Contribution Based ESA

rmcc89

Hi everyone,

I have a question regarding Contribution Based ESA.

I first claimed ESA in 2011 and was placed into the WRAG in Oct 2011, I got contributory ESA for the 365 days and reverted to Income-Related Based ESA in Oct 2012.

However, In July 2013 I made an appeal against WRAG and to be re-considered for Support Group. I won the appeal and I have been placed into ESA Support Group.

So, now that I am placed in the Support Group for the first time. Do I get re-instated with Contribution Based ESA?

Thanks,
RM

sammyjammy

Hmm tricky one, I would say no but someone more knowledgeable on the detail will know more. You know it won't make any difference to the amount you receive? it could be more benefitial to be on Income based as it passports other benefits.

rmcc89

sammyjammy wrote: »

Hmm tricky one, I would say no but someone more knowledgeable on the detail will know more. You know it won't make any difference to the amount you receive? it could be more benefitial to be on Income based as it passports other benefits.

Yeah, I realise the amount I receive won't change between Contribution Based or Income Related. However, the amount I receive between WRAG & Support Group will be different?

How do you mean more beneficial to be on Income based as it passports other benefits? Could you explain more on what you men by this please.

My thought with getting Contribution Based was that it gives me NI Contributions right? - And also there is no saving affects.

I'm only 24 years old and my conditions are deteriorative and are getting worse at the moment. My thoughts are with my future.... for example; lets say I get married to my other half. Even in the short distant future. With Income-related ESA my partner’s income and savings are also taken into account. How do I / we live on, save or get a house together? - Bit lost at the moment.

Torry_Quine

rmcc89 wrote: »

Yeah, I realise the amount I receive won't change between Contribution Based or Income Related. However, the amount I receive between WRAG & Support Group will be different?

How do you mean more beneficial to be on Income based as it passports other benefits? Could you explain more on what you men by this please.

My thought with getting Contribution Based was that it gives me NI Contributions right? - And also there is no saving affects.

I'm only 24 years old and my conditions are deteriorative and are getting worse at the moment. My thoughts are with my future.... for example; lets say I get married to my other half. Even in the short distant future. With Income-related ESA my partner’s income and savings are also taken into account. How do I / we live on, save or get a house together? - Bit lost at the moment.

You get NI credited whether income or contribution based ESA.

I could be wrong but I think once on income based you can't go back to contribution based as you've used up your entitlement. If you had still been in the contribution group when changed from WRAG to support then that would be fine.

As you say partner does that mean you are living together as his income would be taken into account.

rogerblack

rmcc89 wrote: »

So, now that I am placed in the Support Group for the first time. Do I get re-instated with Contribution Based ESA?

In short - yes.
If you have one continuous period of incapacity - since the beginning of your ESA claim (or your conversion from IB), then if you started out as contribution based - then once you are placed in the support group - then payment of contribution based resumes.

And the timer for how much time you've been in the WRAG+assessment phase stops - you can have only one year total of WRAG+assessment payments in one claim.

I would guess that in your case, your appeal of 2013 was taken to be a change of circumstances - and you were found to be eligible for the support group as of that date - it was too late for the 2011 decision to put you in the WRAG to be reconsidered.

So, if you are later found to be only entitled to the work-related group - you will now be out of time - and not eligible for payment of contribution based ESA again.

It is definitely not the case that you can't move from income based to contribution based in this case, as there is a specific exception for those who later fall into the support group becoming entitled again.

rmcc89

Thanks for the responses guys.

So with Contribution Based ESA, is the only real benifit that it's not income-means tested?

We have read elsewhere that "If you have not been able to work from before the age of 20, or 25 in some cases, you may be able to claim ESA in youth without having paid national insurance contributions."
Source @ http://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/employment-and-support-allowance/esa-glossary/1488-what-is-contribution-based-employment-and-support-allowance-esa

I don't know about this, I was in education before / after 20 and then went onto ESA in 2011 at 22yo.

rogerblack

rmcc89 wrote: »

Thanks for the responses guys.

So with Contribution Based ESA, is the only real benifit that it's not income-means tested?

We have read elsewhere that "If you have not been able to work from before the age of 20, or 25 in some cases, you may be able to claim ESA in youth without having paid national insurance contributions."
Source @ http://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/employment-and-support-allowance/esa-glossary/1488-what-is-contribution-based-employment-and-support-allowance-esa

This is now irrelevant - the 'ESA in youth' provisions have been abolished for new claims- on the specious pretext in parliament of kids with massive trust funds.

Contribution based benefits are in general not means tested, and income based ones are.

There are exceptions.

rmcc89

I got a letter through this morning, Dated 14th August 2013.

On page 1 it mentions they will credit me with NI contributions while claiming ESA.

It also states from 12 April 2013 I will receive £121.65 a week.

However, on the breakdown page it has broke down the old (before April 2013) £199.85 payment.
* Living Expenses
* Extra Money because of Disability Income Guarantee
* Extra Money for Support Group

So your income-related entitlement is £119.85

So from this I assume it's not Contribution-Based and will be getting Income-Related.

Although I thought I would be getting £106.50.

We found this

Main phase, Support Group
Per claimant aged 16 and over - £106.50 (contributory ESA only)
A single person aged 16 and over - £121.65 (income-related ESA only)
A couple aged 18 and over - £169.10 (income-related ESA only).

If this is right, why is contributory ESA lower than income-related ESA ?

princessdon

rmcc89 wrote: »

Hi everyone,

I have a question regarding Contribution Based ESA.

I first claimed ESA in 2011 and was placed into the WRAG in Oct 2011, I got contributory ESA for the 365 days and reverted to Income-Related Based ESA in Oct 2012.

However, In July 2013 I made an appeal against WRAG and to be re-considered for Support Group. I won the appeal and I have been placed into ESA Support Group.

So, now that I am placed in the Support Group for the first time. Do I get re-instated with Contribution Based ESA?

Thanks,
RM

How could you move onto income based with your savings you had only months before. Are these you OH now savings?

Horseunderwater

Are you living with someone at present or on your own? If single then their income will for the moment not be taken into account. So IR ESA in the Support group is fine. It will only be if you move in together that their income would be taken into account. I assume that you get DLA as this is what entitles you to the DIG or EDP amount of £15.15 extra per week £121.65 total. The £119.85 is the rate for last year up to 5th April, so there might be some backdated payments due. Did you receive any Support group ESA during last tax year? Or any WRAG ESA at all?

Cpt.Scarlet

Horseunderwater wrote: »

I assume that you get DLA as this is what entitles you to the DIG or EDP amount of £15.15 extra per week £121.65 total. The £119.85 is the rate for last year up to 5th April, so there might be some backdated payments due. Did you receive any Support group ESA during last tax year? Or any WRAG ESA at all?

They don't have to be receiving DLA as being in the SG entitles them to EDP.