Claiming New Style ESA

housebuyer143

My dad died in December and my mum who is 62 has no income, no job but too many savings as my dad just drew all his pensions. She can't get any UC because of this.
She has been a carer for her elderly mother for 3 years and she is now in a care home and carers will end, at the end of Feb.

I thought about her applying for New Style ESA as it does not appear to have a savings limit and while she would like to work in the future, she is completely grief stricken and it is not possible for her to at this time.

Am I right in thinking that if she gets a fit note from the Dr, then she would be eligible for this? Do the Class 1 NI credits from carers count?

If so, what's the process for claiming? Is it a case as in you quality and therefore you are guaranteed to get it and its just the amount in dispute or is it like PIP where you apply and you have to go through assessment before someone decides if you are eligible? 

p00hsticks

I may be wrong but I think the qualifying criteria include having to have paid some NI, not just gained credits via other benefits....

If she's not been employed or self employed in the last few years I don't think she will be eligible. 

housebuyer143

p00hsticks said:

I may be wrong but I think the qualifying criteria include having to have paid some NI, not just gained credits via other benefits....

If she's not been employed or self employed in the last few years I don't think she will be eligible. 

The Gov.uk website only make mention of class 1 NI contributions, so that's what I was hoping to have confirmed. 
My mum seems like someone that ESA is aimed at. Was working caring for her mum, but now is too unwell to work either doing that or paid employment. 

KxMx

Yes, Carers Allowance gives Class 1 NI Contributions. These count towards eligibility for New Style ESA. 

She will need to apply with a Fit Note, and go through a medical assessment 

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-style-employment-and-support-allowance

pmlindyloo

It may be easier for your mum to apply for new style JSA as I believe that she would have no work commitments for a period of time because of her bereavement.

There is a similar thread here:

After Carers allowance stops — MoneySavingExpert Forum

It is difficult to find detailed information about Carer's Allowance NI contributions being used to meet the NI contributions needed to claim either new style ESA/JSA without the need for some NI contributions having been paid through employment (I don't think the previous link clarifies this)

It might be sensible to contact Citizens Advice or AgeUK to see if they can advise.

KxMx

CA gives Class 1 NI. 

https://www.gov.uk/national-insurance-credits/eligibility 


Eligibility for NS ESA depends on sufficient NI paid in the last 2 tax years. 

Presumably OP's mum has had Class 1 credits paid for those two years via Carers Allowance. 

housebuyer143

KxMx said:

Yes, Carers Allowance gives Class 1 NI Contributions. These count towards eligibility for New Style ESA. 

She will need to apply with a Fit Note, and go through a medical assessment 

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-style-employment-and-support-allowance

Do you need a medical assessment from DWP to pass and get the benefit or is that assessment just used to determine if you are in the ESA support group or working group? 
Does the fit note from a Dr make you eligible or does the medical assessment decide that? 

I just want my mum to go in with the facts as she is very fragile right now and she will want to know if she risks a "no" outcome.

KxMx

The Fit Note is needed to claim, the assessment decides your eligibility.

The WCA has 3 outcomes:
Fit for Work (NS ESA then stops) 
Work Related Activity Group (NS ESA stops after 1 year) 
Support Group (carries on until a fit for work decision). 

housebuyer143

KxMx said:

The Fit Note is needed to claim, the assessment decides your eligibility.

The WCA has 3 outcomes:
Fit for Work (NS ESA then stops) 
Work Related Activity Group (NS ESA stops after 1 year) 
Support Group (carries on until a fit for work decision). 

Ok thank you. I'll let her know then that the assessment is very important. 

I hope they don't grill her too much, although if they do the changes are high she will spend most the call crying so it will support her fit note 👍 

It will be good for her to have some money coming in, just to help minimise her stress. They were living on my dad's pension previously 

KxMx

Definitely advise her to get help filling in the ESA50 form from a local welfare rights organisation.

https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/employment-and-support-allowance/esa-glossary/support-group-descriptors

https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/employment-and-support-allowance/esa-glossary/work-related-activity-group-descriptors

housebuyer143

KxMx said:

Definitely advise her to get help filling in the ESA50 form from a local welfare rights organisation.

https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/employment-and-support-allowance/esa-glossary/support-group-descriptors

https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/employment-and-support-allowance/esa-glossary/work-related-activity-group-descriptors

This is great! I see a few things which get her enough points for working group and probably the support group. I'll save these and refer back to them