My partner has recently attended a benefits tribunal, and has won the case for full entitlement of ESA which includes being in the support group. He received a £2,885 refund about 2.5 weeks later that does not appear to tally with just how long he has been without full benefits for 73 weeks - since June 2012 until Dec 2013. The only reason he received a fast refund, has a lot to do with the fact that he has a case support worker and who attended the tribunal with him. Without one of these, many people who attend the tribunal without a someone in a position of care authority; their case will either be declined or a far longer duration of waiting for decisions to be made and refunds etc - don't know why it works this way but it does. Although to many on here who are waiting for refunds, my partner's refund will seem very generous (Indeed) it is, but if you consider the fact that he has not received 73 weeks of ESA disability premium/s; support group rate and full ESA rate, the above amount means that the DWP has only paid him £35.50 per week for those 79 weeks!?.
I worked it out that they owed him approx £5'000-£6'000 back payment which would include disability premium and support group rate. He received £71.00 per week for at least 12 months, and should be getting £362.00 per fortnight at current ESA rates - disability premium rate and support group rate included in this amount. He receives his DLA and in the middle rate care bracket and lower mobility rate.
If anyone can give me any idea of why I believe that the DWP have miscalculated the back-payment and help me to see how they have arrived at the decision they have, I will be most grateful. His support worker will also be doing some calculating of the back-payment, yet often he is not necessarily clued up regarding finances and tends to just not challenge things unless he deems it necessary or not. I just want my partner to get what he is due and with accuracy.
