asset rule for ESA(CB) part 2!

darryl wrote: re my question yesterday and your answer, thank you. i am a bit dense sometimes, so does your reply mean that after 365 days i wont receive any ESA or even JSA at all because i've been on contributions based IB and now ESA{CB}? if so, i'll still be sick but broke then? many thanks for your patience in anticipation|

The Government changed the rules for ESA(CB) in April 2012, as a result, claimants who are in the WRAG, will only receive payment against their ESA(CB) for 365 days, after this time, if they are also eligible for ESA(IR), which is subject to a means test of income, savings and assets, and any hours that a partner works, then payments will continue, however, if they are not eligible, then they will only receive NI Credits which count towards a Full State Pension, although their ESA(CB) payments can be re-instated if they qualify for the Support Group.

The rules for JSA(CB) require the claimant to have NI Contributions in the required tax years, which we do not believe that someone who had previously been on IB will be able to achieve this. The rules for JSA(IR) are substantially the same as those for ESA(IR), so if you do not qualify for ESA(IR), you will not qualify for JSA(IR).

At the time, the Governments Impact Analysis expected some 400,000 ESA(CB) claimants to no longer qualify for any benefits, they are expected to be supported by their partner.

Gordon