Esa and retirement

I have just received the form telling me about the changes in welfare reform bill about ESA.I am currently on ESA in work related activity group which seems to be ending in april 2012. I reach retirement in Dec 2012 and now wonder where that leaves me for the 8 mths between april and retirement.I have had facial cancer and have had my nose removed.Also my heel is pinned together after a severe break 10 years ago. At times it gives me a lot of pain due to post op arthritis.Also I do get depressed at times
Do they really expect me to go back to work for eight months.I was a self employed electrician.

holman wrote:

I have just received the form telling me about the changes in welfare reform bill about ESA.I am currently on ESA in work related activity group which seems to be ending in april 2012. I reach retirement in Dec 2012 and now wonder where that leaves me for the 8 mths between april and retirement.I have had facial cancer and have had my nose removed.Also my heel is pinned together after a severe break 10 years ago. At times it gives me a lot of pain due to post op arthritis.Also I do get depressed at times
Do they really expect me to go back to work for eight months.I was a self employed electrician.

Hi H,

As the 12 months entitlement rule for WRAG ESA is not even law yet, and there is some opposition to this rule being passed as is, I would wait and see what happens.

The DWP have been sending these letters out in expectation of the Welfare Reform Bill being passed as is, however it is not a "done deal" yet, and there may be ammendments to it.

bro58

Although the welfare reform bill has not been enacted, the expectation is that ESA, for those in the WRAG, will be limited to 1 year from April 2012, and this rule will be applied retrospectively. After that, people will be able to claim income based ESA if their family income is low enough (as I understand it, anyone with a working partner will not be eligible).

Thanks for that. Still cant help worrying though

Hi,

With respect to entitlement of Income Related ESA, if your 12 months entitlement to Contributary ESA runs out, and passing the "Means Test" for IRESA, the following applies, :

Income-based Employment and Support Allowance

You may be entitled to claim income-based Employment and Support Allowance if you do not have enough money coming in, or you have not paid enough National Insurance contributions, and you satisfy the entitlement conditions.

This means that you have savings of less than £16,000 and, if you have a partner or civil partner, they work for less than 24 hours a week on average.

See also info from this link.:

www.disabilityalliance.org/f31.htm

At 9. and 14.1


bro58

well my letter arrived on Saturday morning (this always seems to happen so that I cannot contact anybody) I have been informed that my contribution-based esa will end 30th April has I have been on it for more than twelve months.
I have been intouch with job centre plus who ask the next dept to phone me back within 3Hrs.
They must be very busy today the assistant got back to me 15 mins later and spoke so fast I had to ask her to repeat evry thing at least three times and when my foggy brain thought it knew what she was saying and I started to speak she got faster and faster at interupting me!
To cut this short I have told her I will be apealing aginst the decision as now being fully retired on ill health and reduced mobility issues start the anguish of form filling again and my life is in other peoples hands yet again.

I am sure we have lots of members on here in the same situation so onwards and upwards and any help would be very much appreciated.