Housing Benefit and disability premium

michyB23

Hello, I've been unable to work and in receipt of contribution-based ESA (support group), housing benefit and PIP for several years now.
I have only just found out about disability premiums. My PIP awards changed from standard to enhanced for both components back in April 2022. I moved a year ago and now live alone.  
Does anyone know if I Am I eligible for any disability premiums on Top of my housing benefit? Maybe since my change of circumstances with enhanced rate PIP and living alone?
 As I have read this evening that  they are not automatically given, there were was a list of means tested benefits eligible for disability premiums and housing benefit was included. However, I can't find out any more information other than that. So any information anyone has on this would be very much appreciated 👍🏻 thank you in advance.

poppy123456

The disability premiums in housing benefit are included in the calculation. If you're already receiving your maximum housing benefit entitlement then you won't receive anything more than this. 

You mentioned CB ESA, is that the old contributions based or New style ESA? If it's the old contributions based does it include the Income Related top up? (premiums)

If your payment is more than £129.50/week then at least part of it will be Income Related so there would be at least one disability premium included. 

If it's £129.50/week that you receive can you remember when your claim started?

Albus_Scope

Hey there @michyB23 and welcome to the community. 

I can see you're already getting some top advice, but I just wanted to stop in and say hello.

michyB23

Hi Poppy and everyone,

Thank you for your quick response and for welcoming me to the community.

With regards to HB, looking at my letter from local council. I have been awarded the maximum amount of HB based on the local housing allowance.
  So understandably, if I'm already receiving the maximum amount I do not need any extra disability premiums for HB as my rent is being covered.
   I think I got confused by thinking Disability premiums were an extra separate allowance that you can receive if you are on any means tested benefits and in this case housing benefit.

Regarding ESA, I'm still on old style benefits, none have them have been moved to universal credit yet.
I was working up until I was no longer able to and by 2015, I started receiving contribution based ESA and placed in the Support group.
Over the years my health has been deteriorating so I have remained on the same benefits since 2015. The only change has been my PIP award increasing to enhanced rates with the addition of mobility component in April 2022.

Currently with  ESA  I am getting £129.50pw but this is due to increase on 11th April, presumably due to new SS rates.

Something that has always confused me is When ever I receive my ESA award letter it always says the same thing  regarding income-related ESA.
For example my NEW award letter dated February 2024 letter reads ..
' from 11 April 2024 your Employment and Support Allowance will be £138.20  a week.
You are not getting any more income- related Employment and support allowance'

Then on the working out section section.
It reads...
'Limited capacity for work addition -
Extra money because you are in the support Group  £47.70
Which gives a total income-related amount £47.70'

Now This is the confusing part

' Your income-related amount is £47.70 less £0.00 so you would have been entitled to £47.70.
However because you are entitled to contribution based ESA we will pay you £138.20'

Am I receiving some income-related ESA or not?

If I am, then does that mean I have been since 2015 and could have been entitled to disability premiums?

Hope all that makes sense and sorry for the essay.

poppy123456

ESA letters are well known for making absolutely no sense at all, even for myself and I have a very good understanding of benefits, including ESA. 

Your ESA is definitely all CB and there's no Income Related top up included in the calculation. 

Before I advise further, please may I ask if you're receiving  any pensions at all? or have savings/capital of more than £16,000?

michyB23

Thank you for clearing that up for me. 
No I'm not in receipt of any pensions. 
At present I do not have any savings or assests.  

poppy123456

Thank you. Then based on the information you gave here I see no reason why your ESA should include the Income Related top up, which should income Enhanced disability Premium and Severe disability Premium. (SDP) For the SDP just to make sure that no one must be claiming either carers allowance or carers element of UC for looking after you. 

To claim the top up you will need to ring ESA and them to assess you for the Income Related top up. They will send you the ESA3 form (please be aware that it's a very long form) to fill in and return. You should then be paid everything that's owed to you. 

That will also include all the Cost of living payments from last year and this year. 

Please note they will not assess you with the work capability assessment and this will not prompt one either. 

Please do come back and let me know how you get on, it would be appreciated. 

michyB23

Ahh ok, so are you saying I should have received some income related top up? 

michyB23

Whenever I have used the turn 2 us calculator, the results have always suggested dinshkukd be receiving some. However I have always been wary to contact ESA as I feared it would prompt another horrible assessment. 

michyB23

Sorry about my typo, 
*Suggested that I should be * 

poppy123456

michyB23 said:

Ahh ok, so are you saying I should have received some income related top up? 

Yes, that's exactly what I'm advising based on the information you have given here. 

michyB23 said:

I have always been wary to contact ESA as I feared it would prompt another horrible assessment. 

It will not prompt another work capability assessment. They will be assessing your financial circumstances only. 

It will likely take a while for them to assess you because of the length of time you've been claiming ESA. Once a decision is made if the money they owe you is more than £5,000 (no doubts in my mind it will be) then it will be disregarded for the life of your ESA claim because it will be treated as an official error. 

Just to add further your ESA at the moment should look something like this..

ESA Support Group £129.50
Enhanced disability Premium (single) known as disability Income guarantee on the letters £19.55
SDP £76.40
Total weekly amount £225.45 it will be less than that in previous years. 

michyB23

Oh wow, thank you so much. 
I could really do with something nice happening for once. 
I will let you know how I get on. 

poppy123456

You're very welcome, glad I was here to advise you!