Pregnant and help with ESA

Megz1234

I am currently receiving contribution based ESA as my husband works over 24 hours a week so not entitled to income based.

However I have been reading that once you reach 26/27 weeks pregnancy they change you over to income based or you have to tell them? How does that work if I'm not entitled to income based in the first place

People are telling me to not tell them and stay on contribution based?

I am 25 weeks pregnant so not got long! Thanks

Megz1234

It's all over the Internet and some other forum women posted. I have been on esa since October last year and still not had an assessment or placed in a group so only getting £73 a week. Should I be phoning them and telling them im not in a group yet? Thanks

TELLIT01

Pregnancy itself is not grounds to claim ESA. You would claim ESA on the ground of pregnancy related illness. I'm certainly not aware of any rule which states that a person would have to move from Conts to IR if they are pregnant. As far as I'm aware there is a 52 week period for Conts entitlement unless the claimant is placed in the Support Group.
If you're going to call them to chase up your assessment you can certainly ask the question about your concern.

Alice_Holt

Megz1234 wrote: »

I am currently receiving contribution based ESA as my husband works over 24 hours a week so not entitled to income based.

However I have been reading that once you reach 26/27 weeks pregnancy they change you over to income based......

I think there may be a potential change from ESA to Maternity Allowance.
You would not move from CB to IB based ESA, unless you have reached the 365 days limit.

This is from Maternity Action, which seems to indicate that you may continue to receive CB-ESA if not eligible for Maternity Allowance.
https://www.maternityaction.org.uk/advice-2/mums-dads-scenarios/pregnant-and-benefits/money-for-parents-and-babies/

"Contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance....
....ESA is paid to people who are unable to work because of illness or disability, and who have paid/been credited with enough National Insurance contributions. If you are pregnant but do not qualify for Statutory Maternity Pay or Maternity Allowance (see above), but have paid National Insurance contributions in the last few years, you may be able to claim ESA while you are pregnant.
Women are automatically treated as having “limited capability for work” because of pregnancy from six weeks before the baby’s due date to two weeks after the baby is born or where there is serious risk to her health or that of her baby whilst she is pregnant.

Normally CB-ESA can be paid for up to 365 days, after which you will be means tested for IB-ESA. If you are placed in the Support Group then CB-ESA payments can continue.

On what basis where you assessed as being eligible for ESA?

If you are claiming contribution-based ESA during your pregnancy because there is a risk to you or your baby’s health during pregnancy if you worked, then it may be that 2 weeks after birth you may need to look at claiming Maternity Allowance in place of ESA , However, this is supposition on my part so I suggest you contact Maternity Action for advice - this is the page with details of their contact helpline - https://www.maternityaction.org.uk/advice-2/advice-line/

Remember that you may be eligible for Child Tax Credits for your baby.

Some more info here:
http://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/forum1?view=topic&catid=10&id=100527

And info on Maternity Allowance here:
https://www.gov.uk/maternity-allowance/overview
"You can claim Maternity Allowance as soon as you’ve been pregnant for 26 weeks...."
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/children-and-young-people/benefits-for-families-and-children/#h-maternity-benefits

You could get advice from your local CAB as well as contacting Maternity Action.