ESA income-support 6k savings limit

lala2662
lala2662 Community member Posts: 7 Listener
Hello please advise me I'm so scared, I'm on PIP and ESA income-support. I thought that the person claiming ESA income-support benefit cannot have savings over 6,000 and I didn't until I got back pay from PIP (about £2000) two day ago, so I looked online because I knew that my balance went slightly over £6000 by £600 so i would have to pay back some money, however I saw online that the whole household's savings cannot be over 6,000 when claiming ESA income-support is this true? I live with my mum and she is on Universal Credit and working, not on any ESA or LCWRA. It always says online that while claiming Universal Credit YOUR AND/OR YOUR PARTNERS savings cannot be over £6,000 but we are not partners she is my mum, I alway assumed that it was the same for ESA income-support, however after seeing online today that the whole household's savings cannot be over £6,000 I'm so confused and scared. So anyway after seeing this online I asked my mum to help me count all our money together and it comes to a little over £10,000 and it's been around this amount (sometimes £8,000 , £9,000 etc. depends on what's bought) The point being is that it's been over £6,000 For about 1 year and few months. I'm so so scared I had no idea I really thought it was £6,000 per person that was claiming unless it's a couple, what do I do? I'm so scared will she also have to pay back Universal Credit? Is Universal Credit also £6,000 per household or per partners? I'm so confused and scared. Also few things that I want to mention;- I'm not sure if they are relevant/important but just in case they are;- I'm 22 years old. Even though we have separate incomes I from ESA and PIP and my mum from work and UC since we live together we split our expenses we both pay for rent, food, heating  etc. Next I think this may be important;- due to my PTSD I don't leave the house so my ESA is paid into my mum's bank account and then she takes that money and her money and pays for the things mentioned above. I'm just so scared. 

Comments

  • calcotti
    calcotti Community member Posts: 10,005 Championing
    edited November 2022
    The capital limit that prevents a claim for income based ESA is £16,000 not £6,000.

    The first £6,000 of capital is ignored.

    If you have capital between £6,000 and £16,000 your ESA is reduced by £1 for every £250, or part thereof, over £6,000.

    The capital assessed is you only if you are a single claimant or if you are a couple it is both of you. Other people who live with you are not relevant. Your mum’s savings do not affect you and your savings do not affect her.

    if the money you received from PIP is an arrears payment it is ignored for 12 months,
  • lala2662
    lala2662 Community member Posts: 7 Listener
    Thank you so so much for reading and replying.
    And the fact that my ESA is paid into my mum's bank account that doesn't change anything? 
  • lala2662
    lala2662 Community member Posts: 7 Listener
    calcotti said:
    The capital limit that prevents a claim for income based ESA is £16,000 not £6,000.

    The first £6,000 of capital is ignored.

    If you have capital between £6,000 and £16,000 your ESA is reduced by £1 for every £250, or part thereof, over £6,000.

    The capital assessed is you only if you are a single claimant or if you are a couple it is both of you. Other people who live with you are not relevant. Your mum’s savings do not affect you and your savings do not affect her.

    if the money you received from PIP is an arrears payment it is ignored for 12 months,
    Thank you so so much for reading and replying.
    And the fact that my ESA is paid into my mum's bank account that doesn't change anything? 
  • calcotti
    calcotti Community member Posts: 10,005 Championing
    lala2662 said:
    calcotti said:
    The capital limit that prevents a claim for income based ESA is £16,000 not £6,000.

    The first £6,000 of capital is ignored.

    If you have capital between £6,000 and £16,000 your ESA is reduced by £1 for every £250, or part thereof, over £6,000.

    The capital assessed is you only if you are a single claimant or if you are a couple it is both of you. Other people who live with you are not relevant. Your mum’s savings do not affect you and your savings do not affect her.

    if the money you received from PIP is an arrears payment it is ignored for 12 months,
    Thank you so so much for reading and replying.
    And the fact that my ESA is paid into my mum's bank account that doesn't change anything? 
    I am confused. Why is your ESA paid into your mum’s account when you have an account in your name that your PIP is paid into?
  • lala2662
    lala2662 Community member Posts: 7 Listener
    calcotti said:
    lala2662 said:
    calcotti said:
    The capital limit that prevents a claim for income based ESA is £16,000 not £6,000.

    The first £6,000 of capital is ignored.

    If you have capital between £6,000 and £16,000 your ESA is reduced by £1 for every £250, or part thereof, over £6,000.

    The capital assessed is you only if you are a single claimant or if you are a couple it is both of you. Other people who live with you are not relevant. Your mum’s savings do not affect you and your savings do not affect her.

    if the money you received from PIP is an arrears payment it is ignored for 12 months,
    Thank you so so much for reading and replying.
    And the fact that my ESA is paid into my mum's bank account that doesn't change anything? 
    I am confused. Why is your ESA paid into your mum’s account when you have an account in your name that your PIP is paid into?
    I got ESA about 2 years before I got PIP and at the time I got ESA I didn't have a bank account, after I finally got the bank account I didn't change ESA's bank account details because we split our expenses rent heating food etc. and due to my PTSD I don't leave the house so it's just easier for my ESA to be paid into my mum's bank account and then she takes that money and her money and pays for the things mentioned above 
  • lala2662
    lala2662 Community member Posts: 7 Listener
    calcotti said:
    lala2662 said:
    calcotti said:
    The capital limit that prevents a claim for income based ESA is £16,000 not £6,000.

    The first £6,000 of capital is ignored.

    If you have capital between £6,000 and £16,000 your ESA is reduced by £1 for every £250, or part thereof, over £6,000.

    The capital assessed is you only if you are a single claimant or if you are a couple it is both of you. Other people who live with you are not relevant. Your mum’s savings do not affect you and your savings do not affect her.

    if the money you received from PIP is an arrears payment it is ignored for 12 months,
    Thank you so so much for reading and replying.
    And the fact that my ESA is paid into my mum's bank account that doesn't change anything? 
    I am confused. Why is your ESA paid into your mum’s account when you have an account in your name that your PIP is paid into?
    But now I'm so worried that because my ESA is paid into her account that this somehow makes our savings limit £6,000 together I don't know I'm so scared 
  • calcotti
    calcotti Community member Posts: 10,005 Championing
    Because the ESA goes into her account it will probably be taken into account as her money if anyone were to check.