Am I eligible to recieve the basic Disability Premium?

lemonorange95

Hi guys,

I hope this is in the right place as I really need some advice and ive been going around in circles with benefit calculators, DWP and advice from Citizens Advice.

I currently receive Contribution Based ESA (support group), PIP: Enhanced Mobility and Enhanced Daily Living and UC (support group).
It appears due to my PIP I would be entitled to the basic Disability Premium of £43.20 per week, which after talking to DWP nobody seems to know it exists and that there are 3 separate disability premiums.
I'm aware that I likely wouldn't be eligible for Enhanced or Severe Disability Premium but I should be entitled to the basic Disability Premium of £43.20 a day. I haven't been able to work since 2019 and live alone. I'm genuinely confused as to how to access this benefit and have it backdated. What other hoops do I need to jump through? The entitled to calculator basically says I should be getting all premiums but I know that's not true, however im pretty sure from looking at the eligibility criteria it also states something about 'you may be eligible if you haven't worked in the last year.

Any help/advice would be gratefully appreciated.

Thanks

Lauren29

When did you make a claim for ESA and when did you claim Universal Credit?

lemonorange95

Hello there,

I was guven very conflicting Advice at first but II actually applied for them both at the same time in 2019. So im just really confused, whenever I speak to DWP I get a different answer every time. Today when i spoke on the phone to a lady about ESA ans entitlement she didnt even know there were 3 types of disability premiums, she said she only thought there was enhanced and Severe.

chiarieds

Hi @lemonorange95 - & welcome to the forum. PIP on it's own doesn't confer eligibility to the disability premium you're referring to if you don't also get Income Support, income based Jobseeker's Allowance or Housing Benefit (tho not if getting full Housing Benefit)

https://www.entitledto.co.uk/help/disability-premiums-in-benefits

On the Govt's website will likely have been where you saw 'you may still get the premium if you've beeen unable to work for at least a year' https://www.gov.uk/disability-premiums/eligibility tho I'm not sure as to how this is applied if otherwise you're not eligible.

When you ring the 'DWP' you're talking to call handlers who will be unable to give benefits advice.

Perhaps others will know more.

lemonorange95

Hi, thank you!

Oh yes, I'm very much aware they are call handlers and have to deal with a lot. I've had it referred to the benefits office. Yup, the ambiguous and strange quote 'you may still get the premium if you've beeen unable to work for at least a year' is bugging me as it then doesn't go on to expand on this point, which would indeed apply to me.

Thank you for your reply and being so kind.