Why is my son on contribution ESA? — Scope | Disability forum
Please read our updated community house rules and community guidelines.

Why is my son on contribution ESA?

Options
marilyn61
marilyn61 Community member Posts: 5 Listener
I’m looking for some advice please my son has been on high dla for many years . Never worked and was on incapacity then around 2011 was transferred to esa . What I don’t understand is why he on contributed esa . Is that right I keep see people say there was put on wrong esa. Many thanks for reading . 

Comments

  • Ami2301
    Ami2301 Community member Posts: 7,942 Disability Gamechanger
    Options
    Hi @marilyn61

    Welcome to our community!

     Forgive me, I'm still learning the various issues that people face with PIP/ESA . I'm sure many members of the community who have had more experience with this will offer you their advice :)

    I just wanted you to know that's you post has not gone unnoticed :)

    Ami :)
    Disability Gamechanger - 2019
  • thespiceman
    thespiceman Community member Posts: 6,388 Disability Gamechanger
    Options
    Hello @marilyn61   Pleased to meet you. Thank you for your query on ESA. There are two types of ESA Contributions and Income related..  As you rightly say. Unfortunately my benefit knowledge is some what limited and could not give you an answer.

    All I can add the system for ESA is complex and confusing. I would just say also for advice and information look at our benefit posts.

    Some one from our team or community will be in touch, I would also think about if you wish to speak to CAB if you want to consider that.

    I wanted to say welcome hope we can be supportive and help you if we can.


    Please take care

    @thespiceman
    Community Champion
    SCOPE Volunteer Award Engaging Communities 2019
    Mental Health advice, guidance and information to all members
    Nutrition, Diet, Wellbeing, Addiction.
    Recipes
  • marilyn61
    marilyn61 Community member Posts: 5 Listener
    Options
    Many thanks for your reply  :):)
  • Richard_Scope
    Richard_Scope Posts: 3,648 Scope online community team
    Options
    Hi @marilyn61

    Welcome to Scope's community! It's great to have you here.  Just to get you started we have a How To Guide here, you can see all the latest posts here, jump in and get involved and don't worry we are a friendly bunch!  
    If you need anything, just let us know. 


    Scope
    Specialist Information Officer and Cerebral Palsy Programme Lead

    'Concerned about another member's safety or wellbeing? Flag your concerns with us.

    Want to tell us about your experience in the community? Talk to our chatbot and let us know. 
  • marilyn61
    marilyn61 Community member Posts: 5 Listener
    Options
    Hi Richard many thanks I’m truly hoping some might be able to help with the post regarding esa for my son .
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community member Posts: 53,978 Disability Gamechanger
    Options
    Those that transferred from IB to ESA were automatically placed onto Contribution based ESA. Some weren't assessed for any Income Related top ups and therefore lost out on money. DWP have realized their error and have now started to contact those affected. As you don't state which group he's in here's the amounts for both groups for income related.

    WRAG is £102.15 per week (as he claimed before April 2017) This could be more depending on his DLA award, if he receives high rate care DLA then add £16.40 onto this.

    Support Group amount for Income related is £127.15 per week.

    Severe disability premium will be payable if no one claims Carers Allowance for looking after him, he receives mid/high rate care DLA and he lives alone or classed as living alone. If these apply then £64.30 per week extra is payable on top of the ESA. Hope this helps.
    I would appreciate it if members wouldn't tag me please. I have all notifcations turned off and wouldn't want a member thinking i'm being rude by not replying.
    If i see a question that i know the answer to i will try my best to help.
  • marilyn61
    marilyn61 Community member Posts: 5 Listener
    Options
    Hi he gets High disability and I’m his carer he gets £109 a week and is in support group . He gets no rent allowance , prescriptions or dental treatment . Thanks for reply .
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community member Posts: 53,978 Disability Gamechanger
    Options
    marilyn61 said:
    Hi he gets High disability and I’m his carer he gets £109 a week and is in support group . He gets no rent allowance , prescriptions or dental treatment . Thanks for reply .
    Then he needs to ring ESA and ask them to send him the ESA3 form so they can assess him for the Income Related top up, which is currently £16.40 per week extra on the ESA. 

    That amount of £109 per week is what it was before April this year, Contributions based ESA is now £110.75 per week so you'll need to double check his bank to see exactly what amounts he gets. Or check any recent award letter after the increases in April this year.

    Claiming the top up will then allow him the dental/prescriptions free.

    If you claim Carers Allowance for being his carer as i'm still unsure what DLA award he has because high disability doesn't tell me anything. DLA has 2 parts care and mobility. You can be his care without claiming Carers allowance too.

    As for rent allowance (housing benefit) does he live with you or on his own? If he still lives at home with you then he won't be eligible to claim any housing benefit.

    As he still claims DLA then do be aware that he'll soon be invited to apply for PIP. DLA no longer exists for people over the age of 16 and PIP has replaced this.
    I would appreciate it if members wouldn't tag me please. I have all notifcations turned off and wouldn't want a member thinking i'm being rude by not replying.
    If i see a question that i know the answer to i will try my best to help.
  • BenefitsTrainingCo
    BenefitsTrainingCo Community member Posts: 2,621 Pioneering
    Options
    Hello marilyn61

    It is correct as Poppy posted that people on Incapacity Benefit were automatically transferred to contributory based ESA. Generally this benefit lasts for 52 weeks but for those in the support group it will last indefinitely.

    It is worrying that ESA have not picked up on the fact that your son was also as Poppy highlights entitled to an additional amount of money via income related ESA. The has been a problem for many ESA claimants for many years.  The government has now admitted that the transfer of claimants on IB to ESA did get it wrong. In light of this the DWP are reviewing such cases to identify underpayments of ESA. I have put a link below to a BBC article published on this issue:

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42012116

    Before requesting a claim for income related ESA you need to make sure that this benefit still exists in your area. This is because income related ESA is being replaced by Universal Credit. Contributory based ESA still exits and is unaffected by the introduction of Universal Credit. I have put a link below to a site which will tell you if you are in a UC 'full service' area:

    https://ucpostcode.entitledto.co.uk/ucdate 

    There is  a lot to take in with government mistakes and fundamental changes to the benefit system. So please post again if you are unsure of anything or try and speak to a local advice centre, especially if you need to claim UC. 

    Maria
    The Benefits Training Co:

  • marilyn61
    marilyn61 Community member Posts: 5 Listener
    Options
    Just wanted to say big thanks to all . I rung ESA and there sending me a ESA3 form ?
  • humbug
    humbug Community member Posts: 13 Listener
    Options
    Reading this has answered some of my questions thank you...do I need to get in touch with the local job centre about this form? 
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community member Posts: 53,978 Disability Gamechanger
    Options
    humbug said:
    Reading this has answered some of my questions thank you...do I need to get in touch with the local job centre about this form? 
    No, you need to ring DWP which ever benefit you claim. Remember though, if your area is a full Universal Credit area then being assessed for Income related top up may not be possible. Check what's in your area here. http://ucpostcode.entitledto.co.uk/ucdate

    I would appreciate it if members wouldn't tag me please. I have all notifcations turned off and wouldn't want a member thinking i'm being rude by not replying.
    If i see a question that i know the answer to i will try my best to help.

Brightness

Do you need advice on your energy costs?


Scope’s Disability Energy Support service is open to any disabled household in England or Wales in which one or more disabled people live. You can get free advice from an expert adviser on managing energy debt, switching tariffs, contacting your supplier and more. Find out more information by visiting our
Disability Energy Support webpage.