ESA Ended

Rich7

Hi, I have been on ESA for 12 months, and also higher rate mobility PIP. I've had a letter from the DWP informing me that my ESA ended on 31st March. This causes me problems because i have lost almost £300 per month, and will struggle even more to pay my bills. What should i do?
NB: I am disabled, with severe osteoarthritis in both knees plus various other problems. I struggle to walk any distance more than 10-20 yards.

janice_in_wonderland

Terrible I don't have any answers @Rich7 but if I do hear of advice and guidance then I'll share it 
I've just lost pip and DHP and if they expect me to pay bay I'm £100 pw worse off! 

MelWilkes

Hi @Rich7,

Do you know whether you were receiving contribution-based ESA? This ends after 12 months, but you may be entitled to income-based ESA instead. 

There's an online benefits calculator on Scope's website which could be helpful. 

If you think you should still be getting ESA, you could challenge the decision to end your payments through requesting a mandatory reconsideration. More information about that here. 

In the meantime, you may want to look in to this list of options for emergency financial support 

Hope that helps.

janice_in_wonderland

@MelWilkes great to share information although I was unable to open the link 

Alex

@janice_in_wonderland There was a small typo in the link - should work now.

Thanks @MelWilkes! Great to have you here.

MelWilkes

Oh sorry about that, and thanks for sorting it @Alex!

janice_in_wonderland

Ok thank you @Alex

Rich7

Thanks all, most helpful.

This morning, I phoned the DWP and had a chat with a lady with the loveliest scottish accent ever! I was on contributory ESA since march 2016 and, apparently, the assessment process should have started around then. Unfortunately, the assessment process hadn't started at all. It has now, and i will be receiving a form next week for me to fill out. Once that is done, they will decide if i need to have a face 2 face assessment and, if all goes well, i will be reinstated on ESA, with backdated payments.

Result (possibly) :-)

MelWilkes

That's positive @Rich7 Fingers crossed you get some good news soon.

janice_in_wonderland

@Rich7 hope you're ok and it's sorted out asap