E. S. A. - Means testing

A year ago I was transferred from Incapacity Benefit to E. S. A. After appeal I was put in the Support Group for a minimum of two years. I receive this benefit because of the National Insurance contributions that I have paid previously.

I understood that like Incapacity Benefit this benefit was taxable but not means tested. I have recently been informed that the benefit is means tested but not for people who started to receive I. C. Benefit before 2001. (One person said the date was 2003).

Can anybody inform me what the correct date is? If there is any date? If there is any means testing?

The Job Plus website leads me to believe that there is no means testing at all for contributary E. S. A.

Other web sites also back this up.

Westcoastphil wrote: A year ago I was transferred from Incapacity Benefit to E. S. A. After appeal I was put in the Support Group for a minimum of two years. I receive this benefit because of the National Insurance contributions that I have paid previously.

I understood that like Incapacity Benefit this benefit was taxable but not means tested. I have recently been informed that the benefit is means tested but not for people who started to receive I. C. Benefit before 2001. (One person said the date was 2003).

Can anybody inform me what the correct date is? If there is any date? If there is any means testing?

The Job Plus website leads me to believe that there is no means testing at all for contributary E. S. A.

Other web sites also back this up.

Hi Wcp,

If you are in receipt of CB ESA only, there is no means test to receive this, with respect to capital, assets, savings or other household income, as there is with IR ESA. (as there was no such means test when in receipt of IB only)

Some claimant's who were previously in receipt of IB, had an exemption with regards to any Occupational Pension that they may have been in receipt of. (This dates back to claimant's transitional protection circa 2001)

If your OP was previously disregarded as above when in receipt of IB, then it would also be, if successfully transferred to ESA. (as you have been)

Will my pension be disregarded under ESA?

If you are not covered by this transitional protection with regards to any OP, then the same rules apply as with IB, in that, the first £85/week is disregarded, then there would be a deduction of 50 pence in the pound per week from your ESA, for any OP in excess of the £85/week.

See also, regarding Tax :

My IB was tax exempt; will it still be under ESA?

bro58

Thank you very much for that quick reply, I now understand the position I am in, I have not read anywhere about this so could not understand the transitional protection I have been given.