ESA claim

adviceforeveryone

Hi 
This time last year I claimed ESA ( new type) as I was clinically extremely vulnerable, I only received the medical form in Feb this year which i filled in and sent back beginning on March. I have not heard anything back so far, just a letter saying ESA was stopping due to it being 1 year.. it was contribution based ..im not entitled to income based but due to disability cannot work. So besides PIP payments all i got was the ESA payments. Would you assume that they turned me down after getting the form back or that they just have not got round to dealing with it? 

Thanks in advance

calcotti

If you were turned down you would have received a letter saying so. However you cannot be paid for more than 365 days unless you are put in the Support Group. If the assessment decision is to put you in the Support Group your ESA should be reinstated and you will receive an arrears payment.

Have you checked possible entitlement to UC or are you excluded by savings or partner’s earnings?

adviceforeveryone

Thank you for the quick reply...Is it worth ringing to chase up or just play the waiting game? 
Yes not entitled to UC...

calcotti

Obviously you should have been sent the medical questionnaire when you first applied so DWP have been at fault for not sending it for so long. No harm in chasing but they will probably just tell you it is now with the assessor.

MovingForwards

You're a mixed age couple, are there any pension top ups claimable by your husband?

calcotti

MovingForwards said:

You're a mixed age couple, are there any pension top ups claimable by your husband?

Can't see where OP says they are in a MAC but in any case there are no means tested benefits available to a mixed age couple other than Universal Credit and Council Tax Reduction.

calcotti

OP, I've just reread your opening post and realised my original reply was incorrect. If you initially applied solely on the basis you were clinically vulnerable and shielding I am not sure an assessment would have been triggered. That may be why the form has taken a long time to be issued.

Alice_Holt

I'm just wondering if it would be possible for the OP to reapply for nsESA this benefit year, using NI contributions records in the 2019/20, and 2018/19 tax years.
With a 12 week break between this claim ending and a new nsESA claim (so that the application is not linked to the original).
(As OP now unable to work due to disability).
Could this be a possibility ?
 

MovingForwards

calcotti said:

MovingForwards said:

You're a mixed age couple, are there any pension top ups claimable by your husband?

Can't see where OP says they are in a MAC but in any case there are no means tested benefits available to a mixed age couple other than Universal Credit and Council Tax Reduction.

Said it when asking for benefit advice before.

calcotti

Alice_Holt said:

I'm just wondering if it would be possible for the OP to reapply for nsESA this benefit year, using NI contributions records in the 2019/20, and 2018/19 tax years.
With a 12 week break between this claim ending and a new nsESA claim (so that the application is not linked to the original).
(As OP now unable to work due to disability).
Could this be a possibility ?

Hopefully OP will have had an assessment decision before this becomes necessary and may have an ongoing award. If not it's certainly possible (if NI conditions in the relevant years are met).

missie1990

If you were turned down because of the medical form you sent in then they can't do that without a face to face medical if there isn't enough evidence to assess you in paper .