Angry re ESA

Mrshatch77

I have worked all my life since i was 15 years old. In the past couple of years my health has deteriorated. At the time this all started my full time job made me redundant so I decided that rather than going on disability benefits I would lower my hours and go part time as I wanted to work as long as I could. Sadly four years on my condition got worse and I had to my hours to 8 per week which ive done for the past year. Now it's got so bad that I am off on term sick. My SSP has finished but I thought I would be OK as I was told I could get ESA by my employer. I applied and was turned down because over the past year I've not paid NI. I am furious that they only take the past year into consideration and it doesn't matter thAt I worked all my life and paid NI all
Those years. Now I am not getting paid and not getting any help except housing benefit, tax credits and PIP which I've had for almost two years. I am now £250 down per month. I feel it is totally wrong and feel like writing to my MP. :mad:

PersianCatLady

I applied and was turned down because over the past year I've not paid NI.
Ok so you haven't really provided many details here but I presume that you were turned down for Contribution Based ESA (C-ESA).


I can't understand why you either didn't claim or get awarded Income Based ESA (I-ESA) when your claim for C-ESA was rejected.


Here is some further information about ESA because at the moment I cannot understand what happened -


http://www.entitledto.co.uk/help/employment-and-support-allowance


https://www.turn2us.org.uk/Benefit-guides/Employment-and-Support-Allowance/What-is-Employment-and-Support-Allowance#guide-content


https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/employment-and-support-allowance/

NeilCr

Contact your local CAB and get their views.

I am afraid your employer is unlikely to know the ins and outs of ESA

Londonsu

Mrshatch77 wrote: »

I have worked all my life since i was 15 years old. In the past couple of years my health has deteriorated. At the time this all started my full time job made me redundant so I decided that rather than going on disability benefits I would lower my hours and go part time as I wanted to work as long as I could. Sadly four years on my condition got worse and I had to my hours to 8 per week which ive done for the past year. Now it's got so bad that I am off on term sick. My SSP has finished but I thought I would be OK as I was told I could get ESA by my employer. I applied and was turned down because over the past year I've not paid NI. I am furious that they only take the past year into consideration and it doesn't matter thAt I worked all my life and paid NI all
Those years. Now I am not getting paid and not getting any help except housing benefit, tax credits and PIP which I've had for almost two years. I am now £250 down per month. I feel it is totally wrong and feel like writing to my MP. :mad:

Those are the rules for contribution based ESA/JSA I am afraid writing to your MP will not change anything.


Instead of being furious about not getting something you are not entitled to, concentrate on claiming what you may be entitled to Income base ESA would be a good start, PCL has provided good links to help you

Diary

Whoever told you its the past year that qualifies you for ni contribution esa is not telling you the truth. However, it doesn't matter in your case as the past year IS one of the qualifying years. Why have you got this fixation and anger surrounding contribution based ESA?

Based on the little information you've given you would get income based esa and the money is exactly the same as contribution/ ni based ESA.

Out of interest what do you think your MP would do about this very strict legislation?

sangie595

Perhaps, since this is Mrshatch77, there is a Mrhatch77? So they don't qualify for mean tested benefits?

seven-day-weekend

I suppose it's like paying for contents insurance for twenty years and not claiming on it, then you cancel it. While you are not paying it, your house gets burgled.

The insurance company won't pay out because you have not paid any premiums at the right time, despite having paid them for twenty years previously.

See what other Benefits you might be able to claim here:

https://www.turn2us.org.uk/Find-Benefits-Grants

Bogalot

not getting any help except housing benefit, tax credits and PIP which I've had for almost two years

How much does all that "not getting any help" add up to? What is your household situation, any other income?

You would be unrealistic to expect ESA to cover your working income. In fact, if you're only down £250 a month then ESA would put you over your usual income.

chrisbur

A bit limited on information at the moment. Can you advise the NI details from your P60s for years ending April 2015 and April 2014?

Mrshatch77

Yes I am married and my husband works so I cannot get income related. I am only angry because if I had stopped working four years ago when I was first off sick, which I could of rather than trying my best and carrying on part time I would of been eligible. It just feels that people who slate disabled who work part time due to health reasons then cannot get ESA because working part time doesn't pay enough NI, so sometimes carrying on working makes you worse off, that's all
I was saying.

Mrshatch77

Also my daughter has just started an appretaship so I am not just £250 down I am also not getting tax credit or child benefit for her so I am actually £500 down literally overnight. She doesn't earn much so can only give me £150 a month rent. I get PIP but it's only standard rate but my disability has got worse so I'm reapplying hoping to get the higher rate