings limits.

The 1 year time limit for CB ESA only applies to those in the Work Related Activity Group.

emma85

Is carers allowance non means tested benefit

Kimi87

CA is not means tested as such, but there is eligibility criteria including an earnings limit for the carer

https://www.gov.uk/carers-allowance/eligibility

emma85

Will carers allowance unit check claimants banks in 2025

poppy123456

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/959501#Comment_959501

They are already able to check bank accounts if they really need to but they don't just randomly check anyone's bank accounts. If you're not earning more than the limit for claiming Carers allowance then there's nothing to worry about.

emma85

I just don't understand it that's all.

poppy123456

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/959535#Comment_959535

What exactly don't you understand?

emma85

Is it where people out there are working and claiming carers allowance and not declared it?

poppy123456

They wouldn't need to check bank accounts for this anyway because all they need to do is check with HMRC if needed and they can get information from them about earnings.

emma85

Oh OK then thank u very much for the information. All I get is child benefit for my child and carers allowance anyway