IF ESA IS STOPPED NEXT YEAR - WHAT NEXT!

if you fall just outside the criteria for IR WRAG after 12 months CB but qualify for ESA wrag because you aren't fit to work then surely you couldn't even claim JSA because you're not fit to work?
linda

Indeed

pete17971 wrote:

mike1983 wrote:

Gordon wrote:

mike1983 wrote:

so everyone claiming ESA will get stopped after 12 months or in april next year

Everyone receiving Contribution Based ESA who have been in the WRAG for 12 months will lose their eligibility for ESA(CB), but will remain eligible to receive Income Related ESA, subject to a means test involving assets, income, and partners working hours.

Anyone already receiving ESA(IR) or in the Support Group will not be affected.

Gordon

What so all of us on IB benefit, when we claim ESA if we get put in wrag we either have to claim JSA or just starve cos we have no money, i have yet to recive my for and im worried that i wont be put in support group for mental health issues like autism,depression,epilepsy, if this is wrong please explain in simple terms

Hi,

it is difficult to put it any simpler as ESA can be so complex, not least complicated by the proposals in the Welfare Reform Bill 2011.

However, as proposed, if one claims Contributory ESA (i.e. based on ones N.I.Contribution record) and is placed in the Work Related Activity Group, after being paid the benefit for one year, no further payments will be made.

Claimants who have no other income or savings may then qualify for Income Related ESA (i.e. means tested ESA) and will continue to receive payments of that benefit instead.

Those who do have some form of other income, such as from a working partner, or pension etc, or have savings may not qualify for Income Related ESA so cannot claim this benefit.

The above applies to those placed in the Work Related Activity Group. Those put into the Support Group are not affected.


However, even if not actually getting paid any benefit when the one year of Contributory ESA in the WRAG has expires, it is worth keeping the claim open (without payment) in order that:

1. Ones National Insurance Credits are maintained (which helps contribute towards ones State Pension) and

2. It would permit one to claim Contributory ESA in the Support Group if ones illness deteriorates at some point in the future (and at that time qualify for the Support Group).

I don't think it is possible to explain it any simpler.

Pete

You say that It would permit one to claim Contributory ESA in the Support Group if ones illness deteriorates at some point in the future (and at that time qualify for the Support Group

If that time arises and one put in a fresh claim for Contributory ESA on the grounds that you now think you should qualify, will you recieve ESA at the assessement rate till you have been assessed.

Sorry, it has not been possible to publish your post. Please see Why have you deleted my post

Correct and the reason I have appealed, what do you have to lose.

headinawheelchair wrote:

pete17971 wrote:

mike1983 wrote:

Gordon wrote:

mike1983 wrote:

so everyone claiming ESA will get stopped after 12 months or in april next year

Everyone receiving Contribution Based ESA who have been in the WRAG for 12 months will lose their eligibility for ESA(CB), but will remain eligible to receive Income Related ESA, subject to a means test involving assets, income, and partners working hours.

Anyone already receiving ESA(IR) or in the Support Group will not be affected.

Gordon

What so all of us on IB benefit, when we claim ESA if we get put in wrag we either have to claim JSA or just starve cos we have no money, i have yet to recive my for and im worried that i wont be put in support group for mental health issues like autism,depression,epilepsy, if this is wrong please explain in simple terms

Hi,

it is difficult to put it any simpler as ESA can be so complex, not least complicated by the proposals in the Welfare Reform Bill 2011.

However, as proposed, if one claims Contributory ESA (i.e. based on ones N.I.Contribution record) and is placed in the Work Related Activity Group, after being paid the benefit for one year, no further payments will be made.

Claimants who have no other income or savings may then qualify for Income Related ESA (i.e. means tested ESA) and will continue to receive payments of that benefit instead.

Those who do have some form of other income, such as from a working partner, or pension etc, or have savings may not qualify for Income Related ESA so cannot claim this benefit.

The above applies to those placed in the Work Related Activity Group. Those put into the Support Group are not affected.


However, even if not actually getting paid any benefit when the one year of Contributory ESA in the WRAG has expires, it is worth keeping the claim open (without payment) in order that:

1. Ones National Insurance Credits are maintained (which helps contribute towards ones State Pension) and

2. It would permit one to claim Contributory ESA in the Support Group if ones illness deteriorates at some point in the future (and at that time qualify for the Support Group).

I don't think it is possible to explain it any simpler.

Pete

You say that It would permit one to claim Contributory ESA in the Support Group if ones illness deteriorates at some point in the future (and at that time qualify for the Support Group

If that time arises and one put in a fresh claim for Contributory ESA on the grounds that you now think you should qualify, will you recieve ESA at the assessement rate till you have been assessed.

This is most definately still worth fighting. The liberals have voted against it at their conference and the lords can still send this back to the commons to ammend. A key player in this is steve webb in the libdems. Please could everyone email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. marking for his attention, on just how unfair this is. Afterall if you get contributory benefit it means just that. In effect you had an insurance against being ill, and now you are ill, the terms are being changed. a reakky good article can be found at opinion.publicfinance.co.uk/2011/09/lib-...-a-stand-on-welfare/
please take the time to read and respond. Its worth £5k a year afterall.

MIK