ESA coming to an end, but too ill to work

fogartyblue.

BurnleyBob wrote: »

Foggy is amongst the most charmless characters hereabouts who delights at introducing his own brand of invective at regular intervals.

Maybe then you are not seeing what the bigger picture is.

Unaffordable benefits and unfair & immoral payments to those that clearly are able to support themselves through the household income which is way way above what the government have determined that you actually need to live on.

fogartyblue.

Pobby wrote: »

Thanks for the heads up. My guess is if Foggy was in the same position that person would be the first to holler.

Not at all, I would reduce my outgoings to match my income. Not expect the state to susidise my income so that my outgoings remain unaffected!

fogartyblue.

mealone wrote: »

Its a disgrace that people who dont have chance in hell of getting in the support group are appealing to get into that group just because they can and that is overwhelling the appealing system.

I agree entirely with you. For most, it's a ploy to continue receiving CB ESA!

As another poster said:

Of course the 365 days limit has something to do with it.... Won't most
people 'do anything' when it comes to money?

I think that statement sums it all up!

fogartyblue.

Pobby wrote: »

....net contributor for over 40 years this is the best they can do......
You and me too. I have worked for over 44 years. Never had a day unemployed.
But that still doesn't entitle me to anything more than someone who has only worked the last 5 out 44 years, with the rest on the dole. There is no 'my pot'.

So who is going to employ someone of my age with mental health problems. I am OK because my wife works and she will be getting all her pensions in a couple of months....
Losing CB ESA after 365 days does not mean that you are no longer ill. All it means is that after 365 days you are expected to support yourself, as in your case, through the household income or if that is low, through IB ESA.

Yet the fact remains, what are a lot of us going to live on?
Errr IB ESA maybe?

I guess a lot of us unwell people are older, the very sector that has a powerful vote.
Powerful vote?? Are you having a laugh? I don't vote, my wife has never voted, and most of my friends in the age group 55 and upwards don't vote.
Those that are likely to vote are those that a Conservative government would serve them well and those in the 18 - 25 age range.

The benefit system is evolving into a modern 21st century system. At the moment most if not all of the benefits, with the exception of a few tweaks here and there, are directly linked to what was enacted in 1948!!

fogartyblue.

redundantjune09 wrote: »

I'm in a similar position with ESA, mine
finished on the 30th April.... if you are ill you can't always recover in 12
months.


I agree, that is why ESA is the benefit to claim. In your case it will be IB ESA. However as you have more money coming into the household than what the
government deem you need, you will be expected to be supported by your partner.

If they carried on paying me my ESA I would be ok and quite happy. All I have
been getting is the £91 a week ESA

I'm sure you would be happy!!! The tax that I pay would in part end up in your pocket, whilst at the same time your household receives more than enough to
live on as it is. Do you think I and many others would be happy as
well??





QUOTE]

From your point of view, the world does not end at your front door!

Mojisola

redundantjune09 wrote: »

I'm in a similar position with ESA, mine finished on the 30th April. I have been told that as I live with my boyfriend (we're not married) and he works 60 hrs I will get nothing. Quick explanation of my situation - I broke my foot 2 and half years ago and it never healed even after having surgery. Found it really difficult to walk on a broken foot and doc put me on sick Dec 2010. Went onto ESA April 2011. Had further surgery in Aug 2011 and spent 26 weeks with a cast on my leg, now waiting for further surgery in about July/Aug this year.

As you have mobility problems, have you claimed DLA?

Edinburghlass_2

fogartyblue. wrote: »

From your point of view, the world does not end at your front door!

You and me too. I have worked for over 44 years. Never had a day unemployed.
But that still doesn't entitle me to anything more than someone who has only worked the last 5 out 44 years, with the rest on the dole. There is no 'my pot'.

fogartyblue. wrote: »

I am paying back two debts one from 1983 when I was overpaid unemployment benefit and another from 1997 when we received too much of a premium for a child who was 16 but left school.

The unemployment one wrote to me a year or so ago and eventually they sent me the details where the 1983 debt came from. I agreed to pay it as I was overpaid between 1981 and 1983.

I pay it at £5 a week, and I will be 74 by the time they are both repaid in full.

