Benefits are you getting this one?

[DeniseLB]

I am trying to write this as carefully as possible as if it applies to you then it is going to be quite personal.

I got a phone call from the ESA side of the DWP last Thursday to tell me they thought that I had been underpaid benefit, this actually put my backup as I took an occupational pension last November so I receive very little ESA nowadays.

Also for a change the gentleman that called me was incredibly nice, not always my experience over the last few years. He asked me the general security questions and then we went through my history since my first application to PIP in November 2015. My first ESA payments started in August 2015.

I have posted this before as I had a total battle with ESA and less with PIP, but with ESA my battle went on for two years. Anyway, I am still quite bemused.

I live on my own so it has been a bit of a hard slog, but I have had help from outside family and friends so I kept going and in the past I really wanted to get some financial support for the help that I was given but in no uncertain terms I was told unless I wanted to be spoon fed in bed or washed by someone else, neither appealing to me by the way, there was no help.

It seems that is not true, I have just received a back payment to November 2015; I am not going to reveal the amount, but enough that it was a total shock and the current value of the entitlement is £64.00 per week!

You may have been in receipt of this as the more I read others comments on this site the more I realise how far apart we are in different parts of the country on what we receive, or you may have received some payment, but it may be less.

For me it has been a bit of a double edged sword, was I the one that has just been stupid or has it been deliberately withheld from me. If I had been in receipt of this payment I may not have taken an early pension. Anyway I felt it needed a mention and in my experience the ESA actually seeking someone out to give them money is unheard of. Are there other benefits out there that people are not receiving?

Just to clarify the criteria is that you have to be in receipt of PIP and ESA, you live on your own and have not being receiving anything for care allowance.

Sorry this is a long winded post, but it still is in partial disbelief that I am writing it.

I am still waiting for the a letter to break down the payment I received, but the number I was called on was 08000 232635, so if you have had the odd missed call from this number then next time pick the phone up.

Denise xx

[FFNick]

Like you I too got a back payment when it dawned on DWP that I should get more ESA. They actually rang me. Is it called EESA?

[DeniseLB in reply to FFNick]

Thank you for replying and you may understand that part of me is rather angry and upset.

The biggest joke is that my savings are now to high!

[mimosaholland]

Thank you, i found this helpful, x

[DeniseLB in reply to mimosaholland]

Thank you and I really do hope it helps.

[FFNick]

I told "them" about my savings but could not produce any paper to substantiate the claim. So a year later savings gone did not tell "them" about my other savings. "They" can not check what "they" do not know about. Probably illegal. Paper less!

[DeniseLB in reply to FFNick]

I have been think about this, but when I took an early pension last November the main reason was the 25% tax free amount so I could pay off all my debts, I had to send the ESA a copy of my pension statement so there is no way I can hide anything and then getting this lump sum back payment! What can I say no where to hide but I do intend spending quite a bit on my house.