Contribution Based ESA Question

ash781

Hi All,

I was claiming contribution based ESA until April this year when my 365 day entitlement ran out. I stopped claiming ESA because I was over the savings limit (father had died in March 2012 leaving me approx £18K)

I found a temporary job and everything was ok but my condition returned, and my contract wasn't renewed.

I had been scrimping and saving what little I earned, so I haven't spend my inheritance, the balance is the same- around £17 / 18 K.

Can I re-apply for CB ESA now that I've worked? or wait until my savings fall below the £16 K threshold and apply for IB ESA?

I'm confused by the linking rules. eg If you have already claimed CB ESA, how long is it before you can claim it again? If ever?

I'm living off my savings now and have no other income, so it won't be long before my savings drop below the threshold anyway.

I'll continue to live the frugal life I always have done - I won't be squandering money to speed things up!

Horseunderwater

If your claim ended in April 2012 and it is now October (6 months) I am not sure if it can be linked, so you might be able to go for a new claim for contributions ESA - they do not use your current NI year, but they will use the one I think from 09/10 -10/11 I think. However to get income related ESA, you'd have to get your savings well below the £16k threshold. Not sure how much they deduct - but it might be £1/£250 or £500 of savings. Hence me saying that you would need to reduce your savings significantly. However you also have to watch out for deprivation of capital, so you must only spend that money on things like rent, food and other normal bills, not luxury holidays or cars etc. You would need to get a new fit note from your GP explaining that the condition has now returned and is worse than it was or has changed with this added to it. You will then be put into assessment phase again until, you get invited for another medical with ATOS. Who will then say if you pass the medical or not and if you qualify for the Support or WRAG one. You do not say if it is a physical or mental health problem, but I know that with the physical one they use the imaginary wheelchair scenario when they assess you and decide if you have enough upper arm strength to self propel a wheelchair or not. Makes no difference if you have never used one or are likely to use one. They imagine if you could use one. In my case I was tested with the push/pull test and it was obvious I had little or no strength in my arms/shoulders, so I got into support group. Being frugal is not always a good thing when on benefits. I am now going through the process of converting my contribututions ESA award to income related as my OH lost his job 28th Sept and we never ever had any savings, so we now meet the Income related income levels on all counts.