I'm in ESA SG. Will taking LA and NHS pensions affect my ESA?
Marigold54
Community member Posts: 4 Listener
I'm currently on contribution based ESA and I am in the support group. I am thinking of taking my local authority pension on the basis of having the maximum lump sum of £26500 and an annual income of £3950. I also get an NHS pension of £2050 per annum. How will this affect the ESA please? Can anybody help me?
Comments
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I am on cbESA too. Lump sum/capital does not affect cbESA. Pension - the amount of any occupational pension over £85/wk is deducted at 50p in the £1.00
From your figures, your combined pensions will be £115/wk approx.
This will mean a reduction of £15/wk from ESA. £15 = 50% of £30 (£115-85).
However, if you are claiming any other benefits (other than PIP) it may also affect those. I have no knowledge of any other benefits. -
Savings above £16k would lose all means tested benefits, cont.based ESA would be affected as above ^^^,
have you considered having a chat with pensionwise which can be done by phone?2024 The year of the general election...the time for change is coming 💡 -
Both replies are most helpful. Thank you so much. I have been dithering about this for a while now. I have contacted Pensionwise previously but they said to call DWP which is easier said than done!Many thanks ?
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@Marigold54 I know precisely what you mean about dithering. I didn't even know you could apply for cbESA once Statutory Sick Pay expired i.e. whilst still employed still receiving salary (or part-salary). No deduction to the weekly cbESA rate no matter how much your salary is.
I waited three months after SSP ended which was also three months before my salary would expire.
I was fortunate that the woman from DWP who rang me queried why I was asking for a date in advance (Feb 21) when my SSP had expired in Aug 20. She was able to back-date the cbESA payment 12 weeks, which almost (but not quite) took me back to when SSP finished!
For the period I was receiving salary I was paid the full assessment rate £74.35 per week. However, when my salary ceased and my pension (much less than my salary!) became payable the cbESA payment was reduced to reflect that the pension was more than £85/wk.
This is information no-one knows until they're in the position, and no-one goes out of their way to make you aware!
Good luck if/when you decide to apply. -
The best time to tele the DWP for anything is as soon as they open before they get busy.2024 The year of the general election...the time for change is coming 💡
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Marigold54 said:Both replies are most helpful. Thank you so much. I have been dithering about this for a while now. I have contacted Pensionwise previously but they said to call DWP which is easier said than done!Many thanks ?Information I post is for England unless otherwise stated. Rules may be different in other parts of UK.
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I keep getting to the point of putting my pension claim in the envelope to post to the LA but I then read something else that bothers me. This morning I read about contribution based ESA and it stated that if you have savings over £16,000 then savings are taken into consideration?
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@Marigold54 I can only speak to my own experience. I claim cbESA and PIP, there is no capital/savings limit for either of these benefits. My council tax discount, 25% as a sole occupant, remains unchanged too.
For me, the only income/capital the DWP is interested in is pension income and that is only in relation to cbESA.
To be clear: I do not claim any other benefits, therefore have no knowledge of the impact of savings on those benefits. -
Marigold54 said: This morning I read about contribution based ESA and it stated that if you have savings over £16,000 then savings are taken into consideration?Information I post is for England unless otherwise stated. Rules may be different in other parts of UK.
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Ok! I’m going to post my pension forms then!
Thank you
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