ESA Payment backdating

Hi All,

Back in December 2023 I was sent an ESA50 form to complete and send back of course, I think some one at the DWP thought it would make a nice Christmas present. Anyway it was completed and returned to them , Now I have to add that it was only my opinion that I should as a result of the ESA50 be placed in the Support Group.

I must point out that at this stage I was on IRESA and in receipt of Basic ESA + an additional payment for being in the work related activity group, as my claim began before 2017.

So my new year 2024 began with the anticipated usual letter stating they had received my ESA50 and if required they would be sending me for a WCA, (but nothing came) In March 2024 I applied for PIP on the advice of CAB, To cut it short I was awarded PIP ER rate in both groups, at the WCA stage.

Sill I heard nothing about my ESA50 or a WCA for it, but if I am honest being I was now getting PIP, I thought the ESA can take as long as they like, and they did. 18 months later ESA sent me for a WCA for my December 2023, but we were in July 2025.

I attended the ESA WCA where the HP decided he would decide my Capability on just the Mobility component, and none of my other conditions, which included recovering from Cancer, and a serious back condition, to name just two. The HP stated that the Mobility Descriptor would be enough?

Less than 36 hours after the WCA I was awarded ESA Support Group, the fastest result of an WCA I have ever had? So now we arrive at the Crux of this issue, ESA decided to Backdate my SG award to 2023, Within a week a letter arrived simply stating we owe you some money and they had paid £980 in to my bank account, But there was no breakdown of how they arrived at this amount with the letter, so how can I know its correct or not?

Is there any independent way for me to get this checked? As we know that the DWP make mistakes, As I dont have any idea of what they should have paid me back in 2023 and now in 2025 having migrated to UC in May. Including supplements or increases

Any help on this would be welcome, before I contact the DWP to ask for the full breakdown, as an independent calculation may also prevent me from being overpaid, or even underpaid, for the 18 months in question.

Navigator.