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ESA benefit & free dental treatment

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#1 Mon, 13/04/2015 - 22:36
duetto
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Last seen: 8 years 3 months ago
Joined: 26/02/2014 - 14:54

ESA benefit & free dental treatment

Be aware if you are on ESA do not accept what the dentist says about your treatment being free as you get ESA.

I have ESA for my clusters and recently at a new dental centre and was asked if I had any benifits I said ESA and was was asked to bring in proof which I did [the three page letter DWP send]

I had a gum shield fitted and was told no charge I was exempt.

Now this weekend I get a letter from NHS Dental services saying I had treatment free when not entitled asking for £219 for the gum shield [it was only plastic not gold plated] and £100 penalty

I rang to query this thinking it was an admin error somewhere only to be told there are different ESA benfits and I was not covered.

had I know I was not covered there is no way I would have paid 219 pounds it is just too much, I have emailed an appeal notice as I was wrongly advised. now await outcome.

Been worried all weekend, played havoc with my clusters and nerve pain.

Do not fall into the same trap

 

 

 

Tue, 14/04/2015 - 04:13
darren h
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Last seen: 6 years 1 week ago
Joined: 20/03/2015 - 11:43

hi,sorry to hear you bin stiched up thats realy crap hope your appeal bites them in the ass! im in need of the dentist and on esa low rate while the pip form gos in couple of weeks, could you tell me how to find out if i have to pay or not as i cant even afford the hygenist thay make me have b4 every session at £45 plus the bill, nowt free so far. cheers dh 

Tue, 14/04/2015 - 08:49
duetto
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Last seen: 8 years 3 months ago
Joined: 26/02/2014 - 14:54

Darren ring DWP on 0345 6088545 they will tell you if you are covered or not.

Also very helpful is the NHS Dental services on tel 0300 3301368 who are dealing with this saga.

Tue, 21/04/2015 - 11:21
CBailey
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Last seen: 7 years 3 days ago
Joined: 26/02/2014 - 15:13

Do you receive INCOME-RELATED ESA? If you do, they shouldn't be charging you. 

Arise and be all that you dreamed.

Tue, 21/04/2015 - 12:20
duetto
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Last seen: 8 years 3 months ago
Joined: 26/02/2014 - 14:54

I thought there was just one ESA, its been a week now I will chase up the NHS Dental services.

Tue, 21/04/2015 - 15:58
CBailey
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Last seen: 7 years 3 days ago
Joined: 26/02/2014 - 15:13

You can have income-based or contribution-based, similarly to JSA. Contribution based means you don't receive any money, but receive credits instead (is my understanding...), and is awarded when you don't meet the financial criteria of income-based (you or your partner earns over a certain amount).

Arise and be all that you dreamed.

Tue, 21/04/2015 - 16:53
Harrietjt
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Last seen: 6 years 12 months ago
Joined: 22/10/2014 - 12:47

Hello,

I may be wrong, but my understanding is a bit different. Based on our recent experience I think it works like this:

Contribution Based ESA is not means tested and is an entitlement based on NI contributions the person has made. It only lasts for one year. 

If a person has not paid enough contributions then the household income is assessed and if it is below the threshold Income Related ESA will be paid.

Recieving either type of ESA qualifies for NI credits.

If you have paid enough NI contributions during a particular time period, then you get contribution based ESA even if the household has an income higher than the means test. After the year is up the person would then recieve either nothing because the household income is above the threshold, or income related ESA if it is below the threshold.

Because I am not working my husbands ESA claim is for a couple. He claimed in December 2014 and currently gets his Contribution Based ESA which is topped up with Income Related ESA to the amount a couple are entitled to. This situation will last until December 2015, after which he will continue to recieve the same amount as now, but all of it will be Income Related ESA.

Whether the ESA is Contribution Based or Income Related doesn't seem to make any differenc to the weekly amount. The difference I am aware of is that receiving Income Related ESA entitles you to other benefits, whereas Contribution based doesn't. 

Please anyone, feel free to correct me.

Harriet.

Tue, 21/04/2015 - 17:30
duetto
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Last seen: 8 years 3 months ago
Joined: 26/02/2014 - 14:54

I am lost on it all, just fill in any forms they send me.

Mon, 11/05/2015 - 08:48
duetto
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Last seen: 8 years 3 months ago
Joined: 26/02/2014 - 14:54

an update the dental services scrapped the £100 fee due to mix up over ESA, an arranged for payment of the gum shield over 4 monthly payments. They were helpful throughout.

Mon, 11/05/2015 - 15:56
ElizabethK
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Last seen: 1 month 5 days ago
Joined: 26/02/2014 - 14:26

Harriet, I am with you on this, as what you describe has been my experience too!

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