Contribution ESA

Kim1965

My partner has circa 3 months to 3yrs life expectancy ( cancer).  Chemotherepy is ongoing until my partner passes, and my partner is unable to work.
Sick pay finishes in a few months, ill health retirement may be approx 8 k pa via a final salary scheme, this will be topped up to the tax allowance via a sipp.
 Can contribution based ESA be claimed? , my partner has been in full time work prior to falling sick, I am in full time work. 

calcotti

New style ESA. He will need Fit Note and SSP1 form to apply, the latter should be issued by employer. 

If he gets the ill health payments while still employed they will be ignored for ESA. If however his employment ends and he is getting an early pension or ill health payments then ESA payable will be reduced by 50% of any payments over £85/week (unless your husband paid over 50% of the cost of the ill health premiums).

Depending on how his health affects him he can also look at Personal Independence Payment.

Alice_Holt

Providing NI contributions in the last 2 years satisfy these conditions :
https://www.entitledto.co.uk/help/employment-and-support-allowance-contribution-based


PIP may also be worth claiming:
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/


It would be worth contacting a Macmillan welfare adviser, who could guide you through the claim process:
https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/get-help/financial-help/welfare-rights-advice

peb

Just to echo Alice's comments about Macmillan, when I was discussing the ESA form with my Macmillan nurse (ESA50 I think) she said that further funds may be available if I wasn't entitled to assistance - the form is straight forward if having chemo/radio therapy and she was fully conversant with it.

Kim1965

Ok, thanks for the info. Not a great situation to be in.