ESA help please

Hoppalong

Hi everyone- long time lurker finally registered and posting in need of some advice :beer:
I recently broke my foot very badly and have had surgery and am now on crutches/in a wheelchair for the forseeable future. My GP has given me a fit note (sick note) until the 16th November.
When I broke my foot (18th Sept) I had just started working 2 days a week for a nursery and was on a temp contract that has been aborted due to injury.

I applied for ESA and they have sent me 2 letters saying in one that my sicknote runs out on the 26th of Sept so I need to provide another - HOWEVER the sick note I sent is until 16th November :mad:

They then sent ANOTHER letter arriving on the same day telling me I hadnt paid enough NI to claim. I have 4 children and during the period they chose to assess my contributions on I was actually on Maternity Allowance so the plot thickens:eek: I have been paying NI via direct debit since May 2009 as I was self employed. I stopped in May 2010 when I was no longer self emplyed. Any gaps in my NI were when I was home with the children and I have been told that Child Benefit covers these NI missing periods???

I am married, my husband earns a "high" income (we would lose our child benefit under the propsed cut off, anyway IYSWIM) we have 4 children (12, 6, 5 and 2) and we own our own house ans the only other benefit we get is a tiny bit of Child Tax Credit (£23 a month)

Can anyone shed any light for me please?? I would LOVE to still be working but clearly cant when wheel chair bound so Im thinking there must be *something* I can claim, or is my husband automatically expected to support me??

Thank you in advance for any desperately needed advice
Hoppy x

sunnyone

Hoppalong wrote: »

Hi everyone- long time lurker finally registered and posting in need of some advice :beer:
I recently broke my foot very badly and have had surgery and am now on crutches/in a wheelchair for the forseeable future. My GP has given me a fit note (sick note) until the 16th November.
When I broke my foot (18th Sept) I had just started working 2 days a week for a nursery and was on a temp contract that has been aborted due to injury.

I applied for ESA and they have sent me 2 letters saying in one that my sicknote runs out on the 26th of Sept so I need to provide another - HOWEVER the sick note I sent is until 16th November :mad:

They then sent ANOTHER letter arriving on the same day telling me I hadnt paid enough NI to claim. I have 4 children and during the period they chose to assess my contributions on I was actually on Maternity Allowance so the plot thickens:eek: I have been paying NI via direct debit since May 2009 as I was self employed. I stopped in May 2010 when I was no longer self emplyed. Any gaps in my NI were when I was home with the children and I have been told that Child Benefit covers these NI missing periods???

I am married, my husband earns a "high" income (we would lose our child benefit under the propsed cut off, anyway IYSWIM) we have 4 children (12, 6, 5 and 2) and we own our own house ans the only other benefit we get is a tiny bit of Child Tax Credit (£23 a month)

Can anyone shed any light for me please?? I would LOVE to still be working but clearly cant when wheel chair bound so Im thinking there must be *something* I can claim, or is my husband automatically expected to support me??

Thank you in advance for any desperately needed advice
Hoppy x

The period that they assess your contributions on is statutory, they didnt just choose to assess you then to avoid paying you ESA.

You can work in a wheelchair, many people do and because of your husbands earning there is nothing else that you can claim.

Indie_Kid

The NI protection for child benefit is for your state pension when you retire.

Duncombe

Hoppalong wrote: »

is my husband automatically expected to support me??

Is that such an unreasonable suggestion?

NASA_2

Hoppalong wrote: »

...is my husband automatically expected to support me??

Yes.......

Hoppalong

Thank you for your friendly replies.
I am happy to work as I had a perfectly good job before my accident but OFSTED decided it was unsafe for me to work there on crutches/in a wheelchair (it is a nursery with 24 three and four year olds) so I no longer have a job. I have looked into other jobs but most places lose interest the minute I say I currently have a broken foot and am on crutches/in a wheelchair.

I guessed my husband would be liable to support me which is fine- not a problem but I was advised by me GP to claim ESA so I just wondered if anyone had any experiences.

Caz3121

I am guessing your GP may not have been aware of what your NI contributions were between Apr 07-Apr 09 so probably did the right thing to tell you to apply however if you don't meet the criteria for contributions based there is little you can do

markharding557

Since you are wheelchair bound and therefore must require a certain amount if care you should apply for dla

Duncombe

markharding557 wrote: »

Since you are wheelchair bound and therefore must require a certain amount if care you should apply for dla

If the OP has any care/mobility needs, they have not been in place for 3 months and are unlikely to continue for another 6 so she would not be able to claim DLA.

markharding557

Duncombe wrote: »

If the OP has any care/mobility needs, they have not been in place for 3 months and are unlikely to continue for another 6 so she would not be able to claim DLA.

While that is true she may be able to claim it in due course