Contribution based ESA & Partner

longleggedhair

Just a quick question, which I have found impossible to find the answer to online! I'm currently looking into claiming cont based ESA. I won't qualify for income based due to savings levels.

I have a partner who lives with me & works p/t and on low income. Am I entitled to claim cont based ESA (I have the 2 years NI contributions), will my claim be affected?

[Deleted User]

Income and savings don’t count for contributions based benefits. You can claim so long as you have the ni contributions.

longleggedhair

Thanks Shel, my question was more around does having a working partner affect my eligibility?

Torry_Quine

longleggedhair wrote: »

Thanks Shel, my question was more around does having a working partner affect my eligibility?

No a working partner doesn't affect eligibility for contributions based ESA. However unless in the support group it will only be for one year at which point household income is taken into consideration for income based ESA.

longleggedhair

Torry_Quine wrote: »

No a working partner doesn't affect eligibility for contributions based ESA. However unless in the support group it will only be for one year at which point household income is taken into consideration for income based ESA.

Thanks Torry, I've done the online assessment, and according to that I should qualify for the support group, but as we know things don't always go the way they should!

Thanks for the info, I just wanted to make sure I was 100% above board.