Esa

djandysimons

I am a 49 year old diabetic and for the last 4 years have been suffering with my health mainly my feet. I have been in and out of work and in and out of hospital during that time and the latest being a condition called charcots foot. Charcots foot is basically as i have less feeling in my feet and the bones are brittle i have probably broken a bone in my foot and as i cant feel it have been walking on it for weeks possibly months before it was detected. I was told treatment is an aircast boot , the likes of rooney and beckham had when breaking their metatarsals. Working for an agency at the time was told they didnt pay sick pay so i applied for esa contribution related pay and filled in the forms. 4 weeks later my decision came back stating i couldnt claim this due to not enough contributions paid in the last 2 tax years and as my wife worked 40 hours a week could not claim income based esa either. I have been told my wife has to support me and this treatment could take 18months or even more i find this appalling and my marriage and esteem very low at the moment with only 2 months gone. I hope someone can give me some advice on other benefits i can receive or anything i can do cheers

rogerblack

Disability living allowance is the only real alternative.

Other than that, JSA, and perhaps a wheelchair to help yo get around.

Income based ESA will never be payable if you have a working partner. (With ant real income)

Torry_Quine

rogerblack wrote: »

Disability living allowance is the only real alternative.

Other than that, JSA, and perhaps a wheelchair to help yo get around.

Income based ESA will never be payable if you have a working partner. (With ant real income)

Won't be eligible for JSA either as its the same rules for qualification.

rogerblack

Torry_Quine wrote: »

Won't be eligible for JSA either as its the same rules for qualification.

Oops, yes. I meant if it was possible to get a job.

sniggings

sorry but why is it appalling to not be entitled to benefits if your household income is above the level of benefits?

benefitbaby

sniggings wrote: »

sorry but why is it appalling to not be entitled to benefits if your household income is above the level of benefits?

Probably because the OP has paid into the pot most of his life and feels there is a reasonable expectation of support when it is needed - many people do not realise that it is only the NI contributions paid in the 2 tax years immediately before the benefit claim that count.

benefitbaby

djandysimons wrote: »

I am a 49 year old diabetic and for the last 4 years have been suffering with my health mainly my feet. I have been in and out of work and in and out of hospital during that time and the latest being a condition called charcots foot. Charcots foot is basically as i have less feeling in my feet and the bones are brittle i have probably broken a bone in my foot and as i cant feel it have been walking on it for weeks possibly months before it was detected. I was told treatment is an aircast boot , the likes of rooney and beckham had when breaking their metatarsals. Working for an agency at the time was told they didnt pay sick pay so i applied for esa contribution related pay and filled in the forms. 4 weeks later my decision came back stating i couldnt claim this due to not enough contributions paid in the last 2 tax years and as my wife worked 40 hours a week could not claim income based esa either. I have been told my wife has to support me and this treatment could take 18months or even more i find this appalling and my marriage and esteem very low at the moment with only 2 months gone. I hope someone can give me some advice on other benefits i can receive or anything i can do cheers

Whilst DLA is the only real option for a benefit in your name it is possible that you and your wife may jointly be entiled to:
- Housing Benefit
- Council Tax Benefit
- Working tax credit (if your wife is working at least 24 hours a week)

Have a play with the benefit entitlement calculator at www.entitledto.co.uk

sniggings

benefitbaby wrote: »

Probably because the OP has paid into the pot most of his life and feels there is a reasonable expectation of support when it is needed - many people do not realise that it is only the NI contributions paid in the 2 tax years immediately before the benefit claim that count.

but thats just it, he hasn't so was turned down, for the last 2 years he hasn't paid enough into the system, apart from that he doesn't need it as his household income is MORE than the level of benefit he would get if he were entitled.

princessdon

If you have always worked why don't you get Cont based? Even part time I would get this so why is this?

Is it due to time off work due to sickness?


Just to add - As a male I get how you feel, but your wife won't mind supporting you until you are fit to work.

benefitbaby

princessdon wrote: »

If you have always worked why don't you get Cont based? Even part time I would get this so why is this?

Is it due to time off work due to sickness?

The OP has had ill health and reduced work for the last 4 years which I am guessing has meant insufficient NI conts in the last 2 years (well 2009-10 and 2010-11).

I can understand the OP's and other frustrations in that you could work for 40 years, pay NI for 40 years, have an extended period of ill health meaning you are off work or working reduced hours for a couple of years and BANG no entitlement to conts-based ESA or JSA. It is a rather unfair way of determining entitlement.

sniggings

I think we all know by now that NI is not some kind of savings bank for when you are unemployed but just another form of tax., it's hardly enough to pay pensions never mind pay people JSA when their income is higher than JSA.