‘Income support claims review exercise’ launched in Northern Ireland to compensate people who should have been advised to claim ESA instead

People who claimed income support on or after 31 January 2011 because of a disability or health condition invited to contact Department for Communities to check if they are eligible for a special payment

An 'income support claims review exercise' has been launched in Northern Ireland to compensate people who should have been advised to claim income-related employment and support allowance (ESA) instead.

Following the DWP's announcement last week that it is carrying out a similar review exercise, the Department for Communities (DfC) has confirmed that it is inviting people who made a claim for income support on or after 31 January 2011 because of a disability or health condition to contact the Department as they may be entitled to a special payment as they should have been told to claim income-related ESA instead.

In order to be eligible, the DfC advises that claimants –

• must not have been getting incapacity benefit or severe disablement allowance when they made the income support claim; and
• must have been found to have 'Iimited capability for work' (LCW) or 'limited capability for work and work related activity' (LCWRA) following a work capability assessment (WCA) if they subsequently moved to income-related ESA or universal credit or, if they are still in receipt of income support, undergo a WCA and be found to have LCW or LCWRA.

To apply, the DfC says claimants should contact the Benefits freephone line on 0800 022 4250, choose option 2 for income support and ask about the ‘income support claims review exercise’, and that –

'You will be told if you need to provide any information to support your application.

What you were paid on income support will be compared with what you should have been paid on income-related ESA. If you would have been paid more on income-related ESA, you will be paid the money you should have had.

If you got more on Income Support than you would have got on income­ related ESA, you will not have to pay the extra money back.'

For more information, see Special Payment if you claimed Income Support instead of ESA from nidirect.gov.uk