ESA and Pension Mixed Couple

ripple

Hi, hope you can help me.

My husband and I are both disabled, high rate care and high rate mobility for both. We have been claiming IB ESA (husband main claimer). I have been claiming ESA CB. Both in the support group. Both underlying entitlement to carers. I have looked at your advice and informed ESA/HB.

I am now receiving my State Pension (this week!). £221.20

I am trying to work out the paperwork received from ESA this morning. Something not right? Here is what they have mentioned:

Extra money for partners age (extra think due to me retiring?)

Extra money for you and your partner as severely disabled

Extra money because in the Support Group

Extra money because both carers

(Disability Income Guarantee no longer mentioned)

There is other income (private pension) £108.95

ESA Partner (me) £132.59

What stood out to me was the last part ESA Partner? no state pension mentioned? Also, the premiums I am not sure are right.

Thanks for help.

poppy123456

There should be a pensioner's premium included in the calculation. The Disability Income Guarantee (Enhanced disability Premium) is not payable along side the Pensioners Premium.

Your state pension and other pension should both be deducted in full from the ESA. Your ESA should no longer be deducted.

I suspect that another calculation is needed once you actually reach state pension age, as seems to be the case in the past few months when I've advised on the same thing. ESA do seem to do things rather strangely when it comes to ESA letters.

Your partner will need to ring ESA.

Rosie_Scope

Hello @ripple, welcome to the community. I'm afraid pensions aren't something I'm very clued up on but I hope some of our members might be able to offer their expertise soon. I just wanted to say hello and welcome you to the community.

Have you managed to get in contact with ESA to see if they can clear things up for you?

Our members are very helpful, so I'm sure you'll get some good advice here. Fingers crossed you can get things cleared up quickly.

ripple

ripple

Thank you for the speedy response and clarifying that we should be getting the pensioner premium and that the Disability Income Guarantee (Enhanced disability Premium) has ceased.

Am I right in saying we also still qualify for the following:

Extra money because we are both seerely disabled

Extra money because we are both carers

Extra money because my husband is in the support group

We telephoned ESA some weeks ago to inform them about my state pension then my husband did also. We have been waiting for paperwork. They still have not taken into account the state pension (which started today) but have me down as receiving ESA yet received my P45 today too. Wonder if more in the post? Will ring them again.

Thank you so much, totally stressed me today.

poppy123456

You're welcome. If your partner claims carers allowance and is actually paid the carers allowance your ESA will include single SDP and not couples rate. As you have an underlying entitlement to carers allowance this doesn't affect SDP. Therefore your ESA should include 2 carers premiums, one SDP.

There would be a deduction of the carers allowance for your partner. Also the deduction for your state pension.

Yes it will still include Support Group amount.

ripple

HI

Thank you so much. We will get onto ESA next week.