ESA question

noonesperfect

Is this what used to be called sickness benefit?

zappster1966

noonesperfect wrote: »

Is this what used to be called sickness benefit?

Incapacity Benefit is what used to be called Sickness Benefit/Invalidity Benefit ...

And ESA replaces Incapacity Benefit & Income Support for those unfit for work & who have claimed since October last year. Eventually all IB/IS cases will migrate over to ESA.

Pepzofio

It's a new benefit which replaces Incapacity Benefit and Income Support when claimed on grounds of disability. It's more than just a new name though - the assessment criteria and payment structure has been changed fairly considerably.

noonesperfect

So if you've only just been signed off sick (and not made any benefit claimsfor 5+ yrs) is ESA what you should be claiming initially or is there a pre ESA benefit?

At one time if you were signed off sick you got sickness benefit and progressed to incapacity benefit/income support depending on how long you were ill for or until you were deemed fit for work :rolleyes: at an assessment.

Bogof_Babe

If you are "signed off sick" rather than unemployed due to ill health, I think it would be SSP (statutory sick pay) that you would received once your employer's sickness pay finishes.

ESA is for those who do not have a job due to poor health.

NASA_2

Bogof_Babe wrote: »

If you are "signed off sick" rather than unemployed due to ill health, I think it would be SSP (statutory sick pay) that you would received once your employer's sickness pay finishes.

ESA is for those who do not have a job due to poor health.

You can have a job and be on ESA though.

Bogof_Babe

ESA wrote: »

You can have a job and be on ESA though.

I almost didn't post as I was bound to be wrong . So how would that work then?

NASA_2

Bogof_Babe wrote: »

I almost didn't post as I was bound to be wrong . So how would that work then?

So long as the SSP is finished then we can take a claim. Things like half pay will still be taken into account against the Income Related part but not against the Contributory part.

healy

Bogof_Babe wrote: »

I almost didn't post as I was bound to be wrong . So how would that work then?

If someone has gone onto half pay after six months off work once their SSP ends they can claim ESA.

Also there is permitted work whilst on ESA.

noonesperfect

No, the situation is the person has been unemployed for quite a long time because of ill health but only just claiming and only the contributory part. (long story I won't bore you with)

SirVeivel

Is it normal to wait for the decision for such a long time? Just asking, because I havent received money from march, just because of an change of address. Well, now the lost some documents and tried to blame me for it. I did fight for everything. Now the told me 2 weeks ago that I will have the decision within 2 weeks. well 2 weeks were over yesterday. I tried to call and blew a lot of credit in the air and just spoke to the computer tellin me that everyone is busy.

thanks for reading