Esa ?

sheilavw

My Husband had hip replacement 23/1. He completed a Self certification form and then I dropped in a 6 week sick note the hospital gave him on the 29/1 (he was in 8 days due to complications). He is on a zero hour contract and works 2 days a week normally. We heard nothing and on the 28/2 when he would normally be paid he didnt get anything. He rang and they said we should have had a form through. As his average earning was £110 he couldnt get SSP. After spending much of the day yesterday he was told to go to Gov uk and fill a form in for Universal Credit? I work full time but he had to put it as a joint claim? it said at the end if entitled will receive a payment in 37 days?
Is this a replacement for ESA? Confused?

TELLIT01

Any entitlement to ESA Conts will be based on his NI contributions in the last 2 full tax years. Was he doing the same work then i.e zero hours and similar earnings, or in a job with higher pay?

sheilavw

Thanks, he changed to this job due to health issues. He's worked there since jul 2016. previously he worked as hgv driver but was off for a few months before he left. he got ssp then about 4 weeks esa before he started his new job. I dont remember it being so complicated then, someone did his claim over the phone and I wasnt involved. He has paid NI contributions where applicable, some months nothing due because he doesnt earn very much.

poppy12345

First thing to do is check his NI contributions here.
https://www.gov.uk/check-national-insurance-record

Then check if you area is a full UC area here.
https://ucpostcode.entitledto.co.uk/ucdate

If you're arera is a full UC area and he's paid enough NI contributions in the last 2 years then he should claim New Style CB ESA and not UC.

A claim for UC will take your earning into consideration and will affect the amount he can claim because it's a means tested benefit.

sheilavw

Thanks, we are in a UC area. I work full time so dont expect or want anything! he is just hoping he can get the £72 or whatever it is!!

sheilavw

Thanks Poppy, checked the site.41 full years! only year not full is 2016 to 2017,

TELLIT01

Unless things have changed again in the past couple of years, a simple check on NI contributions doesn't tell the whole story for ESA Conts entitlement. It's not the amount of NI contribution, it's the number of weeks in which NI contributions were made which matters for ESA.

Alice_Holt

sheilavw wrote: »

Thanks, we are in a UC area. I work full time so dont expect or want anything! he is just hoping he can get the £72 or whatever it is!!

Then I doubt that, as a couple, you would get any means-tested UC payments.
The basic couple rate is £500 pm.
Try a UC calculator to check - https://www.entitledto.co.uk/

Instead, I would suggest your husband applies for New Style (Contribution-Based) ESA
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-style-employment-and-support-allowance
and see if his NI contributions over the last 2 tax years are sufficient or not.
https://www.entitledto.co.uk/help/employment-and-support-allowance-contribution-based
(Per poppy above)

sheilavw

Yes that is all he wants to apply for but it asked if married so he had to put me down. He just wants to claim the ESA or Universal credit or whatever it is called in this area. It said at the end he should know in 37 days, his first sick day (operation date) was 23/1. His employer said they sent a letter weeks ago, and a replacement form but neither received yet!

poppy12345

sheilavw wrote: »

Yes that is all he wants to apply for but it asked if married so he had to put me down. He just wants to claim the ESA or Universal credit or whatever it is called in this area. It said at the end he should know in 37 days, his first sick day (operation date) was 23/1. His employer said they sent a letter weeks ago, and a replacement form but neither received yet!

As Alice has stated in post #9 with you working full time it's doubtful he'll be entlted to much, if any UC because it's a a means tested benefit. Means tested benefits take your income into consideration as well.

It will be New style contributions based ESA that he needs to apply for providing his has enough NI contribution in the last 2 tax years.

Alice_Holt

sheilavw wrote: »

Yes that is all he wants to apply for but it asked if married so he had to put me down. He just wants to claim the ESA or Universal credit or whatever it is called in this area. It said at the end he should know in 37 days, his first sick day (operation date) was 23/1. His employer said they sent a letter weeks ago, and a replacement form but neither received yet!

It sounds like he has applied for Universal Credit. This is a means tested benefit, and it may well be that your household will not be eligible for UC due to your income.

Have you checked a UC calculator to see if any UC payments are due - https://www.entitledto.co.uk/ / https://benefits-calculator.turn2us.org.uk/AboutYou ?

The benefit I'm suggesting he applies for is New Style ESA. This is not means tested, but depends on his NI contributions. Please carefully read the earlier posts and the links I posted.
These are different benefits, with different eligibility criteria. You need to apply for the correct benefit - an application for UC will not bring your husband an award of Contribution Based (New Style) ESA.