Contribution Based ESA and assets

DWP are unable to pay me ESA because I receive a pension. I receive a pension because I was retired due to ill health this year at the age of 53. I thought contribution based meant that your income was not taken into consideration? This does not seem fair. I have over 30 years of National Insurance contributions. Could anyone give me some advice? I can't claim income related ESA.Can't get a job because no-one would employ me - my sick record would be too great.
This is the first time I have posted a message anywhere, hope I have done it right.
Can't stop crying, feels like I have been shoved on the scrapheap.
Sorry know there are lots of people worse off than me.

Fran wrote: DWP are unable to pay me ESA because I receive a pension. I receive a pension because I was retired due to ill health this year at the age of 53. I thought contribution based meant that your income was not taken into consideration? This does not seem fair. I have over 30 years of National Insurance contributions. Could anyone give me some advice? I can't claim income related ESA.Can't get a job because no-one would employ me - my sick record would be too great.
This is the first time I have posted a message anywhere, hope I have done it right.
Can't stop crying, feels like I have been shoved on the scrapheap.
Sorry know there are lots of people worse off than me.

Hi F,

I gather that your Occupational Pension (OP) is quite a lot more than £85/week.

You are correct in that income, asset, capital and savings are not taken into account when receiving CB ESA.

However, much like Incapacity Benefit, if your OP exceeds £85/week, you will have 50p/week deducted from your ESA, for every pound that your OP is in excess of the £85/week.

e.g. OP = £105/week = £20 in excess = £10/week deducted from your CB ESA.

There are exceptions to this for some claimants who have been successfully converted over to ESA from IB where their OP was previously disregarded. :

Will my pension be disregarded under ESA?

You should still receive NI Credits which will go towards your State Pension.

bro58

Hi F,

Try not to feel too bad over this, there is little that you could have done to avoid this situation.

Another alternative may be to make a claim for PIP, which is not affected by capital , assets, saving, income, or OP.

See : PIP information, including PIP Self Test

&

PIP Claims Guide. (2nd Link on page)

Please reply to this topic if you have any further queries.

bro58