ESA

Hi colliewollie

As your son is in receipt of CB ESA and in the support group then his savings are ignored.

If your son is re-assessed and put in the work group then he will go on to IR ESA, although now he would have to claim UC. This is means tested and therefore his savings will be taken into consideration, if he has over £16k then he will not be eligible to claim UC or HB, if he has savinges below £6k then they are ignored, if he has savings between £6k and £16k if he is below PC age then for every bundle of £250 over £6k he will loose £1.00 in tariff income, even if it is only 1p over the £6k, if your son is of PC age then every bundle of £500 he will loose £1.00 in tariff income.

Being in the support group does not stop him from going on to UC 'New style ESA', if he receives a SDP then that would stop him for now going on to UC, but to get a SDP he would have to be in receipt of a means tested benefit and therefore any savings over £6k would affect the amount of benefit he receives. You can receive both CB ESA and IR ESA at the same time depending on your circumstances, always seek advice if you are not sure. I frequently come across people who only claim CB ESA as they are not aware that they can also get IR ESA SDP due to living on their own and in receipt of middle care DLA or PIP daily living component, it all depends on your circumstances.

New Style ESA, this is a Contribution Based benefit so his household income, with the exception of any pension income he may receive, is disregarded, as are his assets and savings.
www.gov.uk/employment-support-allowance/how-to-claim

Gary

colliewollie

Is your son receiving what is now called legacy ESA or is he claiming New Style ESA? If you are unsure, when was the original claim made?

Gordon