ESA (CB) eligibility

Well, call this a coincidence if you like!

On Saturday I received the standard uprating letter, and it no longer says that "This assessment is based on how much the law says you need to live on. You do not have, or have not been credited with, enough National Insurance contributions for them to be used in this assessment". But that passage was definitely present on every single ESA benefit letter I've received since 2010, up to and including one that was sent last month.

Instead, it now says that the assessment is based on my National Insurance Contributions record and how much the law says I need to live on.

So I think I am indeed now in receipt of ESA (CB) with an IR top-up. I think it's too much of a coincidence that I phoned the DWP a fortnight ago about this very issue, and, despite them claiming that I was already on ESA (CB) with an IR top-up, I think they realised their mistake and moved me over as a result of that phone call!

Jonathan wrote: Well, call this a coincidence if you like!

On Saturday I received the standard uprating letter, and it no longer says that "This assessment is based on how much the law says you need to live on. You do not have, or have not been credited with, enough National Insurance contributions for them to be used in this assessment". But that passage was definitely present on every single ESA benefit letter I've received since 2010, up to and including one that was sent last month.

Instead, it now says that the assessment is based on my National Insurance Contributions record and how much the law says I need to live on.

So I think I am indeed now in receipt of ESA (CB) with an IR top-up. I think it's too much of a coincidence that I phoned the DWP a fortnight ago about this very issue, and, despite them claiming that I was already on ESA (CB) with an IR top-up, I think they realised their mistake and moved me over as a result of that phone call!

Hi J,

Thanks for the update !!

I'm glad that this issue has now been sorted out.

bro58