ESA - correct rate?

frmarcus wrote: Hello,

My sister receives PIP (enhanced living comp & standard mobility comp) and ESA. She receives £110.85/week ESA - but two online benefit calcs state she should be receiving more ESA, which appears to have been awarded without disability premia.

She has never worked due to disability and is over 40. With a mental health problem she's confused over her benefits and has lost any ESA award letter she had, so I'm trying to work her entitlement out. She is under any savings limit and has no other income except PIP, ESA (and HB and CT Support)

I'd be grateful to know if anyone thinks they know why her ESA is apparently too low...

Many thanks,

Marcus

Was she transferred from another benefit to ESA; Incapacity Benefit or SDA?

If she was then she will have been placed on Contribution Based ESA and no premiums would be payable, however, from what you have posted she would appear to be eligible for the Enhanced Disability Premium for receiving Enhanced PIP Daily Living and the Severe Disability Premium if she lives alone and no one receives Carers Allowance for looking after her.

For the Premiums to be payable she needs to ask for to assessed for an Income Related ESA top-up to her ESA(CB), this involves her completing an ESA3 which she can request from the DWP.

If she is already receiving ESA(IR) then there should be no reason why the Premiums are payable unless there are facts that you are not aware of. Again, she would need to contact the DWP about this.

Gordon