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Unexpected ESA payment

JurphJurph Member Posts: 346 Pioneering
in Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
I've been on ESA income related for 1 year.

My payments have been like clockwork every 2 weeks on a Tuesday. My usual payment date fell on the 25th so I got it a little early, on the 21st.

However, today I received a payment. I wasn't expecting one. It's not due until the 8th January. It's also just a week's payment, not the usual 2.

Anyone else had this? Anyone know why? I think I was awarded ESA from 3th Jan 2018 - that's the only thing I can think of but I haven't received any paperwork.

Thanks
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Replies

  • bob2325bob2325 Member Posts: 2 Listener
    ^^^ Exactly the Same As Above
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  • bob2325bob2325 Member Posts: 2 Listener

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  • hearsay68hearsay68 Member Posts: 4 Connected
    Do you know where this information came from? I too have received one weeks pay a week early 
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  • hez1403hez1403 Member Posts: 1 Listener
    This has happened to me. 1 week esa payment today, not due til 9th Jan. Worried sick. I have seen a lot of posts with people saying the same. 
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  • Kay_76Kay_76 Member Posts: 1 Listener
    Hello everyone. I also have had an early payment of just one week. Was due payment on the 8th. Omg I’m thinking I have failed my assessment this is extremely stressful
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  • jason16jason16 Member Posts: 2 Listener
    Hello guys I'm the same  I was expecting my ESA on the 8th jan but I received half of it today. I'm glad I'm not the only one.
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  • justme246justme246 Member Posts: 2 Listener
    Yes I too received the same, all very weird.
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  • poppy123456poppy123456 Member Posts: 22,218 Disability Gamechanger
    Lots of people have received this 1 weeks payment and it seems like the only ones that have received it are the ones not due their payment until the 8th January.

    I'm due my payment on 2nd and haven't received anything yet. Actually i received my PIP today, instead of Wednesday but not received my ESA.

    All you can do is ring DWP and ask why you've received this part payment today. They open at 8am and are the only ones that can tell you the reasons why.
    Community champion and proud winner of the 2019 empowering others award. This award was given for supporting disabled people and their families for the benefit advice i have given to members here on the community.
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  • TerahurtsTerahurts Member Posts: 1 Listener
    My partner also received a half-payment today when she's not due to be paid until the 8th, and our daughter received her PIP, which isn't due until the 2nd. Has me a little freaked out that there's a bad-news-bearing brown envelope stuck somewhere in the postal system.

    There's nothing on the DWP twitter feed, and I'm guessing the phone lines are going to be extremely busy today, so if anyone can get an official answer from them please post it here.
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  • jenny_annjenny_ann Member Posts: 18 Listener
    I’m another who has received half and due the 8th. If someone doesn’t mind posting why if they get through I’d appreciate that.
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  • Gwendoline1Gwendoline1 Member Posts: 226 Pioneering
    I’m due my ESA on Monday the 8th, not received any payment but have received my PIP today instead of Wednesday. What a weird, wonderful world we live in haha. Happy New Year to everyone. Let’s hope it’s going to be a good one for all of us 🎉🎉🎉
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  • Gwendoline1Gwendoline1 Member Posts: 226 Pioneering
    By the way my haha was meant for the dwp. I totally understand that people are very stressed due to the unscheduled payments. Just shows how unpredictable the dwp are and therefore how stressed we can all be at times due to them.
    Im sure there’s a reason for this hope this gets sorted and puts people’s mind at rest. 
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  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 0 Listener
    Omg.. I'm so glad that I checked the forums, I was panicking lol.

    Thanks for posting this, I was just waiting on the phone but I guess I don't need to now!

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  • hearsay68hearsay68 Member Posts: 4 Connected
    Still on hold, there was a recording at the beginning to say that people due this week won’t receive their money until 2nd. No mention of our quey though. Will update As soon as I get a reply 👍
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  • jason16jason16 Member Posts: 2 Listener
    I am just off the phone to the ESA nothing to worry about. It's a computer glitch she said i will get the other half  on the 8th Jan. 
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  • justme246justme246 Member Posts: 2 Listener
    What I got told too.
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  • hearsay68hearsay68 Member Posts: 4 Connected
    That’s great thank you 😊 
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  • JurphJurph Member Posts: 346 Pioneering
    Phew. I'm glad I posted.

    Thanks everyone for letting me know I wasn't alone!

