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I'm in ESA SG. Will taking LA and NHS pensions affect my ESA?

Marigold54Marigold54 Member Posts: 4 Listener
edited February 23 in Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
I'm currently on contribution based ESA and I am in the support group. I am thinking of taking my local authority pension on the basis of having the maximum lump sum of £26500 and an annual income of £3950. I also get an NHS pension of £2050 per annum. How will this affect the ESA please? Can anybody help me?  
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Replies

  • Girl_No1Girl_No1 Member Posts: 105 Courageous
    I am on cbESA too.  Lump sum/capital does not affect cbESA.  Pension - the amount of any occupational pension over £85/wk is deducted at 50p in the £1.00 

    From your figures, your combined pensions will be £115/wk approx. 

    This will mean a reduction of £15/wk from ESA.    £15 = 50% of £30 (£115-85).

    However, if you are claiming any other benefits (other than PIP) it may also affect those.  I have no knowledge of any other benefits.
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  • woodbinewoodbine Community Co-Production Group Posts: 4,484 Disability Gamechanger
    Savings above £16k would lose all means tested benefits, cont.based ESA would be affected as above ^^^,
    have you considered having a chat with pensionwise which can be done by phone?
    "Putting a child into care, isn't caring for a child" (T.Rhattigan)
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  • Marigold54Marigold54 Member Posts: 4 Listener
    Both replies are most helpful. Thank you so much. I have been dithering about this for a while now. I have contacted Pensionwise previously but they said to call DWP which is easier said than done! 
    Many thanks 😊
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  • Girl_No1Girl_No1 Member Posts: 105 Courageous
    @Marigold54 I know precisely what you mean about dithering.  I didn't even know you could apply for cbESA once Statutory Sick Pay expired i.e. whilst still employed still receiving salary (or part-salary).   No deduction to the weekly cbESA rate no matter how much your salary is.

    I waited three months after SSP ended which was also three months before my salary would expire. 

    I was fortunate that the woman from DWP who rang me queried why I was asking for a date in advance (Feb 21) when my SSP had expired in Aug 20.  She was able to back-date the cbESA payment 12 weeks, which almost (but not quite) took me back to when SSP finished!

    For the period I was receiving salary I was paid the full assessment rate £74.35 per week.  However, when my salary ceased and my pension (much less than my salary!) became payable the cbESA payment was reduced to reflect that the pension was more than £85/wk.  

    This is information no-one knows until they're in the position, and no-one goes out of their way to make you aware!  

    Good luck if/when you decide to apply.  :) 
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  • woodbinewoodbine Community Co-Production Group Posts: 4,484 Disability Gamechanger
    The best time to tele the DWP for anything is as soon as they open before they get busy.
    "Putting a child into care, isn't caring for a child" (T.Rhattigan)
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  • calcotticalcotti Member Posts: 2,194 Pioneering
    Marigold54 said:
    Both replies are most helpful. Thank you so much. I have been dithering about this for a while now. I have contacted Pensionwise previously but they said to call DWP which is easier said than done! 
    Many thanks 😊
    It isn’t the role of DWP to offer advice anyway so that was very poor advice from Pensionwise.
    Information I post is for England unless otherwise stated. Rules may be different in other parts of UK.
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  • Marigold54Marigold54 Member Posts: 4 Listener
    I keep getting to the point of putting my pension claim in the envelope to post to the LA but I then read something else that bothers me. This morning I read about contribution based ESA  and it stated that if you have savings over £16,000 then savings are taken into consideration?
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  • Girl_No1Girl_No1 Member Posts: 105 Courageous
    @Marigold54 I can only speak to my own experience.  I claim cbESA and PIP, there is no capital/savings limit for either of these benefits. My council tax discount, 25% as a sole occupant, remains unchanged too.

    For me, the only income/capital the DWP is interested in is pension income and that is only in relation to cbESA.

    To be clear:  I do not claim any other benefits, therefore have no knowledge of the impact of savings on those benefits.   
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  • calcotticalcotti Member Posts: 2,194 Pioneering
    Marigold54 said: This morning I read about contribution based ESA  and it stated that if you have savings over £16,000 then savings are taken into consideration?
    Capital is completely ignored for contribution based ESA. You must have misunderstood what you read.
    Information I post is for England unless otherwise stated. Rules may be different in other parts of UK.
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  • Marigold54Marigold54 Member Posts: 4 Listener
    Ok! I’m going to post my pension forms then!
    Thank you
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