ESA from 12th May 2012 - 30th November 2012?

Jo4

Hubby's friend is on Incapacity benefit which is going to be changed to contribution-based and income-related ESA on 12th May 2012. They will be placed in the work-related activity group. They have received the letter today advising them of the above and the letter states how much they are going to get until 30th November 2012.

What happens on 30th November 2012 or why has it only been awarded to then? The leaflet sent with the letter is about Jobseeker's Allowance. What does this decision actually mean for them?

Muttleythefrog

My guess is either they've been awarded WRAG for 6 months (which is very common) and will be re-assessed come end of the year; or letter sent in error or misleading like a lot of ESA correspondence; or it may be related to the new rules regarding 12 months limit on contrib based ESA.

Might be worth calling them... although to be honest you could well get completely incorrect advice. Might be worth asking for evidence used to take decision and ask for statement of reasons for the decision.. could contain useful information including 'prognosis' duration which will indicate likely next re-assessment.

HB58

It appears that many award letters state that the benefit will be paid until either April or November. It seems that this is just something to do with DWP systems and has no relevance for the claimant. The ESA50 (medical report) and/or 'statement of reasons' gives the 'prognosis' which is the period of time before the award is due to expire. These forms can be obtained from DWP. Don't forget that reassessment will usually begin several months in advance of this date

ElaSk

Hi, I have been on main WRAG ESA contribution based since August last year, initially I was put on the pre assessment ESA in May 2011. I received the letter saying that I will have been on ESA for a year and therefore no longer entitled to contribution based and it states on the letter that based on information held on my currant award of benefit, when the contribution based ESA ends I will get income related ESA based on how much the law says I need to live on. What does this actually mean? Will they just transfer me onto income based from the 10th May or do I need to fill in another form? Its not like my finances have increased over £16,000 (I wish!) Will my benefit drop drastically if I am no longer on the contribution based ESA? I am waiting to be re-assessed to see if I am fit for work but it seems they have a backlog.

epitome

ElaSk wrote: »

Hi, I have been on main WRAG ESA contribution based since August last year, initially I was put on the pre assessment ESA in May 2011. I received the letter saying that I will have been on ESA for a year and therefore no longer entitled to contribution based and it states on the letter that based on information held on my currant award of benefit, when the contribution based ESA ends I will get income related ESA based on how much the law says I need to live on. What does this actually mean? Will they just transfer me onto income based from the 10th May or do I need to fill in another form? Its not like my finances have increased over £16,000 (I wish!) Will my benefit drop drastically if I am no longer on the contribution based ESA? I am waiting to be re-assessed to see if I am fit for work but it seems they have a backlog.

Do you have a partner?
If you do have a partner do they work?
Do you have more than £6,000 inc partners (if any) money?
Do you get any pension?

If the answer to the above is all no, then you will remain on ESA IR at the same rate you get now, with all the same conditions.

Probably best to phone the Benefit Centre number at top of letter to confirm it will be done automatically or do they need to ask you any questions to do the transfer onto ESA IR.....

epitome

Jo4 wrote: »

Hubby's friend is on Incapacity benefit which is going to be changed to contribution-based and income-related ESA on 12th May 2012. They will be placed in the work-related activity group. They have received the letter today advising them of the above and the letter states how much they are going to get until 30th November 2012.

What happens on 30th November 2012 or why has it only been awarded to then? The leaflet sent with the letter is about Jobseeker's Allowance. What does this decision actually mean for them?

So he's had his medical assesment and has passed ?
Can he answer all the questions in the above post "no" aswell? If so, he will be on ESA IR for as long as it takes to get him into work, he will have regular medicals to continually extend his ESA.

epitome

HB58 wrote: »

It appears that many award letters state that the benefit will be paid until either April or November. It seems that this is just something to do with DWP systems and has no relevance for the claimant. The ESA50 (medical report) and/or statement of reasons' 'gives the 'prognosis' which is the period of time before the award is due to expire. These forms can be obtained from DWP. Don't forget that reassessment will usually begin several months in advance of this date

statement of reasons By this you mean the Decision Makers Justification I presume ?

ElaSk

epitome wrote: »

Do you have a partner?
If you do have a partner do they work?
Do you have more than £6,000 inc partners (if any) money?
Do you get any pension?

If the answer to the above is all no, then you will remain on ESA IR at the same rate you get now, with all the same conditions.

Probably best to phone the Benefit Centre number at top of letter to confirm it will be done automatically or do they need to ask you any questions to do the transfer onto ESA IR.....

Thanks for your reply

I don't have a partner but my daughter is joint tenant of our rented council home. I get the council tax and housing benefit rebate for my joint tenancy and she pays her part of rent/council tax since she works.

All the money I have coming in has been my contribution based ESA and I have no pension.

ElaSk

epitome wrote: »

Do you have a partner?
If you do have a partner do they work?
Do you have more than £6,000 inc partners (if any) money?
Do you get any pension?

If the answer to the above is all no, then you will remain on ESA IR at the same rate you get now, with all the same conditions.

Probably best to phone the Benefit Centre number at top of letter to confirm it will be done automatically or do they need to ask you any questions to do the transfer onto ESA IR.....

Thanks for your reply

I don't have a partner but my daughter is joint tenant of our rented council home. I get the council tax and housing benefit rebate for my joint tenancy and she pays her part of rent/council tax since she works.

All the money I have coming in has been my contribution based ESA, savings of just over a thousand and I have no pension.

Chrissiew

Jo4 wrote: »

Hubby's friend is on Incapacity benefit which is going to be changed to contribution-based and income-related ESA on 12th May 2012. They will be placed in the work-related activity group. They have received the letter today advising them of the above and the letter states how much they are going to get until 30th November 2012.

What happens on 30th November 2012 or why has it only been awarded to then? The leaflet sent with the letter is about Jobseeker's Allowance. What does this decision actually mean for them?

Hi Jo, I was placed in the WRAG from the 12th April untill the 12th Nov, I phoned them to ask why it was 7 months and not a year as usual and they said that its a case of getting reassed in November, a new form will be sent which needs to be filled out and WCA may be needed, I havent had a WCA but will more than likely require one in November, it doesnt mean your money will stop, its just another assessment. I also got sent JSA leaflets with my award letter but I thought it was a mistake as they just shove whatever leaflet is in front of them at the time of sending the forms, but I must be wrong about that if you also got one, my first interview with the job advisor is on the 27th May.

epitome

ElaSk wrote: »

Thanks for your reply

I don't have a partner but my daughter is joint tenant of our rented council home. I get the council tax and housing benefit rebate for my joint tenancy and she pays her part of rent/council tax since she works.

All the money I have coming in has been my contribution based ESA, savings of just over a thousand and I have no pension.

No problem then, all you have to do is phone and ask if it is automatic or do they have to ask you any questions in order to get you onto ESA IR....

I would assume automatic but you should check