Why am I being penalized?

Gracekelly_2

Hi all

Can someone tell me why it is that because I am on Cont based ESA I am not entitled to any help with my heating???? What is the difference between Cont based and Income based???? I have been on ESA since march 09 and at the moment once I have certain things taken out of my benefit I am only on 50.85 a week.

I live in privately rented accommodation and my radiators need replacing but my landlord said I could have it done when my rent is up to date in the mean time in order to have the heat in my sitting room I have to have all rads on and its costing me a fortune. I am on pre payment meters which don't and are taking roughly £45 a week for both gas and electric in this cold weather.

Can i get anymore help? and why am I being penalized for paying my NI??? I don't get any other money btw. My tax credits and child ben stopped when my son reached 18 last year and he has since moved out. I cant move as I am in a contract and also cant afford to move, also I need to have a bungalow as I cant get up stairs because of my condition and I am waiting for a date for an ESA Tribunal as the medical said I can work when my GP said that there is no way I can work.

TIA

Grace

NASA_2

You are not being penalised for paying your NIC's. You are getting a benefit that many others are not entitled to because of their circumstances.

What is being taken out of your benefit though? Do you have pension income, paying back an overpayment or social fund deductions?

DX2

Do you qualify for DLA?

Penny-Pincher!!

Nobody gets help with their heating! There is a cold weather payment which is rarely paid as you need a consecutive amount of days of freezing weather.

Can you not get a p-t job to make your money up? Your OT, GP or other medical official could write a letter on your behalf to recomend suitable housing etc.

Do you get DLA or any other benefit? You would receive HB & CTB if that is your only income...wouldnt you?

If you rented your home with heating, then it is the responsibility of your landlord to provide this.

DX2

Penny-Pincher!! wrote: »

Nobody gets help with their heating! There is a cold weather payment which is rarely paid as you need a consecutive amount of days of freezing weather.

I take it you have missed all the CWP threads

teeni

If your heating is inadequate the landlord could be obliged to replace it even if you have rent arrears.

Caz3121

OP....even if you were on IB ESA you must also meet the following criteria to qualify for any help which heating

• a pensioner premium, higher pensioner premium or enhanced pensioner premium
• a disability premium, enhanced disability premium or severe disability premium
• a disabled child premium
• Child Tax Credit that includes a disability or severe disability element
• a child who is under five in the family

unless you met one of these you would not get it anyway

Gracekelly_2

My landlord said she has no problem paying for it but I need to clear arrears first, I am at the moment talking to the agency she lets through to come to some sort of arrangement.

I meant a CWP ( which is help with heating )! There has been 3 periods where this could of been paid I've checked. I'm on ESA for a reason ... I have fibromyalgia, asthma and heart problems. If I could work at all I would I was earning 1200 pound a month before I got sacked for being off sick to much. I would much rather be working that sitting in doors in constant pain and taking morphine. I have applied for DLA which also takes time to come through. I get HB and CTW but still have to make up the short fall of my rent.

If I am not being penalized then why is people that are on income related ESA can get CWP's and budgeting loans and i cant???? I honestly dont understand.


I have crisis loan payments coming out of my benefits and Council tax from 2 years ago and also an overpayment from the year 2000.

Grace

Gracekelly_2

Caz3121 wrote: »

OP....even if you were on IB ESA you must also meet the following criteria to qualify for any help which heating

• a pensioner premium, higher pensioner premium or enhanced pensioner premium
• a disability premium, enhanced disability premium or severe disability premium
• a disabled child premium
• Child Tax Credit that includes a disability or severe disability element
• a child who is under five in the family

unless you met one of these you would not get it anyway

ok this might be me being stupid, but surely if you are on ESA you are ill and on a low income so therefore why shouldnt we get help with CWP??? There are families on Income support with child ben and tax credits etc and kids under 16 that are getting it, I dont begrudge them getting it by any means but they have alot more than i do coming in , per person too sometimes.

On the news it said about people with Cancer that may be able to get CWP's if that is the case then surely anyone who is sick or incapacitated should be able to get this help. Just because they haven't been able to apply for a disability benefit of some kind and be successful shouldn't mean they don't need help!

Penny-Pincher!!

DX2 wrote: »

I take it you have missed all the CWP threads

Thanks hun! I didnt miss them, but what I meant was that it has to be very extreme weather to have that paid IYKWIM.

I think I will head off to bed as Im not even making sense to myself:D
...my pain meds are playing havoc with my brain today:o

OP-What about just having heating on in the living room and bedroom (timer) so you're not wasting monies on parts of the house not needing heating

I have a hot flask of tea/coffee made for me through the day and I find little and often hot drinks help maintain body temperature. Also layers, gloves, socks, blankets etc etc.

I have FMS too along with numerous other health problems, so I know where you're coming from.

PP
xx

Indie_Kid

Well, given that your partner (or you) be a millionair and be on contributions based ESA....