Hi, my name is Headintheshed! Am I still entitled to Severe Disability Element?

Headintheshed

Hello, I've suffered mental health issues for 32 years. Anxiety Depression, two attempts at suicide, lucky to survive the last time just over seven years ago. I just can't shake it off. Early last December I had a PIP assessment and it was cancelled. I appealed via the mandatory review and it was reinstated to me around six weeks later. I lost the severe disability premium element of my Income Related Employer and Support Allowance. I have since had a telephone assessment and was once again placed in the Support Group. This was around six weeks ago, I still have not received the severe disability premium. Though I have received notification that it will pay me £55.19p each week. My query is am I still entitled to the Severe Disability Element of the benefit or due to the transition to Universal Credit have I lost the benefit. I have wrote to DWP requesting information and the payment and rang Welfare Rights and left a message, but my anxiety levels are increasing around the issue, through not knowing. Thanks in advance.

Headintheshed

"I haven't yet been moved to Universal Credit,"

Rosie_Scope

Hello @Headintheshed, welcome to the community. Thanks for sharing your story and sorry to hear you've been through so many difficulties over the years. I can understand how your ESA situation might be making you anxious, it's not easy sometimes.

I'm afraid I'm not too sure on the answer to your question myself, but I'll pop your post over to our ESA section where members with the right experience can find it and offer some advice. I just wanted to say hello and welcome first. I hope you're able to get some clarity soon 😊

Headintheshed

Thanks, newbie mistake posting on here, cheers for the help.

poppy123456

Why did the SDP stop? What notification did you receive regarding £55.19? I don’t know what you’re referring to here.

May I ask how much ESA you’re receiving each week?

Headintheshed

Hi thanks for the reply. The SDP stopped at the time my PIP ended in early January. At the time I was told by the DWP that once the PIP appeal had been completed, the SDP would be reinstated. I received a letter 4th of May stating I had been placed in the support group following the ESA telephone assessment.

Dear Mr?

"YOUR CLAIM FOR EMPLOYMENT AND SUPPORT ALLOWANCE

A CHANGE IN THE EMPLOYMENT AND SUPPORT ALLOWANCE RATE PAYABLE

£55.19 a week

This is because of:

. a decision on your capability for work. You have been placed in the Support Group.

I'm recieving PIP £72.65p.

I have written to DWP expressing my concern two weeks ago, within the appeal deadline date.

It is stressing me thinking that I've lost the SDP £81.50p for now fault of my own.

Thanks..

poppy123456

I don't understand why your ESA is only £55.19/week. There must be some deductions from your ESA, what are those please?

To claim SDP you need to ring ESA. Writing to them doesn't always receive a reply. I'm assuming you're still living alone or treated as living alone?

Headintheshed

I receive a private pension, around £110 per week or so?, which is deducted from the Income Related ESA. Nothing has changed in my claim, I'm still living on my own. I'll have to give them a ring then, thanks for your time and advice.

Headintheshed

@poppy123456

Thanks for the advice, I've rang them a few minutes ago and it has all been sorted, with a promise that someone will ring me back in the next couple of days to confirm everything with me. Typical of me burying my head in the sand hoping that it would sort it's self out, when all it took was a five minute phonecall. 👍🤓

poppy123456

You’re welcome. Glad it’s being sorted. Although you were previously claiming it, it still wouldn’t have automatically started back up again due to the criteria involved for entitlement.

Headintheshed

The have made me a priority, spoke to the person sorting the claim out. The back money will be paid this week. She explained that it is up to the claimant to notify of any changes to the claim. 58 year old and frightened of making such an easy phone call. Thanks Poppy123456, I can advise on this area now too. I've had a torrid time with it all, received the letter that I had lost PIP two days before Christmas, the timing was really bad. And I only appealed because of what the call handler said from ESA, they expected me to ask for a mandatory review. So I did and I'm here at this point today. I can pay the credit cards off now.. Thanks xx