The amounts shown in this post are now out-of-date. The ideas are absolutely correct.
Hi Mike
I hope you are well.
Steph has recently left her partner and moved into our refuge.
She gets PIP Daily Living at the high rate and PIP Mobility at the low rate
She gets contributory ESA of £117.60 per week. She has been getting this since 2015.
Is there anything else that she can claim to increase her weekly income?
Thanks
Marjorie
Hello Marjorie
Yes! Steph can get an extra payment of income-related ESA.
Income-related ESA is a top-up benefit that works by balancing your existing income against a hypothetical figure for what you need to live on each week. It’s got-vs-need.
Here’s how it works in Steph’s case:
iESA thinks that she needs £204.75*
iESA thinks that she has got £117.60 (the contributory ESA)
iESA gives her £87.15 to bring her income up to the needs level
The Problem
If Steph contacts DWP and tells them that she wants to get the extra iESA they will probably tell her that she can’t have it, because ESA is closed for new claims. She will probably be advised to claim Universal Credit instead.
But Steph isn’t making a new claim for ESA!
Contributory ESA and income-related ESA are two sides of the same coin.
Steph has already got an ESA claim.
So she’s not making a new claim, she’s asking for an extra bit on the existing one.
So, no matter what she is advised to do: don’t claim UC.
Keep on insisting that she wants a new award of iESA on the existing claim, and if necessary, do it in a letter.
The Additional Bonus
Because the iESA calculation includes a Severe Disability Premium, if, for some reason, she has to move over to UC, this will lead to her getting an extra element in the UC award.
Is it always like this? Can anyone on cESA get a new award of iESA?
No. This works for Steph because she got her ESA claim in before Universal credit arrived. She is on old-style ESA.
If she had claimed the contribution ESA since Universal Credit arrived, she would be able to get an extra top up of UC (rather than iESA) but it would be a much smaller amount.
What’s With The Asterisk?
The needs-level, or applicable amount, is made up of a Personal Allowance, a Support Component, an Enhanced Disability Premium and a Severe Disability Premium.
Steph’s situation is straightforward because she is single and she has no other income or savings.