Hi, my name is Hunter1998! Underpaid since 2018, has anyone else had this?

Hunter1998

I have recently found out I have been being underpaid since 2018 as they thought I was getting Working Tax Credit when I wasn't. I only found this out after I applied for a DRO and they picked up on it. I have provided the DWP with all the necessary documents as proof that I have not been receiving it. As you can imagine this adds up to a fair amount of money. My question is has anyone else had this and if so were you paid the amount you were owed?

Rosie_Scope

Hi @Hunter1998, welcome to the community. I'm afraid I don't have any experience of this but hopefully one of our members has been through something similar and can offer their experiences. I'll pop your post over to our Benefits and Financial support section where they can find it more easily. Hope you get things cleared up soon

poppy123456

It would help to know what benefit you're talking about here. You mention Working Tax credits but unless you were claiming Child tax credits then it hasn't been possible to start a new claim for Tax credits since 2018 for the majority of people. 

You also mention DWP and they do not administer WTC. 

Hunter1998

Hi, sorry I'm on income related ESA and have been since the beginning of 2018 x

Hunter1998

This is what I'm so confused about. I applied for ESA after I had to give up work for medical reasons so don't know why they would think I was receiving working family tax credits. I have sent them all the paperwork showing I wasn't working or receiving working tax credits. They phoned me today to say they have received my paperwork and it has been passed on to a decision maker. Just wondering if anyone else has had this happen and received a back payment for the whole period? X

poppy123456

Sorry but I don't understand this at all. Who did you send paper work to?

Which ESA are you claiming, Income Related or New style/contributions based? 

Are you claiming any other benefits? if so which ones? 

Hunter1998

I am claiming income related Esa and have been since I had to give up work due to medical reasons in 2018. I've have been being underpaid by about £70 a week since I started claiming esa as they were deducting that amount each week under "other income into the household " when I questioned this they told me the "other income" was working tax credits. I told them I'm not working and getting working tax credits. They said I needed to get proof from HMRC confirming I don't get working tax credit and the date of my last working tax credit payment was, which was before I started claiming ESA. I have done that and sent the DWP the letters confirming that. Sorry if its so confusing, I'm really confused myself x

poppy123456

Are you a single person or is a partner named on your ESA? Are you claiming any disability benefits? How much ESA are you receiving each week?

WTC being deducted from ESA makes no sense

Hunter1998

I'm single and also received PIP, housing benefit and council tax benefit. I get £158 per week. None of it makes any sense to me. I'm so confused. I suffered from anxiety, severe depression, border line personality and have brain damage due to having brain surgery x

poppy123456

There’s no doubt a lot of confusion here. There doesn’t seem to be any deductions from your ESA for any WTC. As that just wouldn’t be possible in this situation. 

Does your PIP include the daily living part? If so and you live alone or treated as living alone and no one claims carers allowance or carers element of Universal Credit for looking after you then your ESA should include the Severe Disability Premium. This would increase your ESA by £81.50/week. This is the new increase amount so it would have been less in previous years.