If this is your first visit, check out the community guide. You will have to Join us or Sign in before you can post.
Want to give us your opinion? Complete our annual survey.
If ESA has been stopped, can they stop my PIP?
System
Posts: 508 Scope community team
This discussion was created from comments split from: Can you claim ESA as well as PIP?.
Replies
I'm sorry to hear that you're having all this trouble with your benefits.
As others have said, the two benefits are paid for different reasons. PIP is a disability benefit which is paid to provide resources to cover some of the extra costs of disability. Payments are made only if your disability impacts on your ability to do daily activities, washing, dressing, communicating etc., and/ or your mobility. You can work and still be entitled to PIP.
ESA is paid because you are not currently able to work. (This is a bit confusing because of course you can do some work when on ESA - "Permitted Work", so let's say because it would be very difficult for you to work).
If your ESA is stopped because you don't pass a work capability assessment, or don't attend an assessment appointment, then this shouldn't have an effect on your disability benefit.
The catch is really that the ESA and PIP departments do seem to talk to each other about this, and if your ESA assessment has thrown up some issues that would seem to imply that your PIP assessment could be wrong, then this can lead the PIP department to instigate another review before the normal review date of your award.
Do look carefully at why your ESA was stopped, with a view to challenging that decision, if it needs to be challenged.
I hope this helps.
Gill_Scope
Helpline Benefits and Finance Information Specialist