I think this may be one of those unlooked for effects of ESA but if anyone has any thoughts I would be grateful.

Client gets DLA MRC and Contribution Based ESA only. As she is in the Support group she is entitled to and gets the Enhanced Disability Premium at the couple rate included in her ESA.

Her partner gets Carers Allowance and could claim Income Support with her as his dependant, this would mean her ESA would have to stop as a couple cannot get Income Based ESA and IS at the same time.

The question is would they still be entitled to the Enhanced DP once her ESA claim stopped, ( is she still entitled even though she can't be paid?). Under the old IS rules they wouldn't get it as she is not on HR Care and despite a fairly thorough search I cannot find anything to give a clear idea about this post ESA.

If they can still get the Enhanced DP they would be better off by £8.30 per week on IS, if they can't then they would be worse off by about £11.00

Any thoughts gratefully recieved.

Pete.