    Happy new year!
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  • carlyyjayynecarlyyjayyne Member Posts: 7 Listener
    Phew! I have been having a slight panic all morning that was my last payment EVER.
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  • carlyyjayynecarlyyjayyne Member Posts: 7 Listener
    Thank you to the memebers that took the time out to call DWP it’s never an easy task 
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  • MariLondon50MariLondon50 Member Posts: 12 Listener
    I had the same unexpected payment was in panic THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE EXPLANATION 😂tried to contact dwp 40 minutes on hold glad I came here HAPPY NEW YEAR to all with peace and less worries 
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  • TracyMDTracyMD Member Posts: 1 Listener
    So glad i found this thread, i also got an unexplained esa payment today, i was really panicking as i wasn't sure why i had the payment. I knew it wasn't my Christmas bonus that i still haven't received yet, as that is only £10. But a one week early payment, going by the amount and that my nxt payment date is on the 9th this makes a lot of sense, thank you for this post, i can relax now. I'm a newbie here, hi everyone and a happy new year to you all 😊 x
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  • lisajane67lisajane67 Member Posts: 3 Listener
    Thank u all i was panicking think that was last payment and being put on UC.im on pip and esa cant work due to illness im still wondering if i will be put on uc as havnt a clue im on esa and dont work or have to go anywhere so not sure i will be put on uc or not..any ideas? Happg new year all
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  • poppy123456poppy123456 Member Posts: 22,218 Disability Gamechanger
    lisajane67 said:
    Thank u all i was panicking think that was last payment and being put on UC.im on pip and esa cant work due to illness im still wondering if i will be put on uc as havnt a clue im on esa and dont work or have to go anywhere so not sure i will be put on uc or not..any ideas? Happg new year all
    All those claiming Income related benefits will eventually migrate across to UC because this is replacing 6 of the means tested benefits. ESA, JSA, Income Support, Tax credits and housing benefit. Managed migration is due to start later this year for some people but for a lot of people it will be much later than this year.
    Community champion and proud winner of the 2019 empowering others award. This award was given for supporting disabled people and their families for the benefit advice i have given to members here on the community.
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  • wayney123wayney123 Member Posts: 1 Listener
    I’m on ESA, I was due to be paid on the 26th but got paid on the 21st ... I rang the bank yesterday to check my account & I’d received a half payment from DWP. I’ve been worried sick thinking my money had been stopped/suspended. I’m so glad I checked online. I wish they would of pre-warned me beforehand that I’d be receiving half of It early. Messed me right up 🙈
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  • Asadzee123Asadzee123 Member Posts: 1 Listener
    Hello everyone 👋 Just wanted to say I’ve had all these issues everyone else has had regarding payments being half the usual amount plus issues with the dates. Being a serious  mental health patient this completely thrown me off balance to the point that  I started having anxiety attacks. I been on the internet for the past 2 hours doing as much research as I can and I’ve found many people are having same problem including certain parts of Ireland 🇮🇪. After seeing this I do believe everything will be back to normal by the 8th January or soon after so please don’t worry everyone. I wanted to say this because I read many comments of people being very concerned just as I have been and it was very emotionally mentally and physically very troubling for me. Please don’t worry it should be okay.

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  • creepinghourcreepinghour Member Posts: 2 Listener
    Hi there I found this 
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  • creepinghourcreepinghour Member Posts: 2 Listener

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  • LmaleLmale Member Posts: 2 Listener
    bob2325bob2325 said:

    Problem, I got paid today, Friday the 11th, I only got half payment which has all but £7 been taken for bills, I'm already on emergency credit.

    I also didn't get winter fuel allowance, I swear this government sucks!!!
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  • poppy123456poppy123456 Member Posts: 22,218 Disability Gamechanger
    Hi,

    It was a computer glitch. Some people were paid half of their payment 1 week early, with the remainder of the payment being received on the date it should be.

    For the winter fuel payment then if you don't receive it by 14th January then you'll need to ring them. It should automatically be paid, providing you qualify.

    Community champion and proud winner of the 2019 empowering others award. This award was given for supporting disabled people and their families for the benefit advice i have given to members here on the community.
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  • LmaleLmale Member Posts: 2 Listener
    poppy123456 said:
    Hi,

    It was a computer glitch. Some people were paid half of their payment 1 week early, with the remainder of the payment being received on the date it should be.

    For the winter fuel payment then if you don't receive it by 14th January then you'll need to ring them. It should automatically be paid, providing you qualify.

    Sure hope so, it's been a really cold winter, I've spent a fortune on my electric fire and I still spend hours wrapped in a fake fur throw trying to stay warm.


    This kind of uncertaincy isn't good for me, I'm a self harmer who's on the maximum dose of Mirtazipine for suicidal tendencies. Infact 10 of my cuts are infected right now and I don't intend to go to the doctor about them.
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  • Pippa_AlumniPippa_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 5,856 Disability Gamechanger
    Hi @Lmale, and a warm welcome to the community!

    I'm glad to see you've had advice from Poppy, and I hope you're faring as well as possible today.

    I'm so sorry to hear about how you were affected by the changed payments, it caused a lot of distress and upset for many of our other community members too. 

    You are a member of our community and we appreciate you. Please do take care of yourself and seek help for your injuries. If you are having thoughts of suicide or self-harm currently, it is important that you discuss them with someone who is qualified to help. Please call the Samaritans on 116 123 (free) or email them at [email protected]. You might also benefit from reading MIND’s information on how you can help yourself.

    If you feel that you may be an immediate danger to yourself, please call 999 or go to your local hospital right away.

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