Question For A Friend

[jennyjoan]

She has sold her house for £100,000 - but receives benefits -ESA - I'm not too sure re the Housing Benefit (she has moved to a little fold) Also PIPs but do think the PIPs is not affected by savings.

Will she have to declare her savings to the powers that be. Thanks

[fiction-factory]

One should tell them of any changes that might be relevant and let the DWP/HB people decide

[jennyjoan]

thanks FF

[fiction-factory]

Sory I don't know whether any of these are means tested in terms of income and savings. I am pretty sure, but mot certain, that HB is means tested- I'd be disappointed if someone with several hundred thousand in the bank for example was receing benefits

[fiction-factory]

Sorry for typing- some keys don't seem to register

[Mamyalynne]

PIP is not means tested, but FF is right she needs to inform.

[Buenchico]

There are three types of ESA:

Someone living in an area where Universal Credit has been introduced (or who is already receiving Universal Credit or who has received it within the past 6 months) is entitled to claim 'New Style' ESA but only for up to a year. 'New Style' ESA is NOT means-tested.

A person who doesn't fit into the above category, but who has a recent full record of National Insurance contributions, is entitled to claim 'Contributory' ESA but, again, only for up to a year. 'Contributory' ESA is also NOT means-tested.

A person who doesn't fall into either of the above categories (either because they never qualified in the first place or because the 1 year limit on the above types of ESA has now expired) might be eligible to receive 'Income-Related' ESA. However that type of ESA IS means tested and anyone with savings of over £16,000 won't qualify.

So, if your friend has been on ESA for over a year (or otherwise doesn't qualify for the first two types of ESA above) she is now no longer eligible to receive it.

[jennyjoan]

ok - thanks all