Confused about the two rates of ESA...

Natty68

rogerblack wrote: »

Contributory or income related ESA is for everything.

If you are not eligable for income related ESA (household income too high) and you are eligable for contributory ESA, then you get paid contributory ESA only for 12 months (IIRC).

If you do not have an income, then you get income related ESA, 'forever' (well - as long as you fail jumping through their hoops).

Check for other benefits you may be eligable for - DLA, for example.

So basically once the contributory ESA has been paid for 12 months I am left with nothing, as the household income is too high. And I wouldn't get JSA due to the household income being too high, but then I couldn't apply for that anyway as I am not available for work.. Is that how I see it, or am I missing something?

Oh and yes I did apply for DLA and I do get it as I am a danger to myself etc.. I often leave things on the cooker without realising, leaving candles burning, can not cope with general day to day things without losing the plot (so to speak)..

Although if it does go over to PIP then I will probably lose that in 2014, so better hang on to it for the time being.. At the moment it pays for my medicines and to keep my car running (which is allowed before anyone says anything!)

healy

Natty68 wrote: »

So basically once the contributory ESA has been paid for 12 months I am left with nothing, as the household income is too high. And I wouldn't get JSA due to the household income being too high, but then I couldn't apply for that anyway as I am not available for work.. Is that how I see it, or am I missing something?

Oh and yes I did apply for DLA and I do get it as I am a danger to myself etc.. I often leave things on the cooker without realising, leaving candles burning, can not cope with general day to day things without losing the plot (so to speak)..

Although if it does go over to PIP then I will probably lose that in 2014, so better hang on to it for the time being.. At the moment it pays for my medicines and to keep my car running (which is allowed before anyone says anything!)

Yes what you said in your first paragraph is correct, rightly or wrongly the whole idea of ESA is to get as many people off IB/prevent new people getting/retaining ESA as possible. I seem to remember a minister saying that they reckon they will be able to remove 300,000 people from IB who are in the same sort of situation as yourself - working partner/savings/other income.

dave030445

if you are placed in the support group there is no time limit that you can claim cb ESA the 12 month rule is only for those in the WRG.

Natty68

Thank you to both Healy and dave, I don't feel so confused now..well no more than normal..lol

Now to try and conquer the "brown envelope syndrome".. Doesn't help my post arrives at different times every day..