How to know which ESA I'm on?

I don't know if I'm on contribution or income related, how do I find out?

Thanks.

How long have you been on ESA? Do you have the P60U that HMRC send every year? If so, look at the amount of taxable benefit listed. If the amount is greater than £0.00 then it suggests contributory ESA. The figure should be near the top of the form, in the second column and is the second entry down (below Pay).

Another quick way to tell, did you receive a £10 Christmas Bonus last December with your ESA? If so, then you are on contributory ESA as income -related ESA only claims don't qualify.

It is possible though that you could be on both.

You might very well be getting both. Many clients get ESA C with an ESA IR top up. If moving to uc the ESA C claim would continue and be paid independently with uc making up the Top up and reducing the payment £ for £ to account for the ESA C thereby making a silly loophole if someone getting both legacy benefits and uc at the same time. To make matters worse if you were transferred from IB to ESA and are one of the few who still have TP or one of the even fewer who were never moved over to ESA at all and still get IB yet another headache for an overwhelmingly complicated situation arises. It’s no wonder there are so many official errors being made when you consider the complexity of the changes that uc has created. If you are unsure of your claim status rather than looking for a p60 and working out premiums etc I would call ESA and they can advise you hopefully. Although unfortunately even they don’t always know the answer. It is important you find out though as otherwise the move to uc may end your claim for ESA incorrectly and you’ll have a fight on your hands trying to get it reinstated as happened with one client. She did in the end but only the ESA C as you can’t reinstate income related benefits at all once a uc claim is started. There really is no going back.
Tamara

I received the bonus but DWP confirmed I'm on the IR ESA and have been for a couple of years. Now I'm really confused! haha.