Benefit advice for someone who came off due to inheritance/savings

Jaskon

I came off ESA support group (long term sickness) at an annoying time when they were about to transfer me to UC (created an account and everything)  But I found out I was to receive some the inheritance money the month after, that would take me over saving limit so had no choice but to cancel my ESA and obviously the UC claim.

Just living off that money right now, but I'm dreading trying to get back on it. I imagine I have to start the entire process from scratch, but this time with UC.  Go for re-assessment, see GP etc...

Unless I'm mistaken and there is something in place for people in my situation that came off due to going over the saving limits?

Thanks for any advice. 

 

 

Muttleythefrog

Did you have an underlying entitlement to contribution based ESA or was it only income related you could qualify for. (If you worked in the 2 years before claiming you may have qualified for c-based ESA which is not means tested)

In my mind I can't think of any options otherwise until savings below £16k

Jaskon

Muttleythefrog said:

Did you have an underlying entitlement to contribution based ESA or was it only income related you could qualify for. (If you worked in the 2 years before claiming you may have qualified for c-based ESA which is not means tested)

I only qualified for income related if I remember correctly. Anyway I've been off ESA since Jan, quite some time now.  Income slowly going down, tho just living normal not throwing it away.  Technically you can be on if you're under 16k right but reduced payment. I always had mine under 6k.  

Spoonie_Turtle

Darn, you could have kept your support group status even if you had no contributions-based ESA entitlement by keeping your claim open for NI credits only even if you weren't entitled to any payments, then that would have meant not having to go through it all again (unless they decided to reassess you anyway but just as a normal part of having a long-term claim).

How long ago did you close your claim, just for context?  I don't think there's anything you can do about it now but just in case any more knowledgeable member knows of anything.

Jaskon

Spoonie_Turtle said:

Darn, you could have kept your support group status even if you had no contributions-based ESA entitlement by keeping your claim open for NI credits only even if you weren't entitled to any payments, then that would have meant not having to go through it all again (unless they decided to reassess you anyway but just as a normal part of having a long-term claim).

How long ago did you close your claim, just for context?  I don't think there's anything you can do about it now but just in case any more knowledgeable member knows of anything.

I close in mid January

i was on ESA income based support group, not contribution based

I'm confused. I thought you literally had to get off benefit, they can't just pause payments and stay on benefit (without any money). You're not entitled to any.

Jaskon

Looks like I'm screwed then. I just looked at my balance and I'm under 16k in savings now too.   

Jaskon

Out of interest I asked chatgpt (not exactly reliable)

ChatGPT: 

If you’d asked DWP to keep your ESA open for National Insurance credits only, they might have left your Support Group status in place and just stopped payments.
But that’s rare and hit-or-miss depending on the advisor — and many ESA staff won’t even mention that option unless you specifically ask.

So yes, in an ideal world, you could have said:

“I understand I’m not entitled to payments because of capital, but can you please leave my ESA claim open for NI credits only?”

That might have let you retain Support Group status for later.
But again — few people know this, and the DWP rarely offer it.
So you didn’t really “mess up” — you just acted on the standard advice they usually give.

Torry_Quine

Jaskon said:

Spoonie_Turtle said:

Darn, you could have kept your support group status even if you had no contributions-based ESA entitlement by keeping your claim open for NI credits only even if you weren't entitled to any payments, then that would have meant not having to go through it all again (unless they decided to reassess you anyway but just as a normal part of having a long-term claim).

How long ago did you close your claim, just for context?  I don't think there's anything you can do about it now but just in case any more knowledgeable member knows of anything.

I close in mid January

i was on ESA income based support group, not contribution based

I'm confused. I thought you literally had to get off benefit, they can't just pause payments and stay on benefit (without any money). You're not entitled to any.

I've been on an ESA claim for NI credits for several years as too much savings 

Jaskon

Torry_Quine said:

Jaskon said:

Spoonie_Turtle said:

Darn, you could have kept your support group status even if you had no contributions-based ESA entitlement by keeping your claim open for NI credits only even if you weren't entitled to any payments, then that would have meant not having to go through it all again (unless they decided to reassess you anyway but just as a normal part of having a long-term claim).

How long ago did you close your claim, just for context?  I don't think there's anything you can do about it now but just in case any more knowledgeable member knows of anything.

I close in mid January

i was on ESA income based support group, not contribution based

I'm confused. I thought you literally had to get off benefit, they can't just pause payments and stay on benefit (without any money). You're not entitled to any.

I've been on an ESA claim for NI credits for several years as too much savings 

contribution  or income based?  

Jaskon

 I looked to see if my UC account (to transfer to ESA to UC but never went through with it after I received inheritance )  was still around, looks like they must have deleted it since I was  able to create new account with same email.   Given I have under 16k,  I best start to reclaim.

Once you fill out all the info on  UC site,  I imagine they phone you up and discuss your situation more? then I can explain what's happened. 

Spoonie_Turtle

It's technically claiming NI credits on the basis of limited capability for work, which is administered via ESA (rather than JSA, which would be for people claiming NI credits for looking for work).

You're correct for UC that you can't stay on it without payments if it's due to a fundamental ineligibility, and sort of for income-based ESA as well - it would have been a bit like 'converting' your income-based ESA claim to a credits-only claim.

As your savings are now below £16k you could make a claim for UC.  Edit: didn't see the previous post while typing!  The hassle of going through the health assessment is a necessary evil at this point, but if you only have your savings to live on then you'll have to claim again sooner or later, and there's not much point using a bigger chunk of savings to live off than you need to.