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ESA underpayment for people now in work

CassRichards
CassRichards Community member Posts: 3 Listener
Hi, my name is Cass and I have just joined. I have had health problems for years but only recently got my diagnosis after hearing about the condition on a radio programme  I have hypermobile EDS and fibro myalgia. I was on incapacity benefit for a long time until I was switched to ESA and was awarded less per week afterwards. After going to tribunal twice successfully after wca by Atos I finally managed to gain enough control of the pain to go back to work just over a year ago, it's hard but the exhaustion is worth it to never have to go through the trauma of claiming again, I just couldn't face it any more  My question is this, would I still be entitled to any back pay owed even though I am no longer claiming   I hear today they are sending out a huge form which fills me with dread but so far I have not been contacted at all

Comments

  • steve51
    steve51 Community member Posts: 7,153 Disability Gamechanger
    Hi @CassRichards

    Good Evening & Welcome it's great to meet you today.

    Yes we have got some info to hand for you on here. 

    Did the DWP let you know which forms they were sending to you

    Please please let me know if you need me to post the info on to you????? 
  • CassRichards
    CassRichards Community member Posts: 3 Listener
    Hi @steve51, thanks for the welcome ? The form I mentioned was reported in the press today online, I haven't heard anything directly yet 
  • CassRichards
    CassRichards Community member Posts: 3 Listener
    Ps I would be grateful for any information you could send me 
  • steve51
    steve51 Community member Posts: 7,153 Disability Gamechanger
    Hi @CassRichards

    The firm in mention isn't the ESA3 by any chance????? 
  • steve51
    steve51 Community member Posts: 7,153 Disability Gamechanger
    Hi @CassRichards

    Sorry but "firm" should be "FORM" 
  • CockneyRebel
    CockneyRebel Community member Posts: 5,209 Disability Gamechanger
    What is it about?
    When Incapacity Benefit claimants and some SDA claimants were transferred to ESA the DWP failed to assess whether they should have received an Income Related ESA top-up to the Contribution Based ESA that they were awarded.

    Top-up not replacement
    The first thing you need to be aware of is that this is an ESA(IR) top-up to your existing ESA(CB), it does not replace it, you remain entitled to your ESA(CB).

    Universal Credit
    This is a an amendment to your existing ESA claim, it will not result in a transfer to UC as a new claim is not being made. To emphasise again, whilst the ESA(IR) element will at some time after the end of 2019 be transferred to UC, the ESA(CB) element will remain in payment and unaffected.

    Not a reassessment of your award
    This is not a reassessment of your existing ESA award, only whether you are eligible for the ESA(IR) top-up.

    How to qualify
    There are several reasons you may qualify for the top-up;

    1. you qualify for one or more of the ESA Premiums
    1.1 The Enhanced Disability Premium is paid for being in the Support Group, you are receiving DLA Higher Rate Care or you are Receiving PIP Enhanced Daily Living.
    1.2 The Severe Disability Premium is paid if you receive an enabling benefit such as DLA MRC or HRC or PIP Daily Living, no one receives Carers Allowance against the enabling benefit and you live alone or are considered to be living alone.
    1.3 The Carers Premium because you or a partner are entitled to Carers Allowance.
    2. The couples Personal allowance is payable.

    What stops you being entitled
    The first thing to say is that this ESA3 is looking at your financial situation over the whole period from when you were transferred to ESA up and till today. You may qualify for the whole period, you may have qualified on transfer but not now, now but not then, or just for periods during the whole period.

    There are three reasons why you would not be entitled, any one of the following will prevent payment of ESA(IR);

    1. Your household savings and assets exceed £16,000, or they exceed £6000 and the deduction from your ESA(IR) exceeds the ESA(IR) you would receive.
    2. Your partner works for 24 or more hours a week.
    3. Your household income exceeds the amount of ESA(IR) that you would receive. Note: Even if your pension is disregarded for the purposes of your ESA(CB), it is not for ESA(IR) and will be deducted in full.

    You are not sure that you qualify
    Rates have changed over the years but you can put your information into one of the online benefit calculators, see

    www.gov.uk/benefits-calculators

    You do not think you qualify
    If you are certain that throughout the period in question you are not eligible for ESA(IR) then you can return the form uncompleted, the DWP for there own records will want a reason for this, you can either tick one of the boxes that they supply or add your own explanation
    Be all you can be, make  every day count. Namaste

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