IB to ESA

A

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It sounds as if you were placed in the WRAG, the payment of ESA(CB) for claimants not in the Support Group is limited to 365 days after which they will only continue to receive ESA if they are eligible for Income Related ESA, unfortunately, your IIDB is treated as income for the purposes of ESA(IR) and as the amount of IIDB you are receiving exceeds the amount you might receive for ESA(IR), you are not eligible.

It would be worth checking your eligibility for ESA(IR) at the beginning of April after the benefit rates are increased, I'm unclear whether your IIDB rate will increase but the couples rate for ESA(IR) will increase to £113.70, allowing payment, it would only be a few pennies but would allow you to access free prescriptions and dental care and possibly Housing Benefit.

I am afraid as the Decision to place you in the WRAG was made more than 13 months ago your options are limited. Providing you have not closed your claim, you remain entitled to NI Credits which count towards a full State Pension.

If you can show that you now meet the criteria for the Support Group, due to a documented deterioration in your condition, then you can ask to be re-assessed and if placed in the SG then your ESA(CB) will be re-instated, you would need to complete a new ESA50 and will likely have to attend a face to face assessment.

Gordon