Why another assessment

Fiona143

I have been in receipt of PIP from May last year, I have been signed off my work since end of February 2019 and still currently under the doctor. I have been referred to receive ill health retiral through OH just waiting for the final paperwork to go through. In the meantime I had to go to jobcentre and was told to apply for ESA rather than UC, I had to fill in a questionnaire similar to PIP application which I did I have now to attend an assessment for my claim to go ahead? Why do I have to go through ANOTHER interrogation when I already had a PIP one already? If they had let me receive UC I would have been getting some money by now...Also I am led to believe once I start getting My ill health retiral pension payments I will no longer get ESA... I'm at my wits end as I am not getting anything at all apart from my pip.:(

Spoonie_Turtle

The Work Capability Assessment has different criteria from PIP - there is some overlap, but they have different contexts and therefore need to be assessed separately.

I know you've already filled in the form but https://wcainfo.net/ may still be helpful just to get your head around each area.

[Deleted User]

Fiona143 wrote: »

I have been in receipt of PIP from May last year, I have been signed off my work since end of February 2019 and still currently under the doctor. I have been referred to receive ill health retiral through OH just waiting for the final paperwork to go through. In the meantime I had to go to jobcentre and was told to apply for ESA rather than UC, I had to fill in a questionnaire similar to PIP application which I did I have now to attend an assessment for my claim to go ahead? Why do I have to go through ANOTHER interrogation when I already had a PIP one already? If they had let me receive UC I would have been getting some money by now...Also I am led to believe once I start getting My ill health retiral pension payments I will no longer get ESA... I'm at my wits end as I am not getting anything at all apart from my pip.:(

Each benefit has its own rules, eligibility criteria and requires assessment that you fit that criteria. An assessment for pip doesn't look at your ability to work.

Alice_Holt

New Style ESA is based on NI contributions.
https://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/how-much-contributory-esa

UC is means tested against household income.

You can apply for both (i.e. when you have rental costs).

Do you have a partner who is earning? Savings over £6k?

Your pension would be taken from UC £ for £.
There is a different treatment under New Style ESA - google New Style ESA and pensions

If you want more info, then you need to give us more info and tell us your circumstances; or visit your local advice charity. ATM your OP is more a rant than a question.

Fiona143

It was a rant.....what a lot of grief for peanuts, I've worked and paid into this corrupt system since I was 15, I was happy enough to go for UC but the woman at the job centre said ESA was the best road to go down,

she also said UC had to be claimed as a couple as I have a partner who stays with me but on reading up about this she give me wrong info, I am entitled to claim separately so I believe.


I will phone my local citizens advice see what they recommend I do for the best. It's all so frustrating and disheartening to say the least.

Rubyroobs

Fiona143 wrote: »

It was a rant.....what a lot of grief for peanuts, I've worked and paid into this corrupt system since I was 15, I was happy enough to go for UC but the woman at the job centre said ESA was the best road to go down,

she also said UC had to be claimed as a couple as I have a partner who stays with me but on reading up about this she give me wrong info, I am entitled to claim separately so I believe.


I will phone my local citizens advice see what they recommend I do for the best. It's all so frustrating and disheartening to say the least.

It would depend if you and your partner are financially linked in any way , does she contribute financially to your household etc.
There are two different assessments to go through because you are claiming two different benefits. ESA is assessing your capability for work and PIP is assessing how your illness/ disability affects your daily living and mobility. Many disabled people in receipt of PIP can and do work.

Spoonie_Turtle

Fiona143 wrote: »

It was a rant.....what a lot of grief for peanuts, I've worked and paid into this corrupt system since I was 15, I was happy enough to go for UC but the woman at the job centre said ESA was the best road to go down,

she also said UC had to be claimed as a couple as I have a partner who stays with me but on reading up about this she give me wrong info, I am entitled to claim separately so I believe.


I will phone my local citizens advice see what they recommend I do for the best. It's all so frustrating and disheartening to say the least.

UC would have had an assessment exactly the same as ESA, only functional difference is that you may not have got a very good work coach and may have had to fight just to get the work requirements turned off. Alternatively you might have had one that's just fine and called you in to the Jobcentre for the bare minimum.

Don't you get the assessment rate of ESA until a decision is made? It's exactly the same as the weekly UC rate for a single person (but claiming as a couple, your partner's income would have been taken into account so could well have ended up a lower payment anyway).

