ESA and IB

James123_2

Hi there
Hope you can help with the following. Sorry if it's been asked before.

I've been on IB for four years. I'm 51 and have been in and out of hospital during extensive periods of cancer treatment. My question is whether I would be entitled to ESA on the basis of contributions, given that the only credits were made via IB.

Thank you
Any advice would be warmly appreciated.
James

mynameistallulah

Yes, when you are transferred over you will be entitled to CB ESA. However if you are placed in the WRAG you will only be entitled to it for one year, after that you would need to claim IB ESA.

James123_2

Many thanks for the rapid reply. This is much appreciated. It's all very new to me, so I'll have to look-up your acronyms. Apparently, I'm waiting for a phone call from DWP!!
Thanks again. Have a good weekend.

Torry_Quine

James123 wrote: »

Hi there
Hope you can help with the following. Sorry if it's been asked before.

I've been on IB for four years. I'm 51 and have been in and out of hospital during extensive periods of cancer treatment. My question is whether I would be entitled to ESA on the basis of contributions, given that the only credits were made via IB.

Thank you
Any advice would be warmly appreciated.
James

Yes you would be eligible for contribution based ESA. If the WRAG then you get it for one year before being assessed for income based which takes into account household income and savings. If in the support group which is for the most disabled then contribution based has no time limit (at the moment)

rogerblack

WRAG = work-related activity group.
Payments terminate after one year if you have excessive capital, or a working partner.
Support group = no time limit, and no capital limits.

In addition, on the work related group, you may be expected to do 'work related activity'.
This can include from courses, to (now) doing actual forced work without limit of time.
This is all supposed to be only if reasonable of course.

One important fact is that cancer is not treated as an automatic entitlement.
Only if you are on certain forms of chemotherapy, due to go on them, or (to be blunt) death is 'reasonably expected within 6 months) - are you automatically entitled to ESA.

If you do not match these particular boxes, then you will undergo a 'work capability assessment' - which will work out what activities cause you issues, and total up the number of points you get on that test to see your eligibility for benefit.

James123_2

Thanks. I had found some great links which dealt with ESA, but none which confirmed IB credits would qualify me for ESA. So, your comments are really helpful. I have severe problems with long-term effects of intensive chemotherapy rather than cancer at the moment, so I shall see what they make of me. The assumption, from forums, seems to be that most fail the medical test.

Anubis_2

You should be migrated to ESA. just make sure you await migration rather than closing your IB claim and claiming ESA.

James123_2

Thanks - appreciate the reply. I await the phone call!

epitome

If you don't think you would qualify for ESA IR it is important to read up on the qualifiers for the support group and try your hardest to get into that group. As soon as they tell you, you have failed the medical or passed but placed in the WRAG you should appeal straight away (1month to appeal otherwise it's late.) The purpose of your appeal is to get into the support group.

James123_2

Great, thanks. I will certainly have to do my homework. If I should appeal, I guess it's possible to lose any entitlement altogether. I've had a lot of chemotherapy and now have considerable problems with peripheral neuropathy (which is a side-effect of the therapy) - hence my lengthy claim for IB. I'm not sure I can face the paperwork for ESA, but will have a go.
BTW, the phone call from DWP came today - Saturday!