esa contribution (support group) and compensation

Hi
Wondering if you can help please? sometime ago (over a year ago) i accepted a settlement from my ex-employer prior to employment judge making a decision on amount to pay me (the company had already been found guilty)...anyhow, truthfully without going into a lot of details my mental health was significantly damaged further to what happened in the work place (a criminal act was carried out against me too)...anyhow i have been receiving ESA contributions based since leaving the company . The money i received from the settlement was quite a bit (well over the £16,000 limit) but i already had savings greater than this when i originally claimed ESA but was told my savings wouldnt be taken into account as it was ESA contributions.....anyhow, a year or so after getting money my mental health is starting to improve (they had considered sectioning me..so quite severe) anyhow i contacted HRMC and DWP about this money ..(i havent touched a penny of it) .ive heard from HRMC but not from DWP....will this money effect my claim..i accept it will if i get removed from support group...as i appreciate i can only claim for 12 months if in WRG... any help gratefully received. thanks

Thank you for your response Gordon. i'm still some way off of receiving pension payments...but hear what you say. i contacted DWP weeks ago but no one has replied to me..so thank you for contacting me