ESA ends in July

41_and_i_know_it

Hi everyone. Have been receiving Incapacity Benefit for several years and this has changed to ESA. Had a letter from Jobcentre Plus to go for interview and they told me LAST WEEK that my ESA will end in July. I have had a rough time health wise recently and this news has really shocked and frightened me. Reason ESA ends in July because I live with my partner which I have done for 10 years. If I didn't live with him my ESA would continue based upon my health. My original appointment was 8th January 2013 but I was so stressed as I have had no correspondence from the Jobcentre since I have been off sick that I rang to bring it forward. Why didn't they tell me about this before now, not that it makes much difference to me. I don't think that my condition will improve by July, in fact instead of me trying to recover from my recent problems I am now totally panicking of the thought of further punishment by the Government for being ill. Your thoughts please and be kind because it has taken all my courage to post this as I myself have read unkind posts. Thankyou.

ineed

Hi, you seem very (understandably) stressed, take a deep breath .

I'm not very familiar with ESA yet (I've only just had my initial letter etc telling me I'm changing over) but I'm guessing it could be because your partner might earn to much? I'm not sure if that would be why. Someone more knowledgeable will be along.

Muttleythefrog

So you presumably were transferred to the WRAG of ESA from IB and were getting contrib based ESA. This is ending presumably because the 12 months of contrib WRAG payments will run out. It sounds like you won't be entitled to income related ESA because of partner.. their income will mean failing means testing for income related ESA?

The interview presumably is a work focussed interview... unfortunately it is mandatory to comply with their request as part of being in WRAG.

If my assumptions are true then you may still benefit from remaining on ESA despite not getting payments. Others will be better able to advise on the technical details of that... but one big possible benefit is that ESA is regularly reassessed and if you were to get into support group then I think payments would resume.

nannytone_2

it has been well piblicised that contribution vased ESA will only last for 365 days if placed in the WRAG.

if you feel your condition has worsened, you can ask for a suoersession, to be placed in the support group. you need to read the descriptors to see if you meet any of them.

with regards to the fact that if you were single, your ESA would continue ...

that would be becausr ot would be your only income.
surely you dint think it;s unfair to expect your partner of 10 years to support you whilst you are unable to work?

41_and_i_know_it

Thankyou for your replies, in fact my partner has never supported me since I met him. I owned a 4 bedroom house then and had to go bankrupt. I have not received any money from him and have had to help him out as he was having financial problem, even my family have supported him. Yes I was on contribution-based ESA and when I told him it was running out in July because his income was being taken into account he didn't say anything. Basically, because nothing will change I will just have to survive on child benefit and child tax credit because I have always paid the bills and food and everything for our children. By the way my partner doesn't earn that much, but because he earns enough for the Government whatever that figure is he is expected to support me, but he won't.

41_and_i_know_it

nannytone wrote: »

it has been well piblicised that contribution vased ESA will only last for 365 days if placed in the WRAG.

if you feel your condition has worsened, you can ask for a suoersession, to be placed in the support group. you need to read the descriptors to see if you meet any of them.

with regards to the fact that if you were single, your ESA would continue ...

that would be becausr ot would be your only income.
surely you dint think it;s unfair to expect your partner of 10 years to support you whilst you are unable to work?

Thanks for your reply, I am in the work-related activity group. I didn't know that my ESA only lasted 365 days maybe because I am a bit thick I know. I am just concentrating on my health at the moment. I just can't believe that now after being off work for years I am feeling worse than ever and this may be due to my coming off my medication in October, I did wean off very slowly and was so proud of myself, but reason for coming off basically because I was ashamed of still being on medication at maximum dose, and fed up of being a guinea pig changing medications all the time. I'm sorry for mentioning all this, I hope that everyone can be spared from feeling like this, I really do.

41_and_i_know_it

ineed wrote: »

Hi, you seem very (understandably) stressed, take a deep breath .

I'm not very familiar with ESA yet (I've only just had my initial letter etc telling me I'm changing over) but I'm guessing it could be because your partner might earn to much? I'm not sure if that would be why. Someone more knowledgeable will be along.

Thanks for your reply. I am stressed, that's the problem and depressed at the same time, hard to explain how that feels. Until I experienced it thought others were making it up. Hope things go okay with your change over of benefits, they will, I'm sure. At least now you know that if its contribution-based it is only for 365 days, I must be the only person in Britain who didn't know that. Never mind, ignorance is bliss they say, and because I didn't know I haven't been worrying about it, but now I know I am. I just want to get better and my new Doctor is very understanding, in fact I used to work alongside her in the NHS so she wants to help me to get better as a former colleague too.

41_and_i_know_it

Muttleythefrog wrote: »

So you presumably were transferred to the WRAG of ESA from IB and were getting contrib based ESA. This is ending presumably because the 12 months of contrib WRAG payments will run out. It sounds like you won't be entitled to income related ESA because of partner.. their income will mean failing means testing for income related ESA?

The interview presumably is a work focussed interview... unfortunately it is mandatory to comply with their request as part of being in WRAG.

If my assumptions are true then you may still benefit from remaining on ESA despite not getting payments. Others will be better able to advise on the technical details of that... but one big possible benefit is that ESA is regularly reassessed and if you were to get into support group then I think payments would resume.

Thankyou so much, you are very knowledgable about these things. If I am able to get ESA without receiving the benefit I will try, because I did not ask to be ill and it is not a matter of being paid to be ill. One day I will be recovered and working like I did for so many years. I believe I will be well enough to work, but maybe not within the Government's deadline which is July. I know that tax-payers are paying for my benefit and that is what I was doing for many years myself. I never realised that I would be ill for so many years, and everyday kick myself for still being like this. Your post has at least given me some hope, it is not about the money, it is the principle, I want to be included on the statistics not taken off to show that I am one less on benefits.

SPELLKASTER

i too live with a partner, and cant get means tested benefit as my partner works!!

i was placed into support group esa just recently; i was also awarded contributions based esa.

i know how frustrated you must feel, my partner and i cant get tax credits cause of his earnings which after deductions i think is around £24k.

i think your partner is a bit mean if he wont support; i thought that was what relationships was all about having a supportive partner?

maybe you need to go into the citizens advice bureau and ask for advice.

good luck ::++)) xxx

spottybutterfly

I notice you mention about not wanting to come off ESA on principal, and looking like one less statistic. I hate that I came off ESA and look like one less statistic but in actual fact I'm only working 8 hours a week. But signing off at-least means i don't get hassled from the stupid Work Program every week.

If I was in your situation I'd be telling the other half to support me and the kids when the money runs out or I'd leave him. You can be expected to pay the bills and stuff solely from child benefit.

mikey_bach

You may be entitled to working tax credits as a family, its worth checking it out even though they are your children you all live together in the same household.
I can see him no reason why he should object to you making a claim, as any money you may be awarded and
receive will not come out of his wallet.