Pension and ESA payments

[ChristineW18]

Hi everyone. I have had good news that after an appeal I have been granted a tier 2 NHS pension. I am currently receiving ESA and have just been assessed and I am hoping to get the higher amount and be put in the support only group. My pension will be quite small, probably less than £85 per week. Will I still get the whole amount of ESA if my pension is this or lower? I have read somewhere about ESA being reduced if your pension is higher?

[Hazel_Angelstar Administrator FMA UK Staff]

You can contact our benefits team on 0300 999 0055 (Mon, Wed, Fri 10.00-12.00) or email [e-mail] and they will hopefully be able to answer your question.

It would depend on whether the rate of esa you are on is means tested or not

[ChristineW18 in reply to Hazel_Angelstar]

Thank you for your advice. I am on the NI payments rather than income related. I will email the benefits team as suggested.

[releasethemagic]

The rules on this are quite straightforward. If the pension is more than £85 a week, half of the excess over £85 is deducted from your ESA payment. A good pension results in zero ESA but you would still get your NI credit towards your State Pension and the £10 Xmas Bonus. You will find full details here citizensadvice.org.uk/benef...

[ChristineW18 in reply to releasethemagic]

Thank you. My pension is not likely to be much more than £85 so hopefully I will still get ESA.

[Sugarhobbit]

Hi there

I was in the same boat as I am on ESA and was awarded the tier 2 NHS pension. My ESA has been reduced because my ill health pension is classed as an income. I am not sure because everything is based on what pension you get but if you get a certain amount I'm not sure how much they take off so much etc.

Hope this helps

Best wishes sugarhobbit xx

[ChristineW18 in reply to Sugarhobbit]

Thank you, it sounds like that is what I was expecting.

[Sugarhobbit in reply to ChristineW18]

After the Work Capability Assessment, the amount you get depends on when your claim started and which group you are in:

Work-related activity group and claim started before 3 April 2017: £107.60 per week

Work-related activity group and claim started on or after 3 April 2017: £77.00 per week

Support group, whenever your claim started: £117.60 per week

The amount you get may be reduced if you are receiving pension payments (over £85 per week), councillor's allowance (over £152.00 per week) or an overlapping benefit.

If you are in the work-related activity group, your contributory ESA will stop after one year. You can read about the time limit on our Employment and Support Allowance time limit page.

[Sugarhobbit in reply to Sugarhobbit]

turn2us.org.uk/

[ChristineW18 in reply to Sugarhobbit]

Thank you for the info x

[Sugarhobbit in reply to ChristineW18]

Your very welcome 😊 xx