Anyone else worried about the ESA time limit changes?

melbury

I am very worried about it, it seems totally unfair to cut people out who have paid their NI contributions for years. Makes you wonder if it is actually worth bothering to try and look after yourself; if you have nothing the government will provide and also free prescriptions, eye tests etc.

Where is the incentive?

If my OH doesn't qualify on his next review we will just have to appeal/fight.

Richie-from-the-Boro

Anyone going [STRIKE]trough[/STRIKE] through an appeal should look to see which descriptors were used for which ESA50 medical date.

- all medicals prior to 28/3/11 use the old descriptors
- all medicals falling twixt 28/3/11 – 28/9/11 can use / either / or / the old or the new descriptors, the ESA50 will determine which
- all medicals after 28/9 11 will use the new descriptors

Pay attention to this one, for example if the ESA50 landed on the mat towards the end of March [ just before ] and you returned it a couple of days later [ just after ] and your actual medical exam was just last month [ or whenever ] make sure the correct descriptors were used. The new descriptor points are measly compared to the old points values !

So the date of the medical is the key date

Hope this helps even one someone

moose1982

I had my letter come through today saying that if the proposals go through, then my Cont. ESA will end in April. However, it says that when that happens, I may be entitled to Inc. ESA but doesn't say exactly how this will be transferred. It could be because they do not know themselves, or they don't want to worry people yet. Does anyone know if they will transfer people who are eligible or make people apply all over again?

(I've been unemployed since Feb '09 and claiming ESA since Jun '09 if that makes any difference)

rogerblack

moose1982 wrote: »

I had my letter come through today saying that if the proposals go through, then my Cont. ESA will end in April. However, it says that when that happens, I may be entitled to Inc. ESA

You are entitled to IR-ESA if you have a household income below your Applicable Amount, and savings of under 16K.

With no other income, savings of 15999 will reduce your ESA by 40/week.

If you have a partner who is working fulltime, you will never(?) qualify for IR-ESA.

melbury

Is there any news on this actually becoming law yet? I am so worried about it, it just seems so unfair.

I agree that the welfare state does need sorting out and there are plenty of people getting lots of money who shouldn't, but why hit on the most vulnerable group? Why not go after the ones who have been milking the system for years generation after generation and seem to be proud of being able to do so.:mad:

Brassedoff

Just signed it, but with only 1459 signatures it looks a long way off.

Those of us who live in an area with a Lib(con)Dem MP, should get onto their MP and make them aware of the chances of losing their job. If the Libs thought this and some other issues will get them wiped out in the next election, they may put the brakes on their bosses!!!!

heater

Brassedoff wrote: »

Just signed it, but with only 1459 signatures it looks a long way off.

Those of us who live in an area with a Lib(con)Dem MP, should get onto their MP and make them aware of the chances of losing their job. If the Libs thought this and some other issues will get them wiped out in the next election, they may put the brakes on their bosses!!!!

You're quite right, Brassedoff. We can also put the pressure on local LibDem councillors.

We now have 3126 signatures!
Stop the cuts to benefits and services for disabled people
http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/20968

bagqueen

Just a quick update- was awarded support group yesterday. Bittersweet really.

Richie-from-the-Boro

heater wrote: »

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

- spam ~~DELETED~~& button clicked this time

I speak for myself .. .. others may disagree, others may feel the same but say nothing, I choose to speak out !

heater, you have chosen to indiscriminately splatter your post across all threads, dredging up non-live ones in the process making the reading of the group a frustrating chore.

Your intention was good, your method is bad, start your own new thread header in the proper acceptable manner and give those of us here a choice [ which you have now denied the group ] to tag and follow the threads I / we choose rather than you deciding for us myself what we I read - that style of gerrymandering the threads for your own purpose takes away my right to choose what I read and what I don't.

An absolutely a pointless waste of the worlds alphabet and my time having to re-read the same same in all threads posted .. .. each new live thread is the heater junk. This time I have clicked the spam button and encourage others to do so, there is no justification whatsoever with this hijacking and destruction of other peoples threads.

Chorlie

Has the ESA Time Limit been agreed yet, I'm (after appeal) in the the Support Group so won't effect me but could do in the future, it's just I haven't seen anything to confirmed it will happen.