Incapacity to ESA soon

raverbhoy

Hi people like anyone else on here going through the same thing as me i guess you all know how it feels, terrible!

But i have a few questions if anyone can help me? I have been on Incapacity benefit & Dla since i was 16 years old i am now 26 as i was born with a bad case of hip dysplasia (dont have ball sockets in hips) , perthes disease , talipy and as i got older the worse it got. I now also have osteo arthritis on both hips. The question is does me being on incapacity benefit for all that time pay contributions to national insurance? because i see there is two groups one for contributions and the other for income related.

Also does anyone know if the dwp check up your credit file? to see if you have loans/savings/mortgages and electoral roll?

Thanks

A very nervous man!

Horseunderwater

The thing that you need to watch for with ESA is not your illness or incapacity as such, but the descriptors. Have a read of them: http://pseudo-living.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/esa-descriptors-and-points.html
See which ones apply to your situation and then when you get form ESA50 to fill in later on make sure that you link your conditions to the descriptors and questions on the form. It is this that will help you get the ESA.
If you do succeed and get into the Limited capability to work (WRAG) it will be contribution based and last for 52 weeks, then you will be reassessed for income related ESA in same grouping. However if you get put into the support group - it will still contribution based but will last longer than 1 year.

KxMx

Anyone on IB alone will be transferred (assuming passing the WCA) onto contributions based ESA. Time limits/group as per the post above. To then qualify for income related a working partner or considerable savings will usually exclude you.
Income based ESA is for those transferring (again assuming a passed WCA) on IS or IS and IB.

raverbhoy

Really? thats a bit strange why if u recieve both is and ib you get put into income related, but ib alone you go to contributions. Not that i like any of the groups but the income related group is a total farce if you have a partner. Dont know who makes all these rules up but there crazy.

Do you know if they look at electoral roll for your home and check your credit report?

Thank you

KxMx

IB is a contributions based benefit, so it makes sense you'd go onto the contributions based ESA. Even if like me (as I suspect) you came onto IB through the special Youth rules and not on previous contributions.

IS is means tested and even a penny worth of IS can give many other entitlements in the benefit world, in this case IR ESA.

IS indicates a low income, hence going onto IR ESA, even if you also get IB.

raverbhoy

Thanks for answering, would you say its safe for me to fill in i have partner living with me? thats the whole part i am worried about because she works full time and over the 24 hours allowed. And yeah horse i have checked the questions that matter most to my situation the physical ones i will try and nail them on the head , but some of the questions in the esa050 form are ridiculous like can you hold a 0.5 litre carton.

Thanks

KxMx

You need to declare your partner yes, have you not done this already?

If you pass the WCA and get into the Support Group then the time limit won't apply.

Otherwise if you get into the WRAG your ESA entitlement is likely to cease after a year. You can appeal being placed in the WRAG if that should happen and you think you qualify for the Support Group.

raverbhoy

I haven't had to declare anything yet i just recieved a letter saying i would be getting a call , then i got the call saying how things work and i will recieve letter and stuff. Recieved the letter a few days ago although the woman said on the phone it could take up to 7 weeks so went in to panic mode lol its got to be returned by the 2nd of august and i am just hoping to god i pass without a medical.

Does anyone get put into the support group straight away? just dont like the fact that my life is in there incompetent hands. Mortgage to pay and everything.

Thanks again

raverbhoy

I am just scared to say i have partner incase i end up in income related (if i pass) at some point , because i wouldn't be eligible anymore if partner works. Its all messed up

KxMx

I'm afraid on benefits you always have to declare things such as a partner. When you moved in together you should have notified the DWP of your change in circumstances. Even though IB and DLA are not means tested you still have to declare fully your circumstances at the time of claiming and when they change.

As for the ESA50 I would see if you can get help from your local welfare rights to fill in the forms. It can help to have an outside perspective on your problems. Also send in any medical reports or letters that you have. And send a request with your ESA50 that the medical if you need one be recorded. This doesn't always happen but can a) delay the medical (I had to wait 8 months they were really good about getting it recorded for me after they were caught trying to wriggle out of it!) because they have so few machines and b) be an official record of what was said if you need to appeal.

There are quite a few ESA/IB/ATOS threads here on MSE so have a look through some of those.

raverbhoy

I've just never had to because dla and incapacity i am eligible for with or without partner. But your right think i am just going to need to do it and fill out the form and hope for the best.