ESA - Contribution based , HELP !!

mumi2be

i found out i was pregnant 3 weeks after starting a new job, i became very sick at the start of my pregnancy and couldnt work, i was then diagnosed with diabetes. i was awarded contribution based ESA as i have worked full time for the last 12 years.
now ive just found out that i cant get a community care grant, sure start maternity grant, travel expenses for travelling to the hospital every week for my diabetes nor will i get housing benefit when my baby is born and i have to move out of my shared accommodation !
i cant believe that because i have worked and paid national insurance and tax for 12 years that i am not entitled to the same benefits that people who have never worked are getting ??

i cant see the reasoning behind this? is there anything i can do?
i dont know how i am going to buy pram, cot and other essentials for my baby or how i am going to pay rent and bills with £124 per week for me and my baby ! the system is crazy and seems to support people who have never worked more than those who have worked and unfortunatley found themselves unable to !!

mumi2be

skcollobcat10 wrote: »

Was the baby unexpected, if so, I can understand why you haven't saved up before getting pregnant? If you are with the father I think he has to support you.

yes it was totally unexpected. i am not with the father but i am sure he will support me, he however is in a minimum wage job and has rent and bills to pay himself. whatever amount he can afford to give me i am sure will not pay my rent, average weekly rent here is £100.
my problem is that people who have never worked or only worked briefly etc are entitled to every benefit under the sun and people like me are not !! where is the justice in that ???

dmg24

mumi2be wrote: »

yes it was totally unexpected. i am not with the father but i am sure he will support me, he however is in a minimum wage job and has rent and bills to pay himself. whatever amount he can afford to give me i am sure will not pay my rent, average weekly rent here is £100.
my problem is that people who have never worked or only worked briefly etc are entitled to every benefit under the sun and people like me are not !! where is the justice in that ???

Before you go off on some ill informed rant, you might want to check your facts. You will be entitled to help with your rent based on your low income. You may receive help with health costs through the NHS Low Income Scheme (also known as the HC1 form).

Is your sickness pregnancy related? If so, hopefully you will not need to have to rely on disability benefits once baby is born?

mumi2be

dmg24 wrote: »

Before you go off on some ill informed rant, you might want to check your facts. You will be entitled to help with your rent based on your low income. You may receive help with health costs through the NHS Low Income Scheme (also known as the HC1 form).

Is your sickness pregnancy related? If so, hopefully you will not need to have to rely on disability benefits once baby is born?

my "ill informed rant" is based on what my local jobs and benefits officer told me today !

mumi2be

mumi2be wrote: »

my "ill informed rant" is based on what my local jobs and benefits officer told me today !

my sickness was originally pregnancy related and has now been diasnosed as type 1 diabetes.

mumi2be

skcollobcat10 wrote: »

Was the baby unexpected, if so, I can understand why you haven't saved up before getting pregnant? If you are with the father I think he has to support you.

Forgot to add, if you have been working for the last 12 years surely you would be entitled to some contributory benefit.

Hi, what do you mean by contributory benefit? sorry for my ignorance

DX2

Have to be good, have to be good, have to be good!

dmg24

mumi2be wrote: »

my "ill informed rant" is based on what my local jobs and benefits officer told me today !

It was ill informed, please read the information given in my earlier post. I don't know who your local jobs and benefits officer is?

mumi2be wrote: »

my sickness was originally pregnancy related and has now been diasnosed as type 1 diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes very rarely means that someone has to give up work. Hopefully your maternity period will give you time to learn to manage your condition.

mumi2be

dx2 wrote: »

have to be good, have to be good, have to be good!

????????? ???????????????

mumi2be

dmg24 wrote: »

It was ill informed, please read the information given in my earlier post. I don't know who your local jobs and benefits officer is?



Type 1 diabetes very rarely means that someone has to give up work. Hopefully your maternity period will give you time to learn to manage your condition.

i am not worried that my diabetes will stop me from working again, as i have worked full time since i was 17 i am quite willing to go back to work as soon as i can. my previous employment was in a fast food restaurant who im sure will not appreciate me having to check my blood glucose levels 7 times a day, eat my meals at certain times a day etc ! but as i previously stated, this is not the problem ! the problem is that i am not entitled to the benefits people who have never worked are entitled to ! :mad:

dmg24

mumi2be wrote: »

i am not worried that my diabetes will stop me from working again, as i have worked full time since i was 17 i am quite willing to go back to work as soon as i can. my previous employment was in a fast food restaurant who im sure will not appreciate me having to check my blood glucose levels 7 times a day, eat my meals at certain times a day etc ! but as i previously stated, this is not the problem ! the problem is that i am not entitled to the benefits people who have never worked are entitled to ! :mad:

You are entitled to benefits, albeit not all benefits, but more than enough. Again, the information is in my first post on this thread.