just had letter

david1958
david1958 Online Community Member Posts: 8 Listener
in Employment & Support Allowance (ESA)
I have just had a letter telling me I owe £50 to them, I get a pension of £438 a month and apart from pip and ESA nothing else. So how can I owe money. The letter was so scary if I don't get a reply to them by 19/8 they will stop it all again. I cant go through all of that again had to do a appeal in 2018 as it was all stopped in 2017. The stress is so much. Has anyone else had this happen to them.  

Comments

  • Ami2301
    Ami2301 Online Community Member Posts: 7,877 Championing
    Hi @david1958 does the letter state a season why you need to pay money back?
  • david1958
    david1958 Online Community Member Posts: 8 Listener
    edited August 2019
    Just had a letter today saying I owe them £50, how can that be as all I get is a pension from work of £458. a month. On top of that I do get pip . Has anyone else had a letter like this. Its was really scary and has got me well on edge again.  
  • david1958
    david1958 Online Community Member Posts: 8 Listener
    They say that my pension is to high so I cant get it , have to run a house on that and pay bills as well
  • david1958
    david1958 Online Community Member Posts: 8 Listener
    Went to appeal over it all last year as well

  • wilko
    wilko Online Community Member Posts: 2,438 Championing
    Hello @david1958, you got a letter but who was it from? The council or the DWP, maybe you are getting housing benefits and your private or state pensions take you over the limit.
  • April2018mom
    April2018mom Posts: 2,863 Championing
    Are you aware you posted twice?
    What does the letter say? Does it state a reason or not? If not call them and ask. 
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,456 Championing
    david1958 said:
    I have just had a letter telling me I owe £50 to them, I get a pension of £438 a month and apart from pip and ESA nothing else. So how can I owe money. The letter was so scary if I don't get a reply to them by 19/8 they will stop it all again. I cant go through all of that again had to do a appeal in 2018 as it was all stopped in 2017. The stress is so much. Has anyone else had this happen to them.  
    More information is needed to be able to help you.

    Where was the letter from?

    Are you claiming Income Related ESA or Contributions based or Contributions based with an Income related top up?

    Did they know about your pension?
  • KG100
    KG100 Online Community Member Posts: 304 Empowering
    edited August 2019
    I also get a pension and each year I have to notify DWP of any pension increase.
    They then adjust the ESA payments.
    So as the pension goes up they take a bit off the benefit payments. 
    They should send you a letter each April or May to fill in and you also have to send them your new pension details which they check. 
  • KG100
    KG100 Online Community Member Posts: 304 Empowering
    You also have to supply them with your pension providers details and your pension number.
    I've never had any problems with them but sometimes I get the DWP letter several weeks before my pension increase details !!

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,456 Championing
    Pensions affect Income Related £1 for £1.

    If @david1958 is claiming Contribution based ESA then any pension over £85 per week will affect the amount he can claim. £438 per month worked out as a weekly rate is £101. £16 per week over the maximum amount allowed before it affects Contributions based ESA which means that the ESA will be reduced by 50% of the excess, so the pension will be reduced by £8 per week.

    All changes must be reported.
  • KG100
    KG100 Online Community Member Posts: 304 Empowering
    poppy123456 said:
    Pensions affect Income Related £1 for £1.

    If @david1958 is claiming Contribution based ESA then any pension over £85 per week will affect the amount he can claim. £438 per month worked out as a weekly rate is £101. £16 per week over the maximum amount allowed before it affects Contributions based ESA which means that the ESA will be reduced by 50% of the excess, so the pension will be reduced by £8 per week.

    All changes must be reported.
    That's the one I'm on Poppy, I think they give us two weeks to reply each year with our new details. 
  • Chloe_Alumni
    Chloe_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 10,506 Championing
    Hi @david1958, I'm sorry to hear this, I imagine this came as a shock!

    Have you rung them to see if this is correct? I'd definitely recommend doing this if not.

    Please do let us know how you get on :)

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