ESA3 and ESA (CB) query

DWP recently decided to keep me in the Support Group for a further 18 months. This followed a very protracted 13-month wait after submitting an ESA50 for reassessment in June last year. In the end I wasn't required to go for a WCA. Although they were initially very keen to have me in, I submitted a letter from the health professional most involved in my care and ATOS backed down. That was on top of a lot of evidence I had submitted last year with the ESA50. Soul-destroying, but it's over for now.

My query is about disability premiums, which I had never heard of until very recently. I've been on DLA high rate care and low rate mobility since late 2013 and it has a while to run. I'm in the south-east and there don't seem to be any PIP migrations here yet. I called DWP and they sent me an ESA3, but now that it's here I'm confused. I've been on contributions based ESA for over 2 years, after being migrated from IB, but the front page of the form says it's an application for re-assessment and although I feel I qualify for a premium - and could do with it! - I don't want to go through a repeat of the last 13 months, which I'm only just beginning to recover from.

I guess what I'm asking is, have they sent me the right form and if so, am I going to have to send all my medical evidence in again and wait for some kind of face to face assessment? Of course, I'd try my best to go if necessary but could do without it. Am wondering if this is worth it, and don't understand what my contributions based ESA has to do with it, as opposed to income based. Confused! lol

pollenpath wrote: DWP recently decided to keep me in the Support Group for a further 18 months. This followed a very protracted 13-month wait after submitting an ESA50 for reassessment in June last year. In the end I wasn't required to go for a WCA. Although they were initially very keen to have me in, I submitted a letter from the health professional most involved in my care and ATOS backed down. That was on top of a lot of evidence I had submitted last year with the ESA50. Soul-destroying, but it's over for now.

My query is about disability premiums, which I had never heard of until very recently. I've been on DLA high rate care and low rate mobility since late 2013 and it has a while to run. I'm in the south-east and there don't seem to be any PIP migrations here yet. I called DWP and they sent me an ESA3, but now that it's here I'm confused. I've been on contributions based ESA for over 2 years, after being migrated from IB, but the front page of the form says it's an application for re-assessment and although I feel I qualify for a premium - and could do with it! - I don't want to go through a repeat of the last 13 months, which I'm only just beginning to recover from.

I guess what I'm asking is, have they sent me the right form and if so, am I going to have to send all my medical evidence in again and wait for some kind of face to face assessment? Of course, I'd try my best to go if necessary but could do without it. Am wondering if this is worth it, and don't understand what my contributions based ESA has to do with it, as opposed to income based. Confused! lol

Hi pp,

An ESA3 Form is only used to assess you financially for entitlement to payments of Income Related (IR) ESA.

All ESA Premiums are paid in the form of IR ESA, so to receive payment of the premiums, you must be entitled to payment of IR ESA top ups.

If you are entitled to the Premium payments, they should be backdated to the time of entitlement, there is no time limit on this period.

Therefore, the ESA3 has nothing to do with you being reassessed under The ESA WCA, the ESA50 is used for that purpose. So, you should not have to provide any medical evidence.

Here is a previous post of mine on : IR ESA "Premiums"

bro58

Wow, bro, thanks! The thread you linked to has been incredibly helpful and reassuring. I'm certain I would pass the means test, and I'm single too so there are no complications in that respect. I've been in ESA SG since 2012 and my DLA care rate went up later that year, so it seems as though I've qualified for quite a while without knowing anything about it. Ironically, if ATOS hadn't kept me waiting so long for a decision, and hadn't made me jump through all those anxiety-provoking hoops, I would never have heard of the premiums.

I might have the last laugh

pollenpath wrote: Wow, bro, thanks! The thread you linked to has been incredibly helpful and reassuring. I'm certain I would pass the means test, and I'm single too so there are no complications in that respect. I've been in ESA SG since 2012 and my DLA care rate went up later that year, so it seems as though I've qualified for quite a while without knowing anything about it. Ironically, if ATOS hadn't kept me waiting so long for a decision, and hadn't made me jump through all those anxiety-provoking hoops, I would never have heard of the premiums.

I might have the last laugh

Hi pp,

If you can pass the means test, it looks like you may have a fair chunk of back pay coming your way !!

Weekly rates for The EDP and SDP can be seen under "Employment Support Allowance", "Premiums", on this FAQ : Benefit Rates 2014/15

Circa 2 years of Enhanced Disability Premium (EDP) owed from active date of initial SG award, and maybe The Severe Disability Premium (SDP) from the active date of your increased DLA Care Award.

Payment of The SDP is dependent on you fulfilling the criteria as laid down in our:

ESA Premiums FAQ !!!

If you are entitled to IR ESA top-ups, this also passports you to other "benefits" such as free prescriptions and dental care.

Housing Benefit / Council Tax Support, (Contact your Council/LA Re : this) or help with your mortgage if you have one:

SMI Scheme

Plus, receipt of IR ESA may also entitle you to a credit of £140 on your electricity account in March 2015 under : The Warm Home Discount Scheme

The other positive is that if any part of your ESA is IR ESA there is no 365 days entitlement to payment rule, no matter which group you are in.

bro58

Worried today.

I've come across the part where it asks if you have done any courses since you last claimed ESA. I am in the middle of a college training course which I've got through so far because of very understanding, compassionate and encouraging tutors. However, I'm terrified that DWP will assume I'm fit enough for work-related activity if I tell them about it. I'm not, of course, but I'm pretty sure they wouldn't be interested in acknowledging the very real differences involved. I had to take out a student loan to cover the cost of fees. Are they likely to know this? I guess it makes no difference, I can't knowingly withhold such information from them on the ESA3.

That last laugh could now sound quite hollow