Entitlment To Contribution Based ESA?

Mark1945

Hi

My wife has received carers allowance for many years looking after our autistic son, before that she worked as a nurse for about 15 years. Now due to her failing health, she now receives PIP enhanced care/mobility.

She and I are not entitled to any benefit that is means tested.

Recently at a meeting at our local CAB office, the advisor asked if my wife had claimed ESA. I am not sure if my wife would be entitled to Contribution Based ESA or Income-related ESA as she is unable to work. But if she was entitled the advisor was unsure if the pension credit my wife gets via carers allowance would entitle her to Contribution Based ESA which is not means tested?

Plus would claiming for ESA and if then entitled getting it, affect her PIP/Carers allowance?

Unsure what to do!

Thanks in advance for any help. :beer:

Torry_Quine

Mark1945 wrote: »

Hi

My wife has received carers allowance for many years looking after our autistic son, before that she worked as a nurse for about 15 years. Now due to her failing health, she now receives PIP enhanced care/mobility.

She and I are not entitled to any benefit that is means tested.

Recently at a meeting at our local CAB office, the advisor asked if my wife had claimed ESA. I am not sure if my wife would be entitled to Contribution Based ESA or Income-related ESA as she is unable to work. But if she was entitled the advisor was unsure if the pension credit my wife gets via carers allowance would entitle her to Contribution Based ESA which is not means tested?

Plus would claiming for ESA and if then entitled getting it, affect her PIP/Carers allowance?

Unsure what to do!

Thanks in advance for any help. :beer:

She won't be entitled to contribution ESA as she hasn't been working and paying NI. It wouldn't have made any real difference anyway as both ESA and carers allowance can't be paid together.

PIP would be unaffected

Alice_Holt

Is your wife over State Pension Age?
If so this rules her out for ESA.
https://www.gov.uk/employment-support-allowance/eligibility

The receipt of Pension Credit would not bring an entitlement to CB ESA.
CB ESA is assessed on NI paid in the 2 tax years previous to claiming.
https://www.entitledto.co.uk/help/employment-and-support-allowance-contribution-based

These conditions can be relaxed in certain circumstances where a carer has paid NI contributions immediately before taking on caring responsibilities.

ESA would not affect her PIP, but it would affect her CA and any Pension Credit she is receiving.

Torry_Quine

Alice_Holt wrote: »

Is your wife over State Pension Age?
If so this rules her out for ESA.
https://www.gov.uk/employment-support-allowance/eligibility

The receipt of Pension Credit would not bring an entitlement to CB ESA.
CB ESA is assessed on NI paid in the 2 tax years previous to claiming.
https://www.entitledto.co.uk/help/employment-and-support-allowance-contribution-based

These conditions can be relaxed in certain circumstances where a carer has paid NI contributions immediately before taking on caring responsibilities.

ESA would not affect her PIP, but it would affect her CA and any Pension Credit she is receiving.

I read it not that she is receiving pension credit but that she receives her NI credits towards her state pension

Alice_Holt

Torry_Quine wrote: »

I read it not that she is receiving pension credit but that she receives her NI credits towards her state pension

Ah yes . Thanks.

Mark1945

I read it not that she is receiving pension credit but that she receives her NI credits towards her state pension

Yes, when she started on carers allowance we were told her state pension would be safe as she would receive NI credits towards her state pension.

Wife not state pension age.

Thanks

sheramber

Carers credit only gives NI credit for State Pension.