Hi, my name is jay73! why am I not getting the 400+ a month like people I no are getting?

jay73

I was on esa with work focused activities for 10+ years I asked to be reassessed as I have more medical conditions on top of what I already have so I now on esa support group I thought I’d go on lcwra but I’ve been told it’s same so why am I not getting the 400+ a month like people I no are getting I’m getting half that on top of my esa so it can’t be same because payments are not same think I get 19 disability guarantee 44 support group just feel as I’m being done over again as I didn’t get that extra money of £20 a week during covid just confused why friends I no have just done the same and they got payments of 390month that’s before it went up in April straight away there’s a big difference 200 were equality in that that’s if you have any advice to what’s going on

poppy123456

Sounds like you're a little confused between the different benefits. LCWRA is part of Universal Credit and you do not claim this. You're claiming Income Related ESA. The £20/week uplift during covid did not apply to those claiming ESA, it only applied to those claiming UC. 

You're not automatically placed onto UC, if you want to claim it you have to do that yourself but if you do this then your Income Related ESA will end 2 weeks later. 

If your ESA doesn't include the Severe Disability Premium then your weekly amount will be £159.05, which is £318.10/fortnight. 
If it includes the SDP then your weekly amount would be £240.55.. which is £481.10/fortnight. 

If you claim UC then your monthly amount would be standard allowance (25+) £393.45 + LCWRA element £416.19. Totally monthly amount £809.54.

UC that includes the LCWRA element pays more than ESA Support Group if your ESA doesn't include the Severe disability Premium. If your ESA includes the SDP then you would be worse off if you claimed UC. 

jay73

Thanks poppy does this mean I have to apply for SDP

poppy123456

There's very specific criteria to being entitled to SDP because not everyone is entitled to it.

You must either be claiming a qualifying disability benefit such as PIP/ADP daily living or DLA mid/high rate care. Or you must be registered blind. 

You must also live alone or be treated as living alone. If you live with other adults they must also either be claiming a qualifying disability benefit or be registered blind and no one must be claiming either carers allowance or carers element of UC for looking after you. severe-disability-premium

SDP is a disability premium that can be included with your ESA, it's not a benefit on its own. 

Albus_Scope

Hey there @jay73 welcome to the community. 

I can see Poppy is already helping you out, but I just wanted to stop in and say a quick hello.