ESA contribution based - will it 'run out'?

tquarter

Hi... I am completely new to the world of benefits and haven't got a clue what is what.

I was recently dismissed from work on medical grounds and put in a claim for the new ESA. I was entitled to the contribution based ESA due to my NI payments (I wouldn't be entitled to income based due to my husbands salary). I am still in the assessment phase at the moment.

I have no idea if this benefit is paid continuously for as long as it is required or whether at some point it may stop due to running out of my national insurance contributions (if you know what I mean).

Thanks in advance for any advice.

healy

Contribution based ESA does not have a time limit and you will not run out of NI contributions.

Obviously if you are found fit to work after a medical assessment it would stop then but you can appeal and claim ESA at the basic rate whilst appealing.

muffin07

I realise this is a 2 year old post and things may have changed, but I was doing a google search to acertain the exact same answer that the orignal poster asked and found the link to this.

I have found information to suggest that from April 2012, Contirbution based ESA will only be paid for a year, yet I don't know if that refers to claims made after April 2012 or whether it applies to current claims also. Does anyone happen to know if it will run out if I am currently claiming and have been for allmost a year? I don't know anything about benefits and am in the same boat as the original post - I lost my job due to health issues despite doing all I could to keep it! I'm still unfit for work unless I were to do a couple of hours work from home and I know that one can earn upto £90 (ish) per week whilst claiming ESA, but this is the other thing - no-one has ever contacted me since I had the medical in order to help me obtain a small amount of home working.... I could only do a couple of hours admitedly but it would be something and it's that something that would make me feel a little less worthless as I have worked all my life. I appreciate home working is much sought after and I actually wouldn't know where to begin to look and could only really do clerical work from home, but any pointers about this would be greatly appreciated also.

Thanks to anyone that can help.

rogerblack

muffin07 wrote: »

I have found information to suggest that from April 2012, Contirbution based ESA will only be paid for a year, yet I don't know if that refers to claims made after April 2012 or whether it applies to current claims also.

As I understand it, the required legislation is in the process of going through, so the date may be 1 year after then - maybe July? But also it may not, as it's been widely trailed.

If you are in the support group, this does not apply.

If you are in the work-related group, then this applies to existing claimants too.
Come April (or whatever month) 2012, you are not entitled to payments of contributory based ESA, if you have been claiming for over 12 months.

Redman_2

muffin07 wrote: »

I realise this is a 2 year old post and things may have changed, but I was doing a google search to acertain the exact same answer that the orignal poster asked and found the link to this.

I have found information to suggest that from April 2012, Contirbution based ESA will only be paid for a year, yet I don't know if that refers to claims made after April 2012 or whether it applies to current claims also. Does anyone happen to know if it will run out if I am currently claiming and have been for allmost a year? I don't know anything about benefits and am in the same boat as the original post - I lost my job due to health issues despite doing all I could to keep it! I'm still unfit for work unless I were to do a couple of hours work from home and I know that one can earn upto £90 (ish) per week whilst claiming ESA, but this is the other thing - no-one has ever contacted me since I had the medical in order to help me obtain a small amount of home working.... I could only do a couple of hours admitedly but it would be something and it's that something that would make me feel a little less worthless as I have worked all my life. I appreciate home working is much sought after and I actually wouldn't know where to begin to look and could only really do clerical work from home, but any pointers about this would be greatly appreciated also.

Thanks to anyone that can help.

You are correct, April 2012 if passed as law, however the 12 months rule will be retrospective. Therfore anyone who was in receipt of contributary ESA in April 2011, would have had their 12 months entitlement, and be put on Income Related ESA, straight away, and be means tested accordingly.

muffin07

Thanks for the replies.

I have been claiming since August of last year so will my payments stop in August of this year or will they stop in April next year?

Sorry if I'm not understanding this correctly, I just want to be sure as I won't be entitled to anything income based as my husband works. I just need to know as once the payments stop, I will need to push myself back into work which I'm worried about the effect on my health. If I know when this is going to be then I can perhaps begin to look for something and hopefully home based that I can manage with.

Thanks again for any help.

rogerblack

muffin07 wrote: »

I have been claiming since August of last year so will my payments stop in August of this year or will they stop in April next year?

As I understand it, payments would stop at the earliest April next year, for those in the work-related-activity group, on contributory ESA.
Those in the support group are not affected.

(It may be a few months later, if it's 12 months after the welfare reform bill passes)

pinklady21

The proposed limiting to 12 months of Contribution based ESA for people in the WRAG (work related activity group) is contained in the Welfare Reform Bill.
It is being debated in parliament this week.

This story was published in the Guardian today:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/jun/13/charities-incapacity-benefits

It may not be too late to stop this - there is an Early Day Motion on the go in the House of Commons on this issue, check and see if your MP has signed it here:
http://www.parliament.uk/edm/2010-11/1791

If they have not, send them an email and ask them to! The more pressure they receive the more notice they might take!
Democracy in action and all that.
Regards
Pinklady

rogerblack

In some cases, it looks like it will be possible to terminate your ESA claim, and then re-claim with a different qualifying year.

http://www.rightsnet.org.uk/forums/viewthread/1557/

shazawxm

hi my husband had a bad smash broke his back and shattered his leg his contract of employment unfortunatly runs out 30/04/2012 as of then he is unempolyed so i was advised to claim for ESA but upon speaking to someone from benefits said he may not be entitled as he only contributed since 13/07/2010
she said we may have to go for all income related benefits, now i am working 37 1/2 hrs per week my 2 sons work i claim disability working element of 19.00 a week, now tax credits want to know what my husband will be recieving ,ESA want to know what he will be recieving how the heck do i know not 1 or the other is giving me a straight answer its not fair as she said very doubtfull if he will recieve anything i bring home 205.00 a week my rent and council tax is 127.00 a week and she said i wont get help with that either the hospital says his recovery rate is 12 to 18months ,if this is the case i cant afford to work please someone advise :mad:

Cpt.Scarlet

You'll get more answers by starting a new thread for this rather than tagging on to a thread that's nearly a year old and about another subject.