ESA Cut off

BarryJones

"If you live abroad you are not entitled to income-related Employment and Support Allowance when your contribution-based Employment Support Allowance ends. You are also not entitled to receive National Insurance credits.
Your entitlement to other social security benefits in the country you are living in may also change when your contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance ends."

The above is on the DWP website. What I do not understand as an affected person in this is that after going to a doctor here in Spain that was organised for me by the DWP I have now been told I will not get any payments after 30th April.

I am 64 years of age (65 on July 15). I had 4 heart attacks on February 6th 2009. In effect dying 4 times and being brought back to life once by the doctors in Vega Baja, Orihuela, and 3 times by doctors in Alicante University Hospital.

As I had paid my National Insurance in the UK for 46 years I was able to claim ESA. The DWP instructed me to see one of their GP's here in Spain and the doctor categorically stated I would not be fit to work again. I do not understand why I should be penalised for taking early retirement, claiming nothing for unemployment from the age of 61, just living on my redundancy money until it has finally run out. I have also been, obviously, supporting my wife who is 63 years of age but paid "married womans stamp" thus receiving just 12p per week "oap".

So from May 1st until I receive my first payment of my old age pension we will be living on £200 per month total as like as stated above our savings have become zero as we have been living off them as a supplement to the ESA payment.

CAN YOU HELP AN EXTREMELY WORRIED MAN AND HIS WIFE - PLEASE.

Cpt.Scarlet

The government has introduced the time limiting of contribution based ESA for members of the WRAG, from 1 May anybody who has received ESA(CB) for more than 365 days will lose entitlement to ESA(CB).

If your condition has deteriorated and you believe you meet one of the ESA Support Group descriptors you can request a a re-assessment of your claim. If successful your ESA(CB) will be re-instated as long as you remain eligible for the SG.

pmlindyloo

I wonder if this website might help you to check that you are receiving all your entitlements?

http://ukinspain.fco.gov.uk/en/help-for-british-nationals/living-in-spain/pensions-benefits/benefits/

Morlock

BarryJones wrote: »

The DWP instructed me to see one of their GP's here in Spain and the doctor categorically stated I would not be fit to work again. I do not understand why I should be penalised for taking early retirement...

Unfortunately, a doctor's opinion is not really relevant when assessing an ESA claim if the ATOS computer says "No".

You are not being penalised for taking early retirement, qualifying conditions have been changed for everyone, not just you.