ESA is it means tested?

pickles wrote: Hello.I am 61 years of age. I was in receipt of Incapacity benefit and did not transfer automatically to ESA so I am waiting for my appeal next Tuesday. The first appeal was suspended because of discrepancies I noted on the medical report. This has taken two years for it to get to this stage. Anyway I digress. I received a letter this morning wanting me to note my pension(s). They also want my partners/husbands? Why? I have never had this form before and can only assume they are now means testing benefits. is this the case? Can I just leave out my partners information?
Thank you

If you were on IB and not receiving an Income Support top-up then you will be receiving Contribution Based ESA, ESA(CB) is not means-tested, but there is a deduction for pension income in excess of £85/week which 50p for every £1.

However, there is a an issue, I would not expect you to have received ESA(CB) for more than a year due to the time limiting of ESA(CB). If you are still receiving payment, then you may have been transferred to Income Related ESA, where your household income, assets and savings, and any hours that your partner works will be taken into account, if this is the case, then your partners information is required.

I would ring the DWP and find out what version of ESA you are receiving and complete the form based on this.

I hope I have not confused you to much

Gordon

pickles wrote: Hi Gordon. I have just scan read your reply and thank you for doing so so quickly. I just want you to realise I am not and never have had any ESA payments. I am still waiting for appeal to be heard. I submit sick notes every month and get base rate. Is this what you mean?

Under normal circumstances you should have received the ESA Assessment rate for at least a year, why was your ESA transfer refused?

Gordon