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ESA decision Award Duration
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10 years 2 months ago - 10 years 2 months ago #124099 by lucids
ESA decision Award Duration was created by lucids
I finally got a decision letter today from the dwp today re. my transfer from long term IB to ESA. The whole process has taken 14 months. It took a year for the WCA after completing the ESA50. And about a month for the decision to come through after that.
Its says I have been placed in the Support Group & will receive contribution based ESA. At the end of the 5 page letter is a page that gives a breakdown of the amount to be received. There is a small top up of about £2 so that there is no less than was received on IB. It also says that this figure may not increase when benefits increase.
My first question is how do I know how long this award is supposed to last for?
The letter says the amounts start to apply in about 10 days from the end of this month.
At the very bottom of the last page after the breakdown it says the amounts on the page apply from 20th Aug 2014 to 28 Nov 2014.
What do these dates mean? Does it mean the award is for ONLY 3 months?
Will I have to start the whole merry go round again at the end of November.
Surely that can't be the case as I have a long term health condition that is incurable.
Should I have received further info from the DWP re the decision?
Any advice on how to find out more would be appreciated.
Its says I have been placed in the Support Group & will receive contribution based ESA. At the end of the 5 page letter is a page that gives a breakdown of the amount to be received. There is a small top up of about £2 so that there is no less than was received on IB. It also says that this figure may not increase when benefits increase.
My first question is how do I know how long this award is supposed to last for?
The letter says the amounts start to apply in about 10 days from the end of this month.
At the very bottom of the last page after the breakdown it says the amounts on the page apply from 20th Aug 2014 to 28 Nov 2014.
What do these dates mean? Does it mean the award is for ONLY 3 months?
Will I have to start the whole merry go round again at the end of November.
Surely that can't be the case as I have a long term health condition that is incurable.
Should I have received further info from the DWP re the decision?
Any advice on how to find out more would be appreciated.
Last edit: 10 years 2 months ago by Gordon.
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10 years 2 months ago #124100 by lucids
Replied by lucids on topic ESA decision Award Duration
sorry typo dates are 30th Aug 2014 to 28th Nov 2014
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10 years 2 months ago #124101 by Gordon
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Replied by Gordon on topic ESA decision Award Duration
Lucids
Congratulations on the award.
ESA is not awarded for a specific period like DLA or PIP, it is an indefinite award with regular re-assessment, currently the longest period between assessments for members of the SG is three years.
The date in November is an administrative date connected to the payment of the Christmas Bonus, it is not reflective of when a claimant will be re-assessed except by coincidence.
You can find you likely re-assessment date by contacting the DWP office that dealt with your transfer, the information should be on the computer system, failing that, request the ESA85 assessment report, the prognosis is usually used to set the date.
Re-assessment dates are not fixed, the DWP can re-assess a claimant at any time of their choosing once three months have elapsed from a Decision, but they do tend to stick to the date on file.
Gordon
Congratulations on the award.
ESA is not awarded for a specific period like DLA or PIP, it is an indefinite award with regular re-assessment, currently the longest period between assessments for members of the SG is three years.
The date in November is an administrative date connected to the payment of the Christmas Bonus, it is not reflective of when a claimant will be re-assessed except by coincidence.
You can find you likely re-assessment date by contacting the DWP office that dealt with your transfer, the information should be on the computer system, failing that, request the ESA85 assessment report, the prognosis is usually used to set the date.
Re-assessment dates are not fixed, the DWP can re-assess a claimant at any time of their choosing once three months have elapsed from a Decision, but they do tend to stick to the date on file.
Gordon
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
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10 years 2 months ago #124102 by lucids
Replied by lucids on topic ESA decision Award Duration
Thank You Gordon, I almost had a heart attack when I read that at the bottom of the letter. I couldn't face another year of stress and worry agian like the one I've had. In all the posts I have read on here people had posted how long they were in the SG for so I assumed it would be in the decision letter.
So is it best to request the ESA85 by phone or writing or shouldn't it matter?
Slightly off tangent I had an inkling that the decision letter would arrive today as yesterday i called my local council to check if a council tax payment had gone through as thee was an internet payment issue.
I was told that they had credited me extra CT benefit so I assumed it was related to an ESA decision. I'm now a bit confused because if the total income one receives hasn't changed in the transfer from IB to Contribution ESA then why the extra CT benefit credit. Is this normal in terms of being entitled to more CT benefit under ESA than long term IB? or is it likely they had miscalculated the original amount based on IB income?
So is it best to request the ESA85 by phone or writing or shouldn't it matter?
Slightly off tangent I had an inkling that the decision letter would arrive today as yesterday i called my local council to check if a council tax payment had gone through as thee was an internet payment issue.
I was told that they had credited me extra CT benefit so I assumed it was related to an ESA decision. I'm now a bit confused because if the total income one receives hasn't changed in the transfer from IB to Contribution ESA then why the extra CT benefit credit. Is this normal in terms of being entitled to more CT benefit under ESA than long term IB? or is it likely they had miscalculated the original amount based on IB income?
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10 years 2 months ago #124103 by Gordon
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Replied by Gordon on topic ESA decision Award Duration
Lucids
If you are comfortable with phoning the DWP, then that will be the quickest way, but if not then a letter will work just as well.
As you are in the SG you are in principle also entitled to the Enhanced Disability Premium if you are entitled to an ESA(IR) top-up, the council operate under slightly different rules and include the EDP in your "allowance" whether it is in payment or not, which is why they have mentioned an increase.
An ESA(IR) top-up will be dependant on your household income, your savings and assets, and any hours that your partner works. See
Asset rule for ESA(IR)
24 hour work rule for ESA(IR)
If you are then you will lose the £2 Transitional Payment and gain a £15.55 EDP payment.
If you think that you qualify, then you should request an ESA3 form which captures your financial information from the DWP.
Gordon
If you are comfortable with phoning the DWP, then that will be the quickest way, but if not then a letter will work just as well.
As you are in the SG you are in principle also entitled to the Enhanced Disability Premium if you are entitled to an ESA(IR) top-up, the council operate under slightly different rules and include the EDP in your "allowance" whether it is in payment or not, which is why they have mentioned an increase.
An ESA(IR) top-up will be dependant on your household income, your savings and assets, and any hours that your partner works. See
Asset rule for ESA(IR)
24 hour work rule for ESA(IR)
If you are then you will lose the £2 Transitional Payment and gain a £15.55 EDP payment.
If you think that you qualify, then you should request an ESA3 form which captures your financial information from the DWP.
Gordon
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
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10 years 2 months ago #124104 by lucids
Replied by lucids on topic ESA decision Award Duration
Thanks again Gordon, when you talk about the Enhanced Disability Premium is that the part in the Award breakdown on the last page that says:
"Extra money because you are in the support group" (about £35)
Or an extra amount that requires means testing?
I'm still a bit confused as the actual amount receved in the IB-ESA transfer hasn't changed yet the council have awarded me more CT benefit.
"Extra money because you are in the support group" (about £35)
Or an extra amount that requires means testing?
I'm still a bit confused as the actual amount receved in the IB-ESA transfer hasn't changed yet the council have awarded me more CT benefit.
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