ESA and free prescriptions, dental treatment etc?

l

GeorgeJackson wrote: Am I right in thinking ir ESA allows you to get free prescriptions, dental treatment etc but cb ESA does not? Or can the cb ESA be topped up with income support type benefit and qualify that way? As with old disability benefits they would often be topped up with income support and you would qualify that way.

So in some ways ir ESA is better than cb ESA, as no free prescriptions etc? What is the advantage of cb ESA?

You are correct that free prescriptions, etc. are normally only available with ESA(IR) or another Income Related benefit such as Income Support or Pension Credit, but an ESA(CB) claimant may still qualify for them due to low income or health condition and anybody can receive reduced cost prescriptions with a Pre Payment Certificate.

Providing that they are eligible, claimants can receive ESA(CB) with an ESA(IR) top up. Eligibility is dependant on whether an ESA(IR) payment is actually payable and their personal circumstances as to whether they can then receive it.

ESA(CB) is better for a claimant where the household has additional income, either a partner who is working or a pension, although the latter can still lead to a reduction in payments, as ESA(IR) deducts these amounts £ for £ often removing the entitlement to payment.

Gordon