Losing Income related ESA

MickGill

No Poppy just myself and my wife .

poppy123456

Brilliant, thank you! This means that when your wife reaches state pension age you will be entitled to single SDP which is £81.50/week. It is not affected when someone has an underlying entitlement to CA. Once she reaches this age you will need to ring ESA to ask to claim SDP. The form can be filled in over the phone and takes about 15 minutes at the most.

If you bear with me, I will happily do another calculation for you, that will include the SDP. `I have a few things to do this afternoon but didn't want to ignore your reply for you to think I would respond.

Were you able to speak to ESA today about the error in the carers allowance deduction for your wife once she reaches state pension age?

MickGill

That's very good Poppy, yes i spoke to ESA, sadly a spoke to a woman who seemed confused as to what I was telling her, she said a manager would phone be back, I missed the call because i was in the garden and by the time i got to my phone they hung up, do you think they will re call ?. thanks, Poppy .

MickGill

Hi Poppy on that run down that ESA sent me extra money because of my partner's age £154. 75 b, this has never appeared on my run-downs before , any idea what it is please .

poppy123456

The £154.75 is the pensioner premium I mentioned in the calculation I did earlier in the thread. The reason it's never been on your calculations before is because it's not paid if under state pension age.

poppy123456

Based on the new information you've given since my last calculation I can now confirm what you're entitlement to ESA should be..

ESA couples £142.25

WRAG component £35.95

Pensioner Premium £154.75

Carers Premium £45.60 x 2 = £91.20

Severe disability Premium £81.50

Total amount before deductions = £505.65/week

Deductions… State Pension £195, Pension £72.92, Carers Allowance £81.90

Total amount after deductions = £155.83/week payable (£311.66/fortnight)

There's 2 carers premiums payable, one because you claim CA for your wife and the other because your wife has an underlying entitlement to it. CA is not paid to your wife because her SP is more than the CA.

Just to quickly recap a few things that I've mentioned throughout. SDP single rate can be paid once she reaches state pension age because an underlying entitlement to CA does not affect entitlement to SDP. You need to ring ESA once she reaches this age to claim it.

To answer your question you asked earlier this afternoon, they may ring you back. If they don't then I'd advise you to ring again.. yes, I know the call centre staff often have no knowledge of benefits other than to read from a screen but ringing them you can ask for someone to ring again. Remember you need to remind them that CA is included in the deduction for when she reaches SP and it shouldn't be.

As there's entitlement to Income Related ESA your HB will continue.

I hope this helps and sorry for the delay. It took me a while to gather all the correct figures.

MickGill

Brilliant Poppy , the DWP rang back and said they will contact me in the next three days, they said do not apply for UC, i think that means they accept that the calculation is wrong , i really can not thank you enough and i have to say i would never have known any of this without you Poppy , thank you so much , i shall contact you on this page once they ring me if that is OK ?

poppy123456

That's brilliant that they rang you back. My thoughts on the calculation is because she isn't yet state pension age so they included the CA in the calculation but then that doesn't really make sense because they also include her SP. 😂

You're very welcome! I'm glad I was here to help, benefits are a minefield, for sure. Yes, please do come back with an update, that would be appreciated and don't forget about the SDP.

MickGill

Oh i will not forget about the SDP for sure Poppy 😉

MickGill

Update Poppy, I was told by someone on the phone at the DWP that my case has gone to Preston my area, I phoned again last Thursday, the guy on the phone was very helpful, he said he could see my case has gone to Preston so I should expect a letter with an amendment soon, he agreed that I will be entitled to SDP, and we filled the form in over the phone, as yet I have not had a letter from Preston, I will keep you updated Poppy.

poppy123456

Thanks for returning with any update, it’s appreciated. I’m glad it’s being sorted out!

MickGill

Hi Poppy, still no letter from DWP, my ESA was due to end on 26th of June, i phoned ESA and the automated robot said I will get an ESA payment on the 2nd of July, am I to take it that the amendment has been made ? .

poppy123456

Knowing how unreliable the automated payment line is I think you need to wait until payment day. If you don't receive a payment by then you will need to ring them. Hopefully, it's been sorted now and you will receive a letter soon.

MickGill

Thank you Poppy will do .

MickGill

Hi Poppy, well yesterday was my wife's birthday (pension age) and I received a phone call from the DWP, a very nice Lady said that someone at the DWP had made another error with my ESA and that it was a huge error, she apologised on behalf of the DWP and said she would work it all out and phone me back, one hour later she did just that, everything she said matched what you said in your run down of what I should be getting, she also put through my claim for SDP from yesterday, to say I am over the moon is an understatement Poppy. If I had listened to the advice of DWP staff and claimed UC I would have lost a lot of benefits, thankfully I found you and your help and advice has been golden Poppy, I have one last question, do I keep the SDP once I go on the state pension ? , I know Scope is a charity and after your wonderful advice I want to make a donation this week, do you have a link please Poppy, once again a million thanks for all you did for me, it means so much.

poppy123456

That’s fantastic news! I’m so glad that you posted here when you did because had you claimed UC there may not have been any entitlement at all. UC doesn’t favour mixed aged couples at all.

I’m not one of the scope team and just spend my time freely advising thousands of members. People like yourself is one of the reasons why I’m here! Thank you also for such kind words.

When you reach state pension age you will be able to claim Pension Credit as a couple. You would then be entitled to SDP couples as well as having 2 underlying entitlements to carers allowance so 2 carers premiums would be included. When the time comes please post back here and I will be happy to advise further.

Here’s a link for donation https://donate.scope.org.uk/?campaign=24SCWB01&_ga=2.198236905.717843731.1719147190-461378629.1715944109 that’s very kind of you and I’m sure the team will appreciate it!!

MickGill

Thank you, Poppy, my pension arrives in 16 months time, I shall be more than happy to come back for your invaluable advice.

poppy123456

You're very welcome. I can't see me going anywhere anytime soon. Been a member here for coming up 7 years so just shout, I'll be here somewhere.

pat0000

Hi, my father died in Oct 2021, I was the executor of the will, I with my sister were left a derelict house with land, valued at £20,000, I forgot about it, then recently I remembered about it, I informed ESA, I was on both ESA's, they stopped my IR and told me to send in my bank statements from 2012. My father's life insurance policies were paid into my bank account, £30,000, if I give my bank statements to ESA they will want to know about the money, I followed my father's wishes and give it to my niece, I think she gets working tax credits or something, the problem is, I can't explain where it went to them, I don't want to get my niece in trouble, do I have to send my bank statements in, I'm already off the IR part, still getting contributory part, what will happen if I don't send the statements in, can they go to court and get an order or something to make me give the statements in.

The other thing is, over the years, I've been to USA about 6 times with my sisters, they have paid my tickets, can ESA say anything about me travelling?

Any advice appreciated,

Thanks, Pat

poppy123456

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/882767#Comment_882767

Your questions were answered on your other thread here.

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/119531/esa-want-my-bank-statements

It's better to keep to one thread rather than asking the same questions on other threads because it gets very confusing.