Enhanced Rate of ESA for capital reduction.

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Annabelle26
Annabelle26 Scope Member Posts: 113 Empowering
edited November 2017 in Benefits and income
I have just rang the DWP to see where todays benefit payment is.  The person started to go on about letters about my capital telling me if it had dropped below £6,000 I would be entitled to an enhanced payment.  I supposed to have been receiving letters about it.  I am claiming contributory ESA & am in the Support Group.  She suggested I look at my capital & write to them with statements etc.  She eventually got around to looking at my missing payment & could not see why I was not paid.  She eventually  did something on her computer & apparently the payment should eventually be paid sometime today.  I have never heard of this enhanced rate.

Comments

  • Pippa_Alumni
    Pippa_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 5,761 Championing
    Hi @Annabelle26, I've moved your post into our Ask a Benefits Advisor category, as they will be most informed about how the enhanced payments work. They're receiving a high volume of messages at the moment, but somebody will get back to you ASAP. Keep us updated and let us know if you do receive your missing payment! 
  • Annabelle26
    Annabelle26 Scope Member Posts: 113 Empowering
    The payment has arrived in my account.  I also received the Form about missing a Health Consultation.  I had rang up on the day & spoke to a sympathetic person who said I sounded rough & said she would make a note.  I had already used my appointment to a more convenient time.  I sent it back immediately with lots of detail about how I was feeling even down to my bowel movement.  I do not think I qualify for the enhanced ESA as my capital is over the £6,000.
    I also had a Doctors appointment & asked her about a report for the DWP & something to prove I was too sick to go to the Health Assessment but apparently GP's do not do that. I was still not feeling great & also had a anxiety attack on the way & got there with 2 minutes to spare but she was running late so it was OK.  The DWP send a questionnaire if necessary to fill in & she will contact me if she gets one.
  • BenefitsTrainingCo
    BenefitsTrainingCo Online Community Member Posts: 2,621 Trailblazing
    Annabelle26,

    As Mike has explained, you can have more than £6,000 and still get income-related ESA. Thank you Mike!

    It's not possible to tell really without looking at your benefit letters but I suspect what is happening is that the DWP have spotted that you are entitled to some income-related ESA, even though because of your savings, you may not be entitled to the maximum amount (as Mike has explained, you lose £1 per week of income-related ESA for every £250 or part of £250 above £6,000).

    Turning to your not turning up for the health assessment, you rang on the day so that should show you had a good reason, and you have already moved the appointment. It's a shame your GP won't give you a backdated sick note for the day but at least they are willing to fill in a questionnaire if they get one. 

    If you get a decision saying they don't accept your reasons, your ESA will stop. It's really important that you ask for a mandatory reconsideration (within a month if possible), and appeal if you need to. That's because you can't reapply for ESA when this happens, unless you get significantly worse or develop a new condition. But, fingers crossed, your good reason will be accepted & hopefully the rearranged assessment will go ahead.

    Will
  • Annabelle26
    Annabelle26 Scope Member Posts: 113 Empowering
    Thank you everyone for your help.  I am not going to pursue the enhanced ESA yet until my benefits are sorted out.  Will you are confused about the appointment. I had already used my appointment change before this appointment.  My original appointment was at the beginning of November for 9am which was completely unsuitable for me as I would have had to get up early to get a bus that I would be sure would get me there on time through the rush hour.  The bus would probably be crowded which would cause anxiety problems so I changed it to one that  was later in the day.  This is the one I was supposed to go to last Tuesday & had to cancel.  I received the non attendance form and send it straight back and am just waiting to see what happens.
    Regarding my PIP I sent off my Mandatory Review letter yesterday so I am just waiting to see what happens there. I am not sure whether it was too long as it was 4 pages.  I did a summary of the main disagreements on the first page & then did a more detailed narrative of various pages on the next 3 pages.   I also finally had an acknowledgement from Capita exactly one week after the complaint was sent.  They are carrying out a thorough investigation and are supposed to write back within 20 working days, which I make is 15th December which in Capita time will probably be January & they will find their employee has done nothing wrong. On the way to the postbox I stumbled & nearly fell in front of a car so I now have a bad ankle.
    My SAD has started & I feel really fed up & miserable.  I have always disliked Christmas because of bad memories so going round shops this time of year is always irritating but now it seems worse because I feel so low.