ESA....end of my tether

Please can anyone help. In November 2012 I was assessed to go from IB to ESA, after filling in and examination I was awarded ESA contribution based, for 2 years.
On 30 December 2013 I went to post office to get some money out and to my horror, there was none. I immediately logged onto your site to find it was closed (forum) till 6th jan. I was unable to speak to to anyone until 2nd jean, when people returned to work. I have been informed I now have to fill a book in to claim ESA income related and ask for backdate to 27 nov 2013.
I have an ill health pension and DLA, my question is, is it worth filling in the book for them to say no and is there a cut off re household income where they will pay nothing?
As things stand at present will my reassessment come in nov 2014 or if I fill this book in, is it classed as a new claim?
Can anyone give me any positive info, for 20 years on IB I had no problems whatsoever, in 12 months I have become a total nervous, disabled wreck.
I was infd they used to send out a letter before the end of the first year but they don't anymore, where has my 2 year award gone. I really am at the end of my tether.

FunkyDudley wrote: Please can anyone help. In November 2012 I was assessed to go from IB to ESA, after filling in and examination I was awarded ESA contribution based, for 2 years.
On 30 December 2013 I went to post office to get some money out and to my horror, there was none. I immediately logged onto your site to find it was closed (forum) till 6th jan. I was unable to speak to to anyone until 2nd jean, when people returned to work. I have been informed I now have to fill a book in to claim ESA income related and ask for backdate to 27 nov 2013.
I have an ill health pension and DLA, my question is, is it worth filling in the book for them to say no and is there a cut off re household income where they will pay nothing?
As things stand at present will my reassessment come in nov 2014 or if I fill this book in, is it classed as a new claim?
Can anyone give me any positive info, for 20 years on IB I had no problems whatsoever, in 12 months I have become a total nervous, disabled wreck.
I was infd they used to send out a letter before the end of the first year but they don't anymore, where has my 2 year award gone. I really am at the end of my tether.

Hi FD,

Welcome to Benefits and Work

It looks very much like you were placed in The WRAG of ESA, on being migrated from IB.

As you were entitled to Contribution Based (CB) ESA only, it does not matter how long the prognosis of the award is. (in your case 2 years)

How often will I be reviewed

If a claimant is not placed into The Support Group, (SG) they are only entitled to 365 days payment of CB ESA, this is why your payments have ceased. :

12 Month Limit for ESA(CB)

The "book" that you speak of sounds like an ESA 3 financial assessment form.

This is used to see whether you can pass the "means test" with respect to capital, assets, savings and household income.

If you do pass the means test, you may be entitled to Income Related (IR) ESA payments, and payment of your ESA would be reinstated from the date that your CB ESA ceased.

Asset rule for ESA(IR)

24 hour work rule for ESA(IR)

Your DLA will not be counted as income with regards to the IR ESA means test, but any occupational pension that you are in receipt of, will.

It may be advisable to fill in The ESA 3 Form and return it to The DWP, as even if you are only entitled to 1 Pence of IR ESA, this can passport you to other benefits.

Further, if your DLA includes MR/HR Care, being entitled to IR ESA may also mean that you are entitled to premiums. :

ESA Premiums

The 2 year prognosis for your WRAG award should still stand, and you can expect to receive a new ESA50 for a reassessment a couple of months before the end of the 2 year prognosis period, i.e. circa Aug/Sept 2014.

If you are not entitled to any IR ESA, your assessment of Limited Capability for Work (LCW) in The WRAG will remain until you are reassessed.

This will mean that even though you will not receive any monies, you will receive NI Credits towards your State Pension.

You would still have to undergo periodic reassessments, but you would not have to comply with any Work Related Activity requirements.

The advantage of keeping your ESA claim live, (NI credits only) and maintaining an assessment of LCW, is that if you deteriorate, and are placed into The SG, your payments of CB ESA would be reinstated.

Please re-post to this topic if you have further queries.

bro58