Severe disability premium and CONTRIBUTION based ESA

chloechamley

Hello, 

just a quick question! Does anyone know whether I’d be eligible for the SDP with contribution based ESA? I get exactly the same as I would on income based so just curious, spoke to a few different people at ESA all of which had a different answer so that wasn’t very helpful! Any help would be much appreciated! Thankyou! Ps I also get PIP! 

Chloe 

poppy123456

In a previous thread here https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/73057/do-you-receive-new-style-esa-on-top-of-universal-credit#latest You said you claim Universal Credit and were asking about New style ESA, and Universal Credit.

If you're claiming New style ESA it's a contributions based only benefit and there are no disability premiums payable with this. NsESA pays £114.10 per week, which is less than Income Based ESA, which pays £131.30 per week (single person)

chloechamley

On my letter it says “your income related amount is… £114.10 however because you are entitled to CBESA so we will pay you £114.10” so not too sure how that works but don’t know if that helps anything? Does this make any sense to you?

poppy123456

ESA letters are extremely difficult to understand. The amouint you're receiving is Contributions based amount. Do you claim Universal Credit as well, as the other thread suggests?

If you don't claim UC and your ESA claim started after December 2018 then it's likely to be new style ESA.

chloechamley

I do yeah, I think I get £160 a month ish. They are insanely difficult to understand??‍♀️ Makes my brain hurt thinking about it. I’m not trying to scam or scrounge money I’m just struggling so I thought if I’m entitled then why not give it a go. 

chloechamley

Would it make any more sense if I posted a picture of that page?? 

poppy123456

chloechamley said:

I do yeah, I think I get £160 a month ish. They are insanely difficult to understand??‍♀️ Makes my brain hurt thinking about it. I’m not trying to scam or scrounge money I’m just struggling so I thought if I’m entitled then why not give it a go. 

As you are also claiming UC your ESA is most definitely New Style ESA. This means there’s no disability premiums payable as previously advised. 

There no need to post a picture of the letter. 

Are you claiming council tax reduction as well? This isn’t part of UC and needs to be claimed separately.