ESA - Spending Review

gardenia101

21Twinkle wrote: »

Contribution-based Jobseeker's Allowance
Contribution-based Jobseeker's Allowance, JSA(C) entitlement is based on Class 1 National Insurance contributions in the two complete tax years preceding the calendar year of claim. This allowance is paid regardless of assets.[5]
Certain other benefits including Statutory sick pay, Statutory paternity pay, Statutory maternity pay, Statutory adoption pay, Employment and Support Allowance, Bereavement benefit, Carer's allowance and JSA(C) itself also count towards Class 1 contributions and are called "Credited Class 1 contributions".
Self-employed people do not pay Class 1 contributions, and thus may not claim JSA(C).
JSA(C) may be claimed for only 26 weeks before having to move onto JSA(IB), if eligible (see below).

Hi 21Twinkle - where did you get this information from? I can't get any of the links to work (probably user error ).

Just a bit confused as I've been claiming JSA(C) since May, but I was self employed for years before & I wasn't told that this would be a problem. The DWP didn't mention that it was only applicable to those who had paid class 1 & they do know I was self employed.

Thanks

Chorlie

:A

bagqueen wrote: »

I agree with what you say lavidaloca. I have worked from 17 up till last year when my muscle wasting condition forced me to finish work. Since then OH has been made redundant but has since started new job on self employed basis. We would dearly love for me not to NEED to claim but we will need the benefit more than ever now. The only good thing for us is that we have a couple of years and hopefully our financial situation will be different then, i may even be able to end my claim!
I also know i have a medical next September- with my condition deteriorating as it is i may well get put into support group-but i would not consider that to be a bonus, but i do feel it is inevitable if i am on contribution based for long enough.
As for DC claiming he was entitled- we don't want more means testing, but, people should have a conscience. I am not talking about the majority but the seriously wealthy minority!!!!!!!!!!

I posted a link to the descriptors used for ESA Support before in this thread, but is an example of:-


Quote

If one descriptor applies to the claimant, they will be placed in the support group and will recieve an additional component with their ESA. They will not have to attend work focused interviews or a work focused health related assessment.

There are 46 descriptors arranged in 11 activities.



This is the first of the 11 activities:-

1. Walking or moving on level ground

Cannot -
a)
walk (with a walking stick or other aid, if such aid is normally used);
b)
move (with the aid of crutches if crutches are normally used);
c)
manually propel the claimant's wheel chair;

more than 30 metres without repeatedly stopping, experiencing breathlessness or severe discomfort.



Ok am I reading this right, if you're a wheelchair user that can push there chair, this descriptor wouldn't apply...

But someone who uses a walking stick but can't walk 30 meters it does apply....

Why can't they use a wheelchair...

I've been in bed for the last 2 days because of hip pain, so if I could stand up and walk (a little), I could go straight into the support group due to my hip pain, but since I can't walk but still have the hip pain I can't go into the support group.

I used to use crutches, could walk maybe 10m before I was knackard, but since that became so hard and I just couldn't do it, I kept falling over, so I use my Wheelchair all the time. Therefore if I'd applied for ESA before my condition got this worse I'd of gone straight into the Support Group.

Talk about a fair system...!!!!

lavidaloca

Does anyone know what happens if you are put into the working group but your conditions worsen so you should be in the support group. Do you ask for a review?

Chorlie

lavidaloca wrote: »

Does anyone know what happens if you are put into the working group but your conditions worsen so you should be in the support group. Do you ask for a review?

I don't know, but if you try make sure you've read this over and over again:-

http://www.newcastle.gov.uk/core.nsf/a/wr_esadescriptorslcwra

I'd also go to the CAB and ask for advise / help with wording of any review documents you have to send.

Indie_Kid

Chorlie wrote: »

How is it the same, I'm in a wheelchair (can't walk) and I get HRM (MRC), but reading the ESA Support criteria on walking than I wouldn't get it because I can push a manual wheelchair.

I said some of the criteria is the same.

or their partner earns more than £90 a week will no longer be eligible for the benefit.

It would be more than £90 a week - the basic amount for a couple is £102.75 per week.

50Twuncle

gardenia101 wrote: »

Hi 21Twinkle - where did you get this information from? I can't get any of the links to work (probably user error ).

Just a bit confused as I've been claiming JSA(C) since May, but I was self employed for years before & I wasn't told that this would be a problem. The DWP didn't mention that it was only applicable to those who had paid class 1 & they do know I was self employed.

Thanks

I found it in Wikipedia - I think
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jobseeker's_Allowance
but it is also mentioned on DWP's site and many more !!

bagqueen

lavidaloca i phoned and asked about how to be re-assed for support group- i was told to go to my GP for a letter requesting my situation be looked at again. This was how i found out about medical next year. I will do this at some point..

Lakelady_2

All very interesting. DH is long term disabled. He gets IB - who knows what will happen to that. We don`t get any means tested benefits as I work a low paid menial job, but I like the independence. If his IB or ESA stops I suppose then we will have to rely on means tested benefits. It`ll probably cost the governent more - all a bit silly really.

50Twuncle

Chorlie wrote: »

Those and several others are some of the questions I spent yesterday searching the internet for answers:-

When will this rule come into place?

Will the 12 months start then or if you've already been on it 12 months will it stop then?

Will you be moved onto JSA or Basic ESA?

At the time it stops can you re-apply for full ESA?

Will you have to apply for JSA?

Since you've been getting Contribution based ESA for 12 months plus, does that mean you can't apply for other conribution based (JSA/ESA) since you have made any true NI contribution for over 12 months?

What will happen when the new medical rules come in for DLA, if they use the ESA medical assessment for the Support Group, then god knows what will happen....apart from a lot of poor, marginalized & house bound disabled people.


Well look on the bright side, this is the government that wanted to help the genuine ill & disabled, bring them into society and not marginalise them, plus the PM knows personally how hard it is for the genuine disabled and there carers because of his late son.
Just think how screwed we would of been if that wasn't the case....!!!!!!!

What will happen to those who are denied any more ESA's - NI Contributions - which at the present pay towards State Pensions ?
I guess that this would not only reduce our income, during working age life - but also ensure that we are povity stricken after retirement as well ?
Why did I bother being prudent and saving earlier in life ?

Meri

I do think we all need to remember and realise that even people who are terminally ill are failing the WCA and being told to work, also many severely disabled people, last week a blind, deaf and paralysed man failed the medical.

I am gathering such cases together to send to MP's.

Several disabled people havbe comitted suicide after failing the mediacals too leaving thier letters next to thier bodies.

The programme is NOT about getting us into work its about getting us onto a lower cheaper benefit.

If it was about helping us into work the extra programmes to do this would be done now in line with the assessments.

I would highly reccomend the Benfits and work website for anyone who has or needs help re ESA, medicals, DLA etc etc as it very professional and been very succesful in helping people.

We are in for much tougher times as accroding to this governemnt we are fruadster, work shy and a burden on the state.

I heard speech from Ian Duncan Smith where he stated that if people are well off they can give things like heating benefit back to state, wonder if Cameron did so with his childs DLA? very much doubt it!

They are so rich they have no inkling or understanding of what it is like to struggle financially, they do not care and are definately not about fairness as they purport.