Contrib ESA ending - any options left?

solentsaver

I'm 58 female living alone with savings above the limit which means that I receive contributions based ESA. I was working until May 2011. I've received (C) ESA for almost a year so it will end next week. I received 12 points at my ATOS medical. I appealed two months ago but haven't heard from them since then. Should I close my appeal now or just leave it and hope they will continue to pay my NI towards my pension years.

I am still not well enough to work. My illness makes it impossible for me to walk more than 100 yards on my own and I am housebound apart from going for very short walks. I cannot walk far enough to get onto public transport to go into my local town. I am not well enough to drive.

Are there any options left for me? Can I apply for more (C)ESA using a different year of my NI contributions towards it? I've heard something about waiting 12 weeks and then re-applying? Does anyone know if this is correct?

Or should I try to apply for (C) JSA even though I'm not well enough to actually work and probably wouldn't be offered a job due to my physical illness.

Even if I can't receive any more benefit I'd like to at least have my NI contributions paid towards my pension years. What is the best way to try to ensure this will happen.

Any help would be appreciated as I am confused about what to do next. Thank you.

mum2one

from my gathering is that until your saving become within the limit that you can become income related, there is not anything that can be done, if you went for JSA this would mean you need to be fit for work.

Have they given you an idea of how long they think that you would be unfit for work for?

Its worth checking about your pension contributions as i would presume they would still pay that element, hope you get sorted. x

Torry_Quine

If you win your appeal you would get your NI contributions paid, it may well be worth checking though to see if you have enough contributions for your pension. You need 30 years so may already have this. If you can't get ESA contribution then you can't get JSA contribution either.

rogerblack

solentsaver wrote: »

I'm 58 female living alone with savings above the limit which means that I receive contributions based ESA. I was working until May 2011. I've received (C) ESA for almost a year so it will end next week. I received 12 points at my ATOS medical. I appealed two months ago but haven't heard from them since then. Should I close my appeal now or just leave it and hope they will continue to pay my NI towards my pension years.

How much are these savings - are they enough to live off for a couple of years, or until pensionable age?

Have you checked the appeal has been received by them?
Have you considered applying for DLA?
You can almost never simply spend money so that you get income-related benefits - they may treat you as still having the money if you try to do this.

Have you checked the criteria for the support group?
If you arguably meet one or more of these, you want to concentrate on obtaining what evidence you can about this, and submitting it.
This would restart payment of ESA(C)

recoverydust

Keep appealing, get help from anyone you can, read extensively on this board. I am about to be in the same position, so you may want to look at my diary in debt free wanna be, search in that board.

Above all don't let it worry you sick. You are ok at the moment and you will be ok. This forum is the best place to get help
Xx

rogerblack

Simply appealing without considering your case always has risks.
In the above case, the risk is that they will be disqualified totally, which will mean that if their condition worsens (or they undergo a financial disaster), they would not be paid without requalifying for benefit.

You become entitled to be paid ESA(C) after time-limiting has kicked in, if you qualify for the support group.
Or you become entitled to ESA-IR if your circumstances change (partner moves out, ...)

Plus, entitlement to ESA (even if not paid), if you have been on the benefit some time may allow 'back to work' benefits to be paid, if you qualify and move from ESA directly into work.

HB58

Your Ni contributions (for your state pension) will be paid as long as you are entitled to ESA, even if you are not getting any money from them.

schrodie

You may make a further claim using the Further Entitlement After Time Limiting rule. However I have yet to read from official sources (DWP) how they're going to administer it though.

solentsaver

Thank you to everyone who replied to my post, I appreciate the advice and support. I haven't got any income coming in now but I've got some savings which will hopefully last me until I get better and can look for work.

Horseunderwater

solentsaver wrote: »

I'm 58 female living alone with savings above the limit which means that I receive contributions based ESA. I was working until May 2011. I've received (C) ESA for almost a year so it will end next week. I received 12 points at my ATOS medical. I appealed two months ago but haven't heard from them since then. Should I close my appeal now or just leave it and hope they will continue to pay my NI towards my pension years.

I am still not well enough to work. My illness makes it impossible for me to walk more than 100 yards on my own and I am housebound apart from going for very short walks. I cannot walk far enough to get onto public transport to go into my local town. I am not well enough to drive.

Are there any options left for me? Can I apply for more (C)ESA using a different year of my NI contributions towards it? I've heard something about waiting 12 weeks and then re-applying? Does anyone know if this is correct?

Or should I try to apply for (C) JSA even though I'm not well enough to actually work and probably wouldn't be offered a job due to my physical illness.

Even if I can't receive any more benefit I'd like to at least have my NI contributions paid towards my pension years. What is the best way to try to ensure this will happen.

Any help would be appreciated as I am confused about what to do next. Thank you.

First thing that I would do is to ring the DWP and ask for a current status report on where your appeal is. Don't close it.
You said you have trouble walking 100 yards, but to be honest it sounds more like you have trouble doing less than 50, so I think that you should mention that & get some help from your GP or consultant or both about how this affects you on a daily basis. And I can confirm that ESA contr type can be for more than a year, if they feel you need to go into the support group. Which it sounds like you need to for the time being. If you can get moved into support group, it will take the pressure off and let you get well and you can look for a job once well enough and still do some permitted work once you are up to it.

Muttleythefrog

Agree with above advice... and as pointed out above I would have a good look at DLA as something that may be worth applying for... a non means tested benefit for those with 'care' and/or mobility problems. If you want to get a feel for whether you could qualify then I recommend this link as it goes through the relevant matters with explanation behind terminology used. http://www.benefitsnow.co.uk/questions/dlagatewayquestions.asp