I have MND. I feel I'd be better off without my pension, and am struggling to live on my benefits

HI,

It doesn't always pay to take any pension early because it affects any other benefits you maybe entitled to, which is why i always advise people to get some expert advice before taking any pension.

I looked back at your previous posts to see if i could see any further information but there really wasn't much to go by, other than you live alone.

Have you used a benefits calculator to check entitlement to Universal Credit? Help with your rent would be included with this. Your ESA and pension would be deducted £1 for £1 from any UC entitlement but you may still be entitled to something. It depends on how much housing element you'll be entitled to. Please put your details into this here. https://www.entitledto.co.uk/benefits-calculator/Intro/Home?cid=70077313-060d-48d8-86dd-e35382a1f6df

Have you also looked at claiming the disability benefit PIP for yourself? It's not awarded based on any diagnosis, it's how those conditions affect your ability to carry out daily activity based on the PIP descriptors. See the descriptors here.

Please don't compare others to yourself, this really isn't nice. No one knows what goes on inside closed doors. Very few people claim PIP fraudulantly. 

If your neighbour had a telephone assessment then that must have been since Covid began because all face to face assessments are currently suspended and telephone assessments have replaced them. Thousands of people are currently having telephone assessments for PIP and the work capability assessment.

Just because he can "walk" 5 miles it doesn't mean he's not entitled to any PIP. People claim PIP for other reasons than physical ones. My daughter claims Enhanced for both parts and yes she could walk 10 miles a day.... this is because she has no physical disabilites. We have many members here on the communiity that claim PIP for other reasons than physical.

My daughter didn't have a telephone or face to face assessment for her PIP, her's was paper based but this doesn't make her any less entitled nor does it mean she's claiming fraudulantly. It means there was enough of evidence to make a decision on paper alone.

Regarding your pension and other benefits other than PIP. There's a certain amount the law says you need to live on and unforntunately, a pension is classed as income for means tested benefits. A pension of more than £85 per week affects Contributions based ESA and New style ESA. You didn't have to take your pension early but you choose to do that and unfortunately, it's not made you any better off.