Terror! Letter from DWP/ESA about savings
Comments
-
Poppy, to save me starting a new thread, can I check whether there is any requirement to revert back to means tested benefits immediately when savings drop below £16k again? Or is it up to the claimant to decide?
Just thinking I'd rather leave a buffer of a few thousand before reclaiming UC again if I can claim NS ESA before going over the £16k myself.
0 -
@Marydoll5 and @poppy123456 I wrote to ESA this morning then fell asleep from exhaustion. Something told me to phone the ESA number. The call hander advised me to disregard the letters and he would email the fact that I am on CB ESA only to the relevant office. Does this sound OK?
0 -
Another fright! What a day. I had to phone ESA again because I had forgotten to ask a key question.
In the course of the conversation I learned that an ESA review is set for August 2025. I'm scared so badly. My disability is far more severe that it was when I moved to ESA and was placed in the Support Group. Just getting the information on paper is a massive physical task. I've always had paper assessments.
When do you think I'll be sent an ESA50 ? Ages ago somebody told me a claim is continued without an ESA50 being issued. Is this the case?
0 -
Yes ESA awards are indefinite, they carry on unless you are found fit for work.
The date on their system is only ever a guide, as they can re-assess at any time.
Re-assessments for the vast majority in Support Group have been suspended for several years now, as a result massive backlogs exist within the system.
Assessment resources are being focused on new claims and changes in circumstance.
Assessment providers have been streamlined (divided by region) and recruitment for assessors is ongoing.
When re-assessments will resume at scale is anyone's guess.
0 -
If it says August 2025 can I count on that?
0 -
Given what I wrote in my response, my opinion is no you cannot count on August 2025, as things currently stand.
1 -
I found this on the B&W site. I wonder whether this explains why I've been in the SG for many years without reassessment. I'm sick with fear about August 2025 and an ESA50 that I'm physically unable to handle
0 -
It's entirely up to you when you claim UC again once your capital drops below the £16k limit. If you can claim NsESA before your UC ending then no assessment would be needed when you do reclaim UC.
1 -
Just to confirm what kimmy has already advised.. no, you can't count on that because that is just a guide and nothing more.
What I am curious about though is how you managed to ring ESA today because they are usually closed on weekends. Unless it was yesterday that you rang them?
0 -
@poppy123456 It was today. Saturday. I only received the second letter this morning.
0 -
Yes. Everyone already receiving ESA would have a date on their file for re assessment.
As I advised this is only ever a guide anyway.
1 -
Don't lie to them as they can check you are allowed up to £16000 but if you are substantial amount you will probably have live on that until it gone then reclaim. I don't mean frighten but know of people this happened to
0 -
It seems like to me by this comment that you haven't read the whole thread or you've read it and misunderstood it.
Zipz is not claiming any means tested benefits so the capital/savings rules do not apply to them. Their ESA is all contributions based. For this reason they shouldn't be questioning any capital they may have anyway.
1 -
The majority of people have a referral date but that date will not be mentioned in any ESA letter you receive. They will tell you that date if you ring to ask but it's pointless anyway because it doesn't mean they will refer you on that date, which we advised.
2
Categories
- All Categories
- 14.3K Start here and say hello!
- 6.9K Coffee lounge
- 73 Games den
- 1.6K People power
- 109 Community noticeboard
- 22.2K Talk about life
- 5.1K Everyday life
- 73 Current affairs
- 2.3K Families and carers
- 832 Education and skills
- 1.8K Work
- 451 Money and bills
- 3.4K Housing and independent living
- 908 Transport and travel
- 663 Relationships
- 66 Sex and intimacy
- 1.4K Mental health and wellbeing
- 2.3K Talk about your impairment
- 847 Rare, invisible, and undiagnosed conditions
- 894 Neurological impairments and pain
- 2K Cerebral Palsy Network
- 1.2K Autism and neurodiversity
- 36.1K Talk about your benefits
- 5.6K Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- 18.6K PIP, DLA, ADP and AA
- 6.7K Universal Credit (UC)
- 5.2K Benefits and income