Employment Support Allowance - 2 class system

G51shopaholic

Can anyone explain to me the difference between

1. Contributions based Employment Support Allowance
2. Income based Employment Support Allowance

I am 41 yrs old. I've worked since I was 16yrs old. So I've paid Tax & NI contributions for 25 yrs!

My ESA is Contributions based, I am in the support group as I have Breast Cancer (which is also in my lungs).

I have be trying to find out why I am NOT entitled to any of the addition disability benefits.

I was told today that ONLY Income Based ESA applicants get the Enhanced Disability Benefit & other disability premiums.

When questioned re this the "benefits advisor" said, "I don't know why, that's all it says on my sheet".

He sujected i write in and raise a query!

:j

System

I think its due to contributions being paid regadless of a partners income or any savings you have, where as income is based on income. I'm not explaining this very well sorry, someone else will be along soon and hopefully explain it better.

JS477

Contribution Based ESA (CB ESA) is paid if you have paid sufficient National Insurance contributions in the relavent years. This is non-means tested so it doesn't matter if you have extra icome coming into the house or millions of pounds in savings however any pension income is taken into account.

Income -Based ESA (IB-ESA) is paid if you haven't paid enough NIC and is means tested, however you do receive the disability enhancements if you're also claiming DLA.

The other difference is that CB-ESA doesn't automatically qualify you for free prescriptions, eye tests or NHS dental care whereas IB-ESA does. I suppose the reason is the government expects you to use your "extra money" to pay for these essentials. Not fair I know but that's the government for you.

Check this site out which explains it well.

Here

Have you applied for DLA?

NASA_2

Contribution based benefits have never paid more than the personal rate ie. the rate of a single person without premiums added on.

The attempt to pin this on ESA as a benefit is pathetic in the extreme and probably symptomatic of a media campaign to castigate the fairest benefit in the benefit system.

shazza71_2

My husband is on CB ESA, dont know if its because he has claimed for me as well but they have taken his IIB into account.

sharon

G51shopaholic

Sorry NASA are you having a dig at me?

I have simply asked for advise as i don't understand why, when I meet all the qualifying requirements I am told sorry - the sheet says NO!

No explaination, only it's the way ESA works.

I had a good paying job, I have work all my adult life - I had to find my way through the "maze" that is our benefit system. With the help of Macmillan Support I finally saw light at the end of the tunnel.

However there is no explanation as to WHY the cut off - there is ONE payment level, no matter the family set-up (I have a partner & two children).

I also haven't heard from the ESA since being placed in the support Group back in Nov 08! My cancer is being "controlled" by daily medication but I just wanted someone to try and explain why.

Thanks to all.

Breast_Cancer_Survivor

Hi G51shopaholic, im so sorry to hear of your illness (hugs).

Im on Incapacity benefit & don't understand Esa at all although apparently we will all be moving over to it soon.

Do you claim DLA, if not it might be worth applying as you obviously have care needs.

Best wishes

Uncertain

G51shopaholic wrote: »

I also haven't heard from the ESA since being placed in the support Group back in Nov 08! My cancer is being "controlled" by daily medication but I just wanted someone to try and explain why.

Thanks to all.

If you are in the support group you won't hear from them until they decide to send you a new ESA50 form prior to another "medical". You can however choose to take part in the other ESA "benefits" such as help with finding work. If you were not in the support group you would have to do this as a condition of getting ESA.

Contribution based ESA doesn't entitle you to free prescriptions, dental care etc. However they do also credit you with NI contributions so you will continue to get the ESA for as long as THEY consider you to be unfit for work.

Income based ESA depends on having very limited savings etc. However you could be the richest person in the country and still be entitled to the £96 per week CB Support Group ESA.