GROUP INCOME PROTECTION AND IMPACT ON CB ESA

Hi all .. this is my first forum post and I would like to share my experience today relating to group income protection which my employer has in place and pays the premium etc and which I am paid salary / sick pay.

Earlier today I received a letter from DWP completely out of the blue stating that my claim for CB esa ( support group ) serious mental health issues had been stopped / closed with immediate effect because they claimed that they had only just found out that I had been receiving 'Income' from my employer which exceeded the threshold / criteria for my claim to be valid. I had to sit down and read this very brief direct letter several times to digest what I was being told. The letter also made reference to the fact that any over payments would be investigated and that I would receive details on this at a later stage via separate letter !. I pulled my file and quickly realised that the DWP were aware of my circumstances and that I had previously discussed this issue with them over a year ago when I was switched over from IB. I also remembered reading through a number of discussions on this precise subject on this Forum and how Group Income Protection purchased by my employers for the Group and which I receive 'sick pay' and pay tax and NI was not deemed to be 'Income' and for the purposes of esa CB Support group is not taken into account. My problem was how best to deal with this quickly. My father who had helped me previously called the DWP on my behalf and went through my circumstances in great detail. The young lady he spoke to obviously didn't know anything about my case and only had the very briefest of Info' on screen but she agreed to send e-mail to the 'decision maker' urgently and could expect a call back by 3pm today. She explained that my file had recently ben transferred from Glasgow to Wolverhampton office ?. It was left that I would receive a call shortly and during the interim time period I prepared myself for a very difficult / upsetting call. At 2pm the DWP called me , went through a few security questions and without myself having to say a word I was told that the information that my father told them earlier was correct and that they had made a mistake. They agreed to re open my claim and continue payments as before. I was told that I would be receiving confirmation to this effect shortly ! I await formal confirmation and this is such good news and could not have been achieved without the help of you so thank you !... How on earth can the DWP just send these very intimidating letters out without investigating the FULL facts ?.. Is this a common tic tac ?.... I am thinking about complaining because this could have been so serious for me !

Thank you for your thoughts Gordon and yes I agree with what you say and will not be at ease until I receive their letter. I will then work out plan of action with regard to how I will respond - thanks again.

Best regards John

Hello this is my first post ever. I have been on IB for 7 years transferred to Esa for 12 months, and I appealed and and was placed in the support group for 2 years up to 28 November 2014. So in total been on benefit for 10 years. I recently contacted the DWP as I had an occupational pension start October, my benefit is to be reduced because of the pension. However I have not received an Esa50 to complete, will my benefit just continue, or will it stop on 28 November , or is it my responsibility to chase Dwp and request a Esa50 .?
Many Thanks, and your site is fantastic ,xx

Update !

Just To confirm that in view of my severe chronic mental heath illnesses - I am receiving substantial help and assistance from my father on ALL my contact with the DWP / Jobcentre Plus and indeed the wording and writing of comments on this Forum. It is fair to say that I owe my life to my elderly Father who has provided sustained help over the past years and who looks after me on a daily basis. He was responsible for calling an Ambulance for me a few weeks ago and spent time with me at the A&E Hospital.


ESA benefits paid today as usual however :

- As of today 11th November,2014 - NO formal letter from DWP in relation to our telephone conversations of last Thursday 6th November,2014.

- On 7th November,2014 My Father formally wrote on my behalf a detailed Complaining letter 'recording' everything that was discussed with the DWP last Thursday. Sent recorded delivery.

- On Saturday 8th November,2014 I received letter from HMRC dated 4th November,2014 advising change of Tax Code status in view of cessation of ESA.

- On Monday 10th November,2014 I received letter from Jobcentre dated 4th November,2014 confirming amount of ESA previously granted for HMRC Tax purposes.

- Today Tuesday 11th November,2014 received ESA50 04/14 from ATOS