amount we need to live on? ESA stopping

niknok73

hi there everyone,
well like hundreds of other people i recieved a letter this morning saying my ESA is stopping on the 30th. i recieve DLA middle rate for care lower for mobility, i started back at work last month (was supposed to be on permitted work, so working 15 hours a week) on relief hours so i can work when i'm ok and can turn down shifts when i'm ill. which is perfect. but now my ESA is stopping i'm terrified, i desperately wanted to go back to work, i hate being off, but i can't work full time, and now i can't afford not to!
anyway my main question is how much does the law say we need to live on? i live with my partner, who works 40hrs a week. just checking as we do get tax credits, but when i phoned them to see if our tax credits would be going up to cover the loss of ESA they said no? we really are going to struggle financially but i'm also worried for my health is their anything else we can claim? would it be worth reclaiming ESA or appealing to try get in the support group rather than the work related activity group? or have i got no chance now i'm working? thanks for any advice x

HB58

I think you stand very little chance of getting into the support group now that you have gone back to work. Very few people meet the conditions for another lot of contributary ESA (it depends on your NI contributions over the past few years) so getting into the WRAG again would not get you any more money.

karenx

Tax credits is right, you wont get anymore of that to make up the loss of another benefit.
You have a job why cant you continue with that?

niknok73

i am carrying on with my job, i'm really happy to be working again, it was a real blow when i had to give up work 18 months ago, and i've worked really hard to be able to return to work. the problem is i just can't work many hours with my condition so will be struggling for money and was hoping i could get it topped up from somewhere. thanks anyway

niknok73

karenx wrote: »

Tax credits is right, you wont get anymore of that to make up the loss of another benefit.
You have a job why cant you continue with that?

i am carrying on with my job, i'm really happy to be working again, it was a real blow when i had to give up work 18 months ago. i'm not just a lazy person who can't be bothered to work. and i've worked really hard to be able to return to work. the problem is i just can't work many hours with my condition so will be struggling for money and was hoping i could get it topped up from somewhere. thanks anyway

sleepless_saver

niknok73 wrote: »

we really are going to struggle financially but i'm also worried for my health is their anything else we can claim?

You could run your figures through a benefits calculator just to make sure you are getting what you should be.