Just been awarded PIP, will this effect my ESA? - Benefits and Work Forum (2024)

Just been awarded PIP, will this effect my ESA? was created by Susan

Replied by bro58 on topic Just been awarded PIP, will this effect my ESA?

Susan wrote: Hello all, I have been a member for a few months now, but haven't used this forum until now. I am currently on ESA support group benefit, and have just been awarded PIP mobility and daily living at standard rate on both.
What I am wondering is will this affect my ESA benefit, either will the money be reduced? Or will I be entitled to anymore?
Years ago when I was on capacity benefit and DLA I was able to claim a disability premium top up due to receiving the DLA. I then was only on Incapaicty benefit alone, so I lost the top up when my DLA finished.
Then I was put on ESA from Incapacity benefit and now I am entitled to PIP standard rates I am wondering if I am now entitled to more, like a disability premium or perhaps I will have to take a drop in this money.
Does anybody know?
Many thanks in advance.

Hi S,

Welcome to The Forum, and congratulations on the PIP awards !!

The PIP awards will have no adverse effect whatsoever on your ESA payments.

PIP is a totally different "Benefit", and it is not liable to Tax, nor is it classed as income for the purposes of a means test for Income Related (IR)ESA of other IR benefits.

As you rightly surmise, you may be entitled to an increase in payments to your ESA, in the form of : ESA Premiums top-up to your current ESA payments.

This would be much the same as when you were on IB, and in receipt of MR/HR Care DLA, you would then have received the "Premiums" as an Income Support (IS) top-up to your IB.

Either award (Standard or Enhanced) of Daily Living PIP, is indeed part of the qualifying criteria for The Severe Disability Premium (SDP)

You must also be entitled to payment of Income Related ESA in that you can pass the means test with respect to capital. assets, savings, household income, and any hours worked by a partner if you have one :

Asset rule for ESA(IR)

24 hour work rule for ESA(IR)

Qualifying criteria for payment of The SDP, as seen in the FAQ provided above :

"Severe Disability Premium :

You or your partner must satisfy all of the following:

be receiving the Care component of Disability Living Allowance (middle or higher rate)

or

Personal Independance Payments Daily Living (either rate)

live alone (there are exceptions to this rule, if your partner is also in receipt of MR/HR DLA Care or Daily Living PIP)

no one else must be getting carer's allowance for looking after you

There is a couple rate if both of you qualify."

You should contact The DWP :

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

Telling them that you wish to be financially assessed, as you think that you may have entitlement to IR ESA. (ESA Premiums)

They should then send you an ESA 3 Financial Assessment Form to fill in and return.

See a : Sample ESA 3 Form

As you will have read, being in The Support Group, (SG) may also entitle you to payment of The Enhanced Disability Premium (EDP), so it is well worth applying.

If you do have entitlement to any of these "ESA Premiums" as these are paid as IR ESA, being in receipt of IR ESA, even if it is only one penny, will "passport" you to other "benefits" such as HB, CTS, free prescriptions and dental care, etc.

Further, if your standard rate Mobility award was for "Moving Around" this entitles you to a Blue Badge, and a 50% reduction on Road Tax for a car that you have the use of.

Please reply to this topic if you have any further queries.

bro58

Replied by bro58 on topic Just been awarded PIP, will this effect my ESA?

bro58 wrote:

Susan wrote: Hello all, I have been a member for a few months now, but haven't used this forum until now. I am currently on ESA support group benefit, and have just been awarded PIP mobility and daily living at standard rate on both.
What I am wondering is will this affect my ESA benefit, either will the money be reduced? Or will I be entitled to anymore?
Years ago when I was on capacity benefit and DLA I was able to claim a disability premium top up due to receiving the DLA. I then was only on Incapaicty benefit alone, so I lost the top up when my DLA finished.
Then I was put on ESA from Incapacity benefit and now I am entitled to PIP standard rates I am wondering if I am now entitled to more, like a disability premium or perhaps I will have to take a drop in this money.
Does anybody know?
Many thanks in advance.

Hi S,

Welcome to The Forum, and congratulations on the PIP awards !!

The PIP awards will have no adverse effect whatsoever on your ESA payments.

PIP is a totally different "Benefit", and it is not liable to Tax, nor is it classed as income for the purposes of a means test for Income Related (IR)ESA of other IR benefits.

As you rightly surmise, you may be entitled to an increase in payments to your ESA, in the form of : ESA Premiums top-up to your current ESA payments.

This would be much the same as when you were on IB, and in receipt of MR/HR Care DLA, you would then have received the "Premiums" as an Income Support (IS) top-up to your IB.

Either award (Standard or Enhanced) of Daily Living PIP, is indeed part of the qualifying criteria for The Severe Disability Premium (SDP)

You must also be entitled to payment of Income Related ESA in that you can pass the means test with respect to capital. assets, savings, household income, and any hours worked by a partner if you have one :

Asset rule for ESA(IR)

24 hour work rule for ESA(IR)

Qualifying criteria for payment of The SDP, as seen in the FAQ provided above :

"Severe Disability Premium :

You or your partner must satisfy all of the following:

be receiving the Care component of Disability Living Allowance (middle or higher rate)

or

Personal Independance Payments Daily Living (either rate)

live alone (there are exceptions to this rule, if your partner is also in receipt of MR/HR DLA Care or Daily Living PIP)

no one else must be getting carer's allowance for looking after you

There is a couple rate if both of you qualify."

You should contact The DWP :

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

Telling them that you wish to be financially assessed, as you think that you may have entitlement to IR ESA. (ESA Premiums)

They should then send you an ESA 3 Financial Assessment Form to fill in and return.

See a : Sample ESA 3 Form

As you will see, as you are in The Support Group, (SG) you may also be entitled to payment of The Enhanced Disability Premium (EDP), so it is well worth applying.

If you do have entitlement to any of these "ESA Premiums" as these are paid as IR ESA, being in receipt of IR ESA, even if it is only one penny will passport you to other "benefits" such as HB, CTS, free prescriptions and dental care, etc.

Further, if your standard rate Mobility award was for "Moving Around" this entitles you to a Blue Badge, and a 50% reduction on Road Tax for a car that you have the use of.

Please reply to this topic if you have any further queries.

bro58

Hi S,

Just to add,

If you are entitled to payment of The SDP, arrears should be paid from the date of The PIP Daily Living Award.

If you are entitled to The EDP, payment should be backdated to the date of your SG award.

bro58