ESA help!!

FrannyG

I am new to this, but am incensed. My husband has been self employed for 4 years, not had any work since July. He has been unable to claim any benefits due to only paying Class 2 insurance and now he has become sick and applied for Employment Support Allowance (it says in their blurb this is for people who are self employed or unemployed) only to be told he can't have this due to only paying class 2 insurance.I work full time but we are at our wits end as we appear to get no help. He is 61 and I am 59, we would appreciate any ideas.
Many thanks:rolleyes:

cw18

Depending on your income you could try applying for an Income Support top-up, which would be calculated on you being a couple. They'd deduct your income from anything you were entitled to, which I suspect means you may not get anything as you work full time and IS for a couple isn't that much -- but it may kick off your qualifying period for mortgage assistance (if appropriate).

Oldernotwiser

As he's over 60, I believe that he's eligible to apply for Pension Credit.

sharski

There is no more IS top-up.... it is either contribution or income based ESA (similar to JSA)...

Sorry!