IB and the new test, want to opt out of claiming

btb53

I've been retired due to poor health since 1995 when my employer began paying my full pension and I started claiming IB. I've never had a work test as my illness excludes me.

I have a review every two years and IB always has continued just on the paper form, never seen an NHS doctor or been to the Job Centre or anything.

Now all is changing, I'm 57 this year, in receipt of a good company pension (its not taken into account for IB as I started claiming before it mattered, though I do pay tax on the IB, missed that by a month or so).

I'm not going to put myself through the new system, so when the letter arrives at some stage asking me to go for the test how do I respond in order to just stop claiming the new benefit? I have enough years 'stamp' paid, so no worry there.

Whats the best way to stop IB at the point the want me to be tested?

Thank you for any advice.

CountryGuy

btb53 wrote: »

I've been retired due to poor health since 1995 when my employer began paying my full pension and I started claiming IB. I've never had a work test as my illness excludes me.

I have a review every two years and IB always has continued just on the paper form, never seen an NHS doctor or been to the Job Centre or anything.

Now all is changing, I'm 57 this year, in receipt of a good company pension (its not taken into account for IB as I started claiming before it mattered, though I do pay tax on the IB, missed that by a month or so).

I'm not going to put myself through the new system, so when the letter arrives at some stage asking me to go for the test how do I respond in order to just stop claiming the new benefit? I have enough years 'stamp' paid, so no worry there.

Whats the best way to stop IB at the point the want me to be tested?

Thank you for any advice.

Pension age by April 2014?
People who reach state pension age by 6 April 2014 will not be reassessed. They will stay on their incapacity benefit until they reach pension age. For men this means 65. Women born up to and including 5 April 1952 will reach pension age on 6 March 2014 and will not be transferred. Women born on any date after 5 April 1952 will not reach pension age until 6 May 2014 at the earliest and will therefore go through the transfer process.

MONEYPENNY

CountryGuy wrote: »

Pension age by April 2014?
People who reach state pension age by 6 April 2014 will not be reassessed. They will stay on their incapacity benefit until they reach pension age. For men this means 65. Women born up to and including 5 April 1952 will reach pension age on 6 March 2014 and will not be transferred. Women born on any date after 5 April 1952 will not reach pension age until 6 May 2014 at the earliest and will therefore go through the transfer process.

Now all is changing, I'm 57 this year, in receipt of a good company pension

MissMoneypenny

CountryGuy wrote: »

Pension age by April 2014?

OP said they are 57 this year: they won't reach pension age by April 2014.

CountryGuy

MissMoneypenny wrote: »

OP said they are 57 this year: they won't reach pension age by April 2014.

yes sorry I read it as was 57 this year.

Uncertain

btb53 wrote: »

Now all is changing, I'm 57 this year, in receipt of a good company pension (its not taken into account for IB as I started claiming before it mattered, though I do pay tax on the IB, missed that by a month or so).

I'm not going to put myself through the new system, so when the letter arrives at some stage asking me to go for the test how do I respond in order to just stop claiming the new benefit? I have enough years 'stamp' paid, so no worry there.

I understand how you feel although I wonder if you are being influenced too much by the horror stories you read. Keep in mind you tend to hear about the problems (and then only one side of the story) and nothing about all those that go smoothly.

I assume you would only be eligible for the contributions based part of ESA (too much other income or savings)? Even so, if you were in the support group, you would still be giving up £96 per week, in today's money, for eight years.

Is it not worth letting the system progress one step further and at least attend one "medical"? Who knows, you may pass.

If you can't face that then simply string the process along by taking the maximum time to return forms, re-arranging appointments etc. Even that will give you a few hundred pounds extra to spend on something nice or donate to your favourite charity!

btb53

Thank you for the replies, its appreciated.

I know I should probably go along with it. If I really don't want to, and as you say take the longest time replying, use delaying tactics as far as possible, if in the end I just never turn up for the appointment will that be it? After I miss the appointment will I be told my claim is a good as rejected and that will be that?

I'm in a fortunate position, I realise that, and don't take anything for granted. I want out of the system till I retire in 2018 with the least amount of fuss.

PrincessDonna2009

btb53 wrote: »

Thank you for the replies, its appreciated.

I know I should probably go along with it. If I really don't want to, and as you say take the longest time replying, use delaying tactics as far as possible, if in the end I just never turn up for the appointment will that be it? After I miss the appointment will I be told my claim is a good as rejected and that will be that?

I'm in a fortunate position, I realise that, and don't take anything for granted. I want out of the system till I retire in 2018 with the least amount of fuss.

You will not be able to take that length of time to reply or respond to things, as they will just stop the claim and suspend your money you are being paid, with a month or so of not having a reply, they are quite quick when it comes to things like this...

If you want out, why don't you just get out of it now and just live off your private pension? If not then I would advise you wait for them to call you to a ESA Medical Assessment and turn up and see how it goes, otherwise you are one of the genuine people who may be not well enough for work and losing out on the money you are entilted to....

Breast_Cancer_Survivor

Uncertain wrote: »

I understand how you feel although I wonder if you are being influenced too much by the horror stories you read. Keep in mind you tend to hear about the problems (and then only one side of the story) and nothing about all those that go smoothly.

I assume you would only be eligible for the contributions based part of ESA (too much other income or savings)? Even so, if you were in the support group, you would still be giving up £96 per week, in today's money, for eight years.

Is it not worth letting the system progress one step further and at least attend one "medical"? Who knows, you may pass.

If you can't face that then simply string the process along by taking the maximum time to return forms, re-arranging appointments etc. Even that will give you a few hundred pounds extra to spend on something nice or donate to your favourite charity!

I thought they were changing it so you could only claim contribution based ESA for 12 months before you change to income based?

richard9991

Breast_Cancer_Survivor wrote: »

I thought they were changing it so you could only claim contribution based ESA for 12 months before you change to income based?

Only if you are in the wrag if you get in the support group you stay cont based until you stop claiming or are found fit to work

btb53

PrincessDonna2009 wrote: »

You will not be able to take that length of time to reply or respond to things, as they will just stop the claim and suspend your money you are being paid

I didn't mean wait till 2018! Sorry if it looked that way. It may well be another year or so anyway before they get around to me, who knows?

Thanks for your advice, I know then I can actually ignore 'them' and they will suspend payment and leave it at that until I reach 65. They can't 'force' me to attend, and ignoring the new system will result in loss of claim and money.

You are right I can live off my company pension, and I'm feeling guilty that I even claim IB now. I shouldn't because I'm fully entitled to it. If I'd have become ill a few years later the pension I get would have meant IB would've been reduced to nothing anyway.