ESA / Homemaker

lynxptc

If you're claiming Employment and Support Allowance can you declare yourself as a homemaker rather than unemployed when applying for things like insurance or would that be fraud?

pmlindyloo

lynxptc wrote: »

If you're claiming Employment and Support Allowance can you declare yourself as a homemaker rather than unemployed when applying for things like insurance or would that be fraud?

What sort of insurance do you mean?

If you read this article it says that if you had to make a claim then it could be refused.

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/insurance/2012/05/unemployed-get-wallaped-when-buying-insurance

If you let us know what kind of insurance you are talking about there might be ways around it.

lynxptc

Thanks for the reply. It's for house insurance.

I read the same article and I also read in the house insurance guide on MSE that putting that you are a housemaker when you are looking for work and claiming benefits could be classed as fraud. I wondered if the same applied to ESA because you're not looking for work on ESA

pmlindyloo

Personally I would follow MSe's guide to home insurance. There are plenty of good deals out there.

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/insurance/home-insurance

Then when you have found the cheapest ticking the unemployed 'box' I would give the company a call and tell them your circumstances and your financial situation and see if they can do it cheaper!

Good luck!

rogerblack

lynxptc wrote: »

Thanks for the reply. It's for house insurance.

I read the same article and I also read in the house insurance guide on MSE that putting that you are a housemaker when you are looking for work and claiming benefits could be classed as fraud. I wondered if the same applied to ESA because you're not looking for work on ESA

Claiming ESA means you are claiming ESA.
It means that you meet one or more of the descriptors for ESA, that is all.

It does not inherently mean you can't work, indeed you can be employed 16 hours a week.

It is insurance fraud to describe yourself as something you are not, knowingly.
The question of 'can I convince the insurance company I am X and have them pay out' is not quite the same.

It is quite possible to believe you're an artist, when the insurance company will resist, and call you unemployed.
This is not fraud, it is a difference of opinion (if you genuinely believe this.)

The fundamental question - if there is no other guidance on the form is what would the man on the street say if you explained your full circumstances say?

Even if you believe yourself to be a (say) artist, if most people would disagree with you, and call you unemployed, or retired, then put that.

Putting something you genuinely believe in isn't fraud, but may result in no payout.

For example, I have been choosing 'retired', rather than 'unemployed' on any questions like this recently, as I am on ESA long-term, and am unlikely to (barring medical improvements) work again.
Unemployed specifically misrepresents my condition, as I am unfortunately not able to look for work.

In addition, the condition for people claiming Universal Credit is even less clear.
People claiming Universal Credit may be required to keep looking for work, even when they are in work, in order to retain their benefits topping up low earnings.
This pretty much destroys any binary 'employed/not employed' line, which is already weak under JSA (you can work, do charity work, be required to do work-like activity)

lynxptc

Thank you rogerblack that was very helpful

10pence

The main issue could be when coming to claim, as further investigation of the claim could result in it being declined, the premiums being increased to the 'proper' levels and the insurer reporting it as fraud; note that many insurers will decide what to do on a case by case basis.

KxMx

If in doubt contact the company involved.

Where there has not been a disabled option when applying for credit I always contact the company with my circumstances. The answer in my case has always been "unemployed.

atrixblue.-MFR-.

I came across this myself and wondered the answer, I bought car insurance last about 3 years ago until I gave in and got a mobility car, and when asked online about employment status back then I thought about putting homemaker down, but a relative told me not to because I could fall foul of fraud, so (my wife did) the logical thing for me and phoned the insurer I was planning to insure with and asked them (I don't use the phone, Its complicated to explain but part of a Austistic traits and MH conditions that I have) This insurer's policy is that If your on state welfare benefits (exluding JSA and ESA WORK RELATED ACTIVITY GROUP) NOT actively seeking work due to long term illness or disability, then you should declare yourself as "Not in employement due to illness/disability", or Not working Disabled or Disabled, If you lose this benefit you have to update the insurer and declare as UNEMPLOYED.


The insurer I insured with was Co-op, they gave me a 25% discount for "disabled" employment status, 10% for getting quote online and retaining quote ref number called to clarify employment status and purchased, 5% for referring a friend who purchased insurance also.


some mainstream insurers have the option in the employment status to already declare as illness/disabled to purchase online, some don't have this option so retain a quote ref number call them and ask then If you wish to purchase ask them to apply the online discount, and ask for a discount ontop for being a new customer (if new to them) it may seem cheeky to ask but some have a policy to apply 5-10 discount % just for you asking ontop of what ever else discounts the you may have triggered.


so if "retired illhealth" or "disabled" then use them options, or call them to apply it manually.

Cyclamen

I don't think I am unemployed..yes my health makes me unemployable but I just don't like the term.

I say 'ill health retired' on official forms.. on surveys and non official stuff I am a homemaker.

You could always phone the company before finalising the policy?