So 28 years is nothing! If you don't understand where the debt comes from ask them to give you details. More than likely it will be correct and then offer them an amount that you can afford.

Yes they will take it from you anyhow if you receive any type of benefit or pension in the future.

I'll ask again, how come you are paying back unemployment benefit if you have never been unemployed?

Just...Yvette

fogartyblue. wrote: »

Surely you cannot agree that say a wife who is claiming CB ESA, expects it to be paid ad infinitum, whilst at the same time, hubby is on a salary of say £35,000 a year?
Yes the wife may be unable to work due to ill health, but surely it is immoral for her to be allowed to top up the family income to that extent?

I am interested that you find it 'immoral' to claim a benefit which a person is entitled to, and which they've worked and paid contributions towards.

Can I ask - do you also find those claiming CB ESA in the support group immoral? The only difference between those in SG and WRAG being that the deeply flawed ATOS system has put them in one or the other. A recent newspaper investigation using the Freedom of Information Act found that 32 people die a week after being placed in the WRAG. Terminally ill people have been placed in the WRAG.

Do you also find a pensioner claiming contribution-related retirement pension immoral? Because that's not means tested, and they may be living with partners who work and have savings and property too.

fogartyblue.

Edinburghlass wrote: »

fogartyblue. wrote: »

You and me too. I have worked for over 44 years. Never had a day unemployed.
But that still doesn't entitle me to anything more than someone who has only worked the last 5 out 44 years, with the rest on the dole. There is no 'my pot'.



I'll ask again, how come you are paying back unemployment benefit if you have never been unemployed?

Simple, because whilst I was claiming unemployment benefit I was working trying to set up a business.

The business made no money for the first few years and there were weeks when there was no work so I went looking for more contracts.

The DHSS at the time said that I was working full time even though they accepted that I made nothing for nearly three years. They demanded the return of all of the unemployment benefit I had received.

In closing they also said that it did not matter if I earned anything, that was my choice.

So yes, I have never been unemployed. Looking for work being self employed yes, but never out of work,.

fogartyblue.

Just...Yvette wrote: »

fogartyblue. wrote: »

I am interested that you find it 'immoral' to claim a benefit which a person is entitled to, and which they've worked and paid contributions towards.
I have never said not to claim a benefit that you are entitled to. What I have said that it is in my opinion immoral to attempt to claim something by trying to manoeuvre round the rules knowing that if you are not able to claim IB ESA due to excessive household income, you see that it is right to object now for being put in the work group.
Additionally, of course you are currently entitled to claim a benefit based on NI contributions (although I think all CB benefits should be replaced with IB ones), but that ability should at best have an end date. In this case it is 365 days, for CB JSA it is 182 days!

After that date expires, you are either expected to live off what is coming into the household or claim IB ESA! And maybe it is a time also to review your outgoings.

Can I ask - do you also find those claiming CB ESA in the support group immoral? The only difference between those in SG and WRAG being that the deeply flawed ATOS system has put them in one or the other. A recent newspaper investigation using the Freedom of Information Act found that 32 people die a week after being placed in the WRAG. Terminally ill people have been placed in the WRAG.
I have no intention of getting involved with the politics of ESA. I am only concerned with the rules that the benefit is administered by.
Your comments are your opinions, certainly not mine!
There are set descriptors to qualify for the support group. Some people pass them some don't. You have to accept that or appeal at the time.

To start to object in any way at a later date just because you are to lose your benefit is not right.
The system may not be perfect, but it is the system and we all have to work with it and accept the decisions that are made about us.


Do you also find a pensioner claiming contribution-related retirement pension immoral?

Yes I do!! The State Retirement Pension should be closed and in its place a simplified version of Pension Credit be awarded. This is a means tested benefit that gives to those that need it, and not to those that have alternative sources of income. Yes I think it is immoral that the likes of many MP's and ministers, bank managers, etc should get the same pension as someone that is on the poverty line.
Personally I think ALL benefits should be means tested.
I have been saying this for years about the Child Benefit being paid irrespective of means.

Because that's not means tested, and they may be living with partners who work and have savings and property too.

The whole benefit system reform should carry on until such time as it benefits only those that are in desperate need.