Alice_Holt

Fiona143 wrote: »

she also said UC had to be claimed as a couple as I have a partner who stays with me but on reading up about this she give me wrong info, I am entitled to claim separately so I believe.

She is likely to be correct. UC looks at household income, not just yours.
You may have to go to appeal to challenge any UC living together as man and wife decision.
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/661551/adme4.pdf

New style ESA is not means tested, so will not look at household income or savings. It depends on your NI contributions. Have you looked at the links?
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-style-employment-and-support-allowance

To get advice from Citizens Advice (a charity staffed mainly by volunteers), you will need a face to face appointment and will need to disclose all your circumstances. It is far too complicated to do over the phone. Benefits are not simple.

Do you rent?

Fiona143

Yes I rent we pay half each of every outgoing household bills but now he's having to pay the lot and he has his own commitments like child support and finance on a car. To date I've not had a single penny from them and the woman that dealt with me at the job centre was not very helpful.


I was under the impression because I've worked all my life it's an individual claim it's nothing to do with my partner I've paid my NI contributions and Income tax so can't see how they can bring his earnings into it?


It's causing a lot of stress between us that this is happening. I shudder to think what would happen if I didn't have a partner as they seem to be dragging their heels..and still nothing money wise since I claimed the beginning of december. I'd love to tell them to shove it but until my ill health retiral payments start I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place and I've no idea when that will be forthcoming.

poppy12345

Fiona143 wrote: »

Yes I rent we pay half each of every outgoing household bills but now he's having to pay the lot and he has his own commitments like child support and finance on a car. To date I've not had a single penny from them and the woman that dealt with me at the job centre was not very helpful.


I was under the impression because I've worked all my life it's an individual claim it's nothing to do with my partner I've paid my NI contributions and Income tax so can't see how they can bring his earnings into it?


It's causing a lot of stress between us that this is happening. I shudder to think what would happen if I didn't have a partner as they seem to be dragging their heels..and still nothing money wise since I claimed the beginning of december. I'd love to tell them to shove it but until my ill health retiral payments start I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place and I've no idea when that will be forthcoming.

New style ESA is not means tested and your partner earnings are not counted but this doesn't exclude you from the work capability assessment and neither does your P|IP award.



You should be receiving £73.10 per week assessment rate for your ESA. Regardless of you working and paying your NI contributions this doesn't automatically entitle you to limited capability for work.



Claiming UC because it's means tested would mean you will need to claim as a couple with your partner and their earnings will be taken into consideration. You may not even be entitled to any UC that will totally depend on your circumstances.



I realise you're angry but this isn't going to help. Why haven't you received any ESA payments? Are you claiming SSP from your employer?

Alice_Holt

Fiona143 wrote: »

I was under the impression because I've worked all my life it's an individual claim it's nothing to do with my partner I've paid my NI contributions and Income tax so can't see how they can bring his earnings into it?

Right..
Please go back to my first post:

Breath slowly, disperse your anger, and concentrate on what you should do.

New Style ESA is based on your NI contributions.
It does not take into account your partners income
https://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/how-much-contributory-esa

This is not means tested (similar to PIP). Have you claimed this?
What is the status of your claim?
As poppy has asked - are you currently receiving SSP?
Are you supplying "fit notes" to the jobcentre?
Have you checked your NI contributions in the last 2 tax years?
PLEASE read the links supplied, slowly and carefully.
https://www.gov.uk/how-to-claim-new-style-esa
https://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/how-much-contributory-esa
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/employment-and-support-allowance/before-you-apply-for-esa/eligiblility-for-esa/

Info on the ESA50 form:
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/employment-and-support-allowance/help-with-your-esa-claim/fill-in-form/
https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/employment-and-support-allowance/start-the-esa-test

Am I wasting my time giving you this info?

UC is means tested against household income.
If you live with someone, then you are treated as a couple for UC.
https://www.entitledto.co.uk/help/single-couple-benefits
The income, and savings for both you and your partner will be taken into account.

Try this calculator using joint income to see if any means tested UC can be paid on your joint income:
https://www.entitledto.co.uk/benefits-calculator/Intro/Home?cid=68d0d60b-873f-4c2d-bad3-6422c4fde582