ESA Support group + PIP Backpay

Evening all,

Recently had my partner's PIP back-pay for the last 2 years come in and just wanted to find out if it would affect her ESA at all.

She is currently in the ESA Support group - but I cannot find any clear answer as to what "rules" she falls under. Is this Contribution based or income related?

Either way - does the fact she now has a rather large chunk of back-pay in her account mean we need to inform the DWP about her new "savings"?

Thanks in advance,

Hiijinx

Hello Gordon,

Thank you for your reply.

How would I find out if her payment is IR or Contribution based?
Having searched through all the letters we have, they just mentioned Employment and Support Allowance, nothing specific on which type.

Hiijinx

Hiijinx wrote: Hello Gordon,

Thank you for your reply.

How would I find out if her payment is IR or Contribution based?
Having searched through all the letters we have, they just mentioned Employment and Support Allowance, nothing specific on which type.

Hiijinx

Hi H,

If it is not confirmed in any of her ESA letters, she can phone The ESA Call Centre :

THE ESA PHONE NUMBER DWP : 0345 608 8545 Press Option 3 for ESA.

Information give by these Call Responders is not always reliable, so to be on the safe side, I would inform the DWP in writing at the ESA Benefits Office/Centre address on your most recent ESA letter.

That way she is covered legally, whether she is in receipt of CB ESA, or IR ESA.

Sending Documents to the DWP or ATOS

bro58

Hello again all,

To update on the situation as we left it - I phoned DWP and got a confirmation that we are both in the Contribution based group - but wanted to check something which up til now, had not really meant anything to me as we regularly get random letters from the DWP.

It reads are followed :

We have looked at your claim again following a recent change.
From xx xx 2013 your ESA will be £108.15 a week

This is because of:
a change of money coming in

From xx xx 2014 your ESA will be £108.15.

This is because of:
a change of money coming in

You have been entitled to a transitional addition since you were moved from Incapacity Benefit, Income Support on the grounds of illness or disability or Severe Disablement Allowance. Because of this, the money you will get may not have changed when your circumstances changed.

We will credit you with National Insurance contributions while claiming ESA.

This assessment is based on your National Insurance Contribution Record.

Living expenses for you and your partner £112.55
Extra money because of the Disability Income Guarantee £21.75

Limited capability for work addition

Extra Money because you are in the Support Group £34.80
Which gives a total income-related amount £169.10

Income and Benefits

EMPLOYMENT & SUPPORT ALLOWANCE for your partner £108.05

PIP Mobility Component for your partner
is not counted as income towards ESA.

Your Total Income £108.05
Your income-related amount is £169.10 less £108.05 so you would have been
entitled to £61.05

However because you are entitled to contribution-based
ESA we will pay you £108.05

Top-up payment

Included in your ESA entitlement is a top-up payment which ensures you won't see a reduction in the level of your benefit entitlement as a result of the change to ESA.
£1.55

I never could get my head around these payment details but am a bit confused why there is IR amounts listed if I am on CB? All the letters I receive are like this.

What are the asset rules for Contribution based ESA - the only lists I can find are for IR - am I allowed to save anything?

Thanks again for all your help,

Hiijinx