We are aware that Pension Administrators have sent letters to Members regarding Employment Support Allowance (ESA) and Relevant Deductible Benefits. It asks the person to complete a questionnaire and requests to consent for the DWP to disclose information to the Pension Administrator.
If, as a result of an injury on duty, you are permanently disabled from performing the ordinary duties of a police officer you will receive an injury award of a gratuity and a pension. The injury pension is payable on the basis that it is a “minimum income guarantee”. The injury pension will therefore be reduced to take account of three quarters of any other police pension and of certain social security (DWP) benefits awarded to you in respect of the same injury.
If you are entitled to DWP benefits which are deductible from the injury pension, the Pension Administrator will make the appropriate deductions, whether you claim the benefit or not. It is therefore important that you should claim any benefits to which you are entitled.
These benefits are listed on our website-
https://narpo.org/injury-awards-dwp-benefits/
Regarding, ESA, it is only the contributions based element of Employment Support Allowance which is deductible from injury pensions as of 10th February 2017, for the relevant injury-
https://narpo.org/employment-support-allowance-and-injury-awards-latest/
Similarly, if the Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB) is made up of several injuries, it is only the proportion being paid for the relevant injury that is deductible.
The letter and the questionnaire asks for the details of all relevant DWP benefits.
Our advice is to complete the questionnaire to the best of your knowledge, as they will contact DWP to confirm the information you have provided.
If you have any further queries on the letter and questionnaire, you can contact the Pension Administrator and DWP.