Contribution and Income Based Esa HELP!!!

Helen42

Hi can anyone please tell me how long it can be before contribution based ESA is changed to Income based ESA or if it is ever changed.

thanks

pmlindyloo

Time limiting of ESA claims

There is currently no time limit for claiming either contribution or income based ESA. Even with contribution based ESA, you do not run out of NI contributions after a certain period of time and you will continue to receive ESA as long as you can still show you have a limited capability for work.
However, from April 2012, a time limit of just one year is to apply to all contribution based ESA claims for those in the work related activity group (WRAG). As of April 2012, those who have already received contribution based ESA for a year or more will have their entitlement ceased immediately. The 13 week assessment phase will form part of the calculation of the 1 year period.

Hope this helps.

Helen42

pmlindyloo wrote: »

Time limiting of ESA claims


However, from April 2012, a time limit of just one year is to apply to all contribution based ESA claims for those in the work related activity group (WRAG). As of April 2012, those who have already received contribution based ESA for a year or more will have their entitlement ceased immediately. The 13 week assessment phase will form part of the calculation of the 1 year period.

Hope this helps.

HI thank you for your reply, does this mean that from 2012 peope that are on ESA for a year will lose benefits totally?

I only asked the original question because according to a housing person our local council, if my husband (who is severely disabled) was on income based then we would get more help with our rent.

We are very new to all of this, my husband is 59 and after years and years of trying to cope with work and his disabilities he finally had to stop work, so this whole system is a big confusing minefield to us we keep getting told so many different things.

Cpt.Scarlet

Helen42 wrote: »

HI thank you for your reply, does this mean that from 2012 peope that are on ESA for a year will lose benefits totally?

I only asked the original question because according to a housing person our local council, if my husband (who is severely disabled) was on income based then we would get more help with our rent.

We are very new to all of this, my husband is 59 and after years and years of trying to cope with work and his disabilities he finally had to stop work, so this whole system is a big confusing minefield to us we keep getting told so many different things.

After the year, claimants will be entitled to Income Related ESA providing they meet the requirements of the associated means test for income and assets.

pmlindyloo

It is extremely difficult to answer questions without knowing your personal circumstances.

In general terms, contribution based ESA is given where the person has got sufficient NI contributions from the time before that person became unfit for work.

Income based ESA is given when the person has not got any or sufficient NI contributions.
However, income based ESA is based on the financial circumstances of both the wife and husband. Therefore, if you are working then your income would be taken into account as well as any savings that you have together.

So, next question!
Are you working? Have you any savings?

Chorlie

I've read somewhere on the net (might of even been on here) that some people are on ESA but aren't getting any money due to there income / savings, but are getting NI Credits.

Does anyone know if this is true and if so is it only on Contribution Based ESA or also on Income Based ESA. If it is Income Based do they also get Free Dentist, Eye Tests etc. as well as NI Credits.

Cpt.Scarlet

Chorlie wrote: »

I've read somewhere on the net (might of even been on here) that some people are on ESA but aren't getting any money due to there income / savings, but are getting NI Credits.

Does anyone know if this is true and if so is it only on Contribution Based ESA or also on Income Based ESA. If it is Income Based do they also get Free Dentist, Eye Tests etc. as well as NI Credits.

It is possible to maintain an underlying entitlement to ESA but not receive payment due to other factors. NI cedits are still payable, and as I have only seen this scenarion for ESA(IR), I would assume that the benefits mentioned above are also still available.

Chorlie

Cpt.Scarlet wrote: »

It is possible to maintain an underlying entitlement to ESA but not receive payment due to other factors. NI cedits are still payable, and as I have only seen this scenarion for ESA(IR), I would assume that the benefits mentioned above are also still available.

That's what I've read, however when I read about ESA (Income Based) on the likes of the Direct Gov Web Site, it reads that if you have savings over £16,000 or Pension over a set amount (I'm guessing £190/£200, double the ESA rate) you can't claim Income Based ESA, so does this mean you can claim Income Based ESA if you have got savings/pension but won't receive payments?, the plus side will be the NI Credits and maybe the other benefits (free dental etc), but the down side would be if in the WRAG you'd have to go on the Work Programme....

I've just had my ESA Reviewed, I didn't have to go for a medical but had another Work Focused Interview, where I was told that since I'm on Contribution Based ESA (WRAG) it was voluntre if I went on the Work Programme (same as being in the Support Group), but if I did volunteer I would be on it until the end of it which could be 2yrs, unlike Pathways which was just 5 Interviews (which lasted at most 1hr). He did say that if I was on Income Based ESA then you have to go on the Work Programme.

Helen42

Hi we do not have any savings and I do not work at the moment. My husband is in the wrag group but the job centre lady at his interviews told him she can see he wont be going back to work with his disabilities but that he has to attend the interviews and go with the flow. So he is having to attend these back to work things with some people called the Papworth Trust who are trying to get him to do CV;s etc and now he has just had a new ESA50 form to fill in. I think I am just getting annoyed that to get anything we have to jump through hoops fill in reams of paperwork, and bang our heads agains brick wall after brick wall we really dont understand all this system of benefits. We have never asked for anything before and now just so my husband can get £90ish a week ESA he has to attend all these things and to put the icing on the cake I find out that if he was on Incocme based instead of contribution based we could get a little more help with othe bits. (Ithink)

pmlindyloo

OK, so you are not working at the moment. Are you claiming any benefits?

My understanding is that contribution based ESA will always be given over income based ESA if enough NI contributions have been made.

However, this does not mean that you could not apply for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit. These particular benefits apply for people who are on income based ESA (they are automatically entitled to them) and also people on a low income. They are both means tested so you will have to apply and fill in forms (sorry!) from your local council.

From what you have said if you both have no income (other than your husbands ESA) and no savings then you should be entitled to Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit.

Is your husband's ESA the only money that is coming into the house?

Have you looked into any other benefits that you and your husband might be entitled to? Disablity Living Allowance for example?

I really think that you could do with speaking to someone about the benefits you might be entitled to. Have you tried CAB?

You could try the benefit calculator on www.entitledto.com for some idea but I don't think it would show your possible entitlement to DLA.

It is extremely difficult to advise anyone without knowing the exact financial situation so I would go to CAB and ask for some help.