Can I claim ESA back? — Scope | Disability forum
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Can I claim ESA back?

RobertHesp
RobertHesp Community member Posts: 1 Listener
I was on ESA from the end of 2014 just wondered if could claim any money back please help

Comments

  • Pippa_Alumni
    Pippa_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 5,793 Disability Gamechanger
    Hi @RobertHesp, and a warm welcome to the community!

    We don't know a great deal about ESA underpayments yet, however hopefully the DWP will be in contact with anybody affected. You may like to have a look through our recent ESA discussions!
  • Richard_Scope
    Richard_Scope Posts: 3,638 Scope online community team
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  • Ami2301
    Ami2301 Community member Posts: 7,942 Disability Gamechanger
    Hi @RobertHesp welcome to the community! :)
    Disability Gamechanger - 2019
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community member Posts: 53,365 Disability Gamechanger
    Hi,
    The underpayments are for those that transferred from Incapacity benefit to ESA.
    If you were one of them being entitled to any backdated money will totally depend on your circumstances, household income, savings, working partner etc. DWP will contact those that transferred from IB.
    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
    RobertHesp,

    As Poppy says, the exercise the DWP are working on is to pay people back where they missed out on income-related ESA when they were transferred from Incapacity Benefit. If that applies to you then the DWP will be looking at your case, even if you are no longer entitled to benefit. It will depend on all your circumstances as to whether or not you are entitled.

    Will
    The Benefits Training Co:

  • atlas46
    atlas46 Community member Posts: 826 Pioneering
    Hi @RobertHesp

    A warm welcome to our community.

    I think it would help if I provide some background on this issue.

    Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) took action against DWP, for under payments of ESA. They won the case!

    As a result the DWP have identified 180,000 claimants that are owed money (average £5,000) at a cost of £970 million.

    They have a team of 400 staff working on this,more are being recruited as we speak.

    They plan to clear 105,000 in 2018/19 and the remaining 75,000 in 2019/20.

    The DWP will contact you in due course, you cannot trigger action, at this stage.

    Hope this helps

Brightness

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