ESA eligibility when on half pay?

december

Hi,

Just a quick question that I'm hoping someone might be able to help me with. If you are on half pay, are you still eligible for ESA?

Thanks

December

andyandflo

Hi,

The only thing to concern yourself with ESA and receiving half pay are two questions:

1. Have you finished receiving SSP (28 weeks). If so, then yes you go onto ESA
2. I presume you mean ESA - contribution based - if the answer to 1 is yes, and you have paid sufficient NI contributions in the two tax years 2007/8 & 2008/9
then you can make a claim.

If you are looking at the Income Based claim, you will have to be means tested.

stazi

You can only claim ESA when your SSP stops after 28 weeks, or are not entitled to SSP. If your are getting SSP, then you can claim Income Support.

december

Thanks for the replies My SSP has been claimed by my work if that makes sense but runs out in October. I've definitely made enough NI contributions so will get onto the paperwork. I'd assumed that I wouldn't be eligible so thank you very much

NASA_2

You can claim in advance of your SSP running out - by which I mean that you can make the claim now with an effective date of the day after your SSP stops.

Sam____2

NASA wrote: »

You can claim in advance of your SSP running out - by which I mean that you can make the claim now with an effective date of the day after your SSP stops.

Yip, can be claimed up to 3 months in advance, you need to complete an ESA1 form

Sam____2

stazi wrote: »

You can only claim ESA when your SSP stops after 28 weeks, or are not entitled to SSP. If your are getting SSP, then you can claim Income Support.

Not necessarily, it would depend on the circumstances if she would get income support, if there is a partner who is working etc that would mean there was no eligibiity.

andyandflo

Sam___ wrote: »

Yip, can be claimed up to 3 months in advance, you need to complete an ESA1 form

Never knew that, I waited until I received the SSP1 form from my employer which was over a month after my last payment of SSP, then the claim was made, which took in total, 5 months to be put into payment.
I believed this to be the normal way of doing things, as they ask you to send in the SSP1.

december

Thanks ever so much for the replies. I called the Benefits line today and they sorted out the claim over the phone. Thank you again

bizzylizzy

Can I ask you which Benefits helpline you called?

stazi

The phone numbers to claim any JCP benefit are here-
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/FinancialSupport/esa/DG_172014