Can you just say no to ESA?

Lucky94

My other half got a letter today saying that as he was on either IB or IS that it is now changing to ESA and a medical would be needed and they would phone him..although the phone number is incorrect think it must be an old one.

He is not on any of the benefits mentioned in the letter so it confused us then I remembered he completed a form some time ago to get his stamp paid as he wasn't entitled to claim the money. So will this be it be what it means as he is I'm sure getting his stamp paid?

Also we will not be entitled to claim ESA money either as we claim other benefits. Can we just cancel it, withdraw from it so to speak or will they stop our other benefits? What do we do now?

rogerblack

Lucky94 wrote: »

My other half got a letter today saying that as he was on either IB or IS that it is now changing to ESA and a medical would be needed and they would phone him..although the phone number is incorrect think it must be an old one.

He is not on any of the benefits mentioned in the letter so it confused us then I remembered he completed a form some time ago to get his stamp paid as he wasn't entitled to claim the money. So will this be it be what it means as he is I'm sure getting his stamp paid?

He is on (presumably) IS/IB, but not being paid due to your or his income.
This is why he is getting his stamp paid.
If he does not migrate to ESA (which he may also not be paid for similar reasons), his stamp will stop being paid.

He cannot choose to remain on IS/IB.

Horseunderwater

Lucky94 wrote: »

My other half got a letter today saying that as he was on either IB or IS that it is now changing to ESA and a medical would be needed and they would phone him..although the phone number is incorrect think it must be an old one.

He is not on any of the benefits mentioned in the letter so it confused us then I remembered he completed a form some time ago to get his stamp paid as he wasn't entitled to claim the money. So will this be it be what it means as he is I'm sure getting his stamp paid?

Also we will not be entitled to claim ESA money either as we claim other benefits. Can we just cancel it, withdraw from it so to speak or will they stop our other benefits? What do we do now?

Has your partner accrued enough years of NI credit to get the full state pension? 30 years is now needed. I suggest that you do a pension forecast for him and see. Before you do anything about cancelling the actual claim. If he has enough entitlement to get full state pension, then I guess cancelling an ESA claim would be fine. But if not you need to keep it going until he has got enough NI credits.

Lucky94

rogerblack wrote: »

He is on (presumably) IS/IB, but not being paid due to your or his income.
This is why he is getting his stamp paid.
If he does not migrate to ESA (which he may also not be paid for similar reasons), his stamp will stop being paid.

He cannot choose to remain on IS/IB.

No he's not on either not because of our income our income has only increased recently he went some years ago for a IB claim but failed the assessment he is though on DLA (different benefit I know) I recall a form been completed for his stamp but he/we know that now our income has increased we will not be entitled to ESA therefore don't wish to claim the benefit, I understand that his stamp will stop also which we understand so how do you tell them no thank you?

Morlock

Lucky94 wrote: »

I understand that his stamp will stop also which we understand so how do you tell them no thank you?

Ignore all correspondence, that will ensure any benefits that you 'don't' claim will stop.

Torry_Quine

Lucky94 wrote: »

No he's not on either not because of our income our income has only increased recently he went some years ago for a IB claim but failed the assessment he is though on DLA (different benefit I know) I recall a form been completed for his stamp but he/we know that now our income has increased we will not be entitled to ESA therefore don't wish to claim the benefit, I understand that his stamp will stop also which we understand so how do you tell them no thank you?

He will be on income support but only gets his NI credits as the household income is too high. It was claimed in precisely the same way as IB so he can't have failed the assesement, unless you mean that he doesn't get contribution based.

epitome

Why not phone up both Incap Ben & Income Support and ask them which one does he get for (presumably £0.00) and is paying his stamp?

If you don't know the number call 08000556688 press 1 for new claims give them your postcode and they will tell you.

Lucky94

Torry_Quine wrote: »

He will be on income support but only gets his NI credits as the household income is too high. It was claimed in precisely the same way as IB so he can't have failed the assesement, unless you mean that he doesn't get contribution based.

He was on IB some years ago but got a low score a the assesement therefore his IB was stopped he was single at the time so no household income to consider (back then). We now claim as a couple but he was already getting his stamp paid back then and has continued to do so.

Torry_Quine

Lucky94 wrote: »

He was on IB some years ago but got a low score a the assesement therefore his IB was stopped he was single at the time so no household income to consider (back then). We now claim as a couple but he was already getting his stamp paid back then and has continued to do so.

IB was contribution based and IS was the equivalent for those who hadn't sufficient contributions and so based on total income.

Lucky94

Torry_Quine wrote: »

IB was contribution based and IS was the equivalent for those who hadn't sufficient contributions and so based on total income.

Ok thanks.

So can he just tell them that he doesn't want to make an application for ESA, it states in the letter that they will contact by telephone to discuss it. Will this not impact on our other benefits?

epitome

Yes he can tell them that and his stamps will stop.

If he has more than 30 years stamps he does not need stamps anyway.