Changes to ESA - Length of claiming time?

f1widow

Hi Can anyone shed some light on the changes to the length of time you can be on ESA.
I recently migrated from Incapacity Benefit (to ESA Contribution Based with Support Group) and today during a Money Advice Meeting (as Im trying to deal with my financial issues) learnt that I wont have that benefit for very long. So rather than worry myself silly I rang DWP (wish I had not!)

I must be living in some sort of bubble as I did not know that after 12 months this benefit will stop - apparently we are going to get letters starting in April to tell us when our benefit will stop but at that point as long as you have no partner working or working under 24 hours per week you can apply for Income Support and I quote "this is to cap benefits as on Incapity Benefit you would have been allowed to be on this without being bothered" I informed them that in the 2 years I had claimed it - I was continually contacted by DWP or Job Centre Plus about going for medicals - work focused interviews etc and that if I did not go my benefit would stop which has caused a lot of sleepless nights and worry as my condition means I do not leave the home. I said that this was very worrying at which was told dont worry about it now - how can I not be Im trying to put in place future financial issues and whilst I do appreciate that I should not rely on this (this was also pointed out to me that benefits should not be relied upon as an income for the purposes of financial planning!!!!!) I cant just tell my creditors please dont take this into account because in the next 10-11 months Im not going to get it

Im sorry if any of the above causes anyone any offence or angers anyone its just Im now extremely anxious - Ive just gone through 6 months of torture with the migration and now am worrying about this.

Any information would be a great help - many thanks

MrsManda

The changes in ESA are still being looked at in the House of Lords so there's no certainity either way.

However the proposed changes to the length of time Contributions Based ESA can be claimed only affects those who are in the Work Related Activity Group.

If the proposals go ahead without change ESA CB will be limited to 12 months for those in the WRAG. Claimants will then be assessed for Income Based.

Under the current proposals those claiming ESA CB Support Group won't have a time limit imposed so it'll be irrelevant to yourself at this time.

f1widow

Well thanks for that - The DWP advisor knew that I was on the ESA CB Support Group as I repeated it a couple of times - by giving incorrect information they dont appreciate how worried you can get.