Employment and Support Allowance

[jacobsmum24]

Good Evening Folks

Does anyone receive ESA and if so, are you classed as being in a Work group or a Support group ?

Many thanks

[AyrshireK]

Up until an inheritance put hubby over the savings threshold he was on Income Related ESA in the Support Group. Never had to have a face to face, decided on paper form.

If you are a new applicant I think ESA now comes under the Universal Credit application procedures.

Katie

[jacobsmum24 in reply to AyrshireK]

I am not eligible for Universal Credit as it's based on total household income but get "new style" ESA which I think is the same as the old contribution based ESA. It is signicantly reduced as I have income from a personal pension. I have a face to face assessment tomorrow so hoping Ebenezer Scrooge isn't in attendance when I am doing my Please Sir, can I have some more bit ..........🤣🤣🤣

Have a great Christmas Katie and thanks for all your help this year x

[AyrshireK in reply to jacobsmum24]

Best wishes with it, we are currently living on hubbies inheritance (after his Dad died) and PIP. Once the nest egg gets back down to the base level his ESA claim is still open & should resume (plus Council Tax Benefit & Housing Benefit) .

Really good luck tomorrow, have a great Christmas.

Katie

[Wass71]

I get contributions based ESA, I'm in the support group now but started in the work group. I was supposed to go for a face to face assessment, but I was in hospital. I phoned them to say I couldn't attend. They then sent a horrid letter saying I had to prove it. I sent a copy of my discharge letter, and wrote a letter saying as a professional person I'm disgusted to be treated like a liar and criminal, that I'd never before claimed, having paid NI since I was 16, even during working during college and uni. I then got a letter moving me to the support group without face to face interview.

It did help that the woman I saw for my work interviews just said its pointless me looking for work as I was clearly not well!!

I hope you get it sorted. Make sure you represent your worst days, don't reveal if you have some less bad days.

Good luck x x

[jacobsmum24 in reply to Wass71]

Thanks for that. Fortunately (or maybe unfortunately in this situation) I am feeling really well at the moment. It's easy to forget how bad you can feel on not so well days but I am doing my best to recall and write it down. I am not trying to get anything I am not entitled to but have also worked since I was 16 and I am now 58 and could do with a bit of help right now. As I have a personal pension, I only get £21.70 per week ESA currently which barely covers the bus fare into the city for a hospital appointment. I am still hoping to return to employment at least part-time or possibly do some bookkeeping and payroll work from home but just not quite there yet. Will let you know how it goes.

[Annie2402]

Hi

I receive esa and am in the support group. I have to say it was very easy to claim and I didn't have to go for the medical interview that so many people have to do. Takes the pressure off knowing I don't need to go for interviews every year to let dwp decide whether I am now fit for work or not.

Worth applying for as although I had a good salary this money at least covers mortgage.

Annie x

[Adelou]

Hubby claimed ESA but didn't actually get anything.bthey gave him wjatbthry called virtual money - it paid his NI & pension contributions only so no actual money to live on to help feet to hospital appointments etc they said t was because I worked 24hrs + a week. They forget its only the person who s ill is making the claim, not both of you

Hubby was 2 days out of ICU following his transplant when they demanded he came for an assessment ???? Even though they I knew as they had been told it was happening as they rang about his exisitjg claim expiring

Good luck with it - so pleased that he has just started back at work after being off for 4 years ...the people who make decisions & tick boxes have no idea how difficult life can be caring for someone with a long term/life limiting illness