IF ESA IS STOPPED NEXT YEAR - WHAT NEXT!

Can anyone advise please - if husband's ESA is stopped next April if Bill goes through Parliament does that mean he will get absolutely nothing for being ill and not able to work through damage caused by a stroke? He will not get income based ESA as I work more than 24 hours a week(not at a high salary I may add) and obviously he is not fit for work so cannot apply for JSA (and even then again because I work more than 24 hours I understand he would not get this either). I will be toiling to maintain the two of us on what I earn taking into account the bills etc that have to be paid. I am furious - my husband has paid NI for over 40 years now and never been signed off sick until two years ago when he was retired through ill health. He cannot even claim pension credit (he is now just turned 60) because I will be a bit above the income "allowed" by Government for the two of us to live on. I cannot even begin to tell you what I would like to do with all Tories!

If you and your husband cannot satisfy the means test, it is likely that his contribution-based ESA will stop after twelve months in April 2012. More importantly, as may apply in your husband's circumstances, from April 2012 those who have already received contribution-based ESA for a year or more, will have their entitlement terminated immediately.

See Proposed changes to contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance.

janis42 wrote:

Can anyone advise please - if husband's ESA is stopped next April if Bill goes through Parliament does that mean he will get absolutely nothing for being ill and not able to work through damage caused by a stroke? He will not get income based ESA as I work more than 24 hours a week(not at a high salary I may add) and obviously he is not fit for work so cannot apply for JSA (and even then again because I work more than 24 hours I understand he would not get this either). I will be toiling to maintain the two of us on what I earn taking into account the bills etc that have to be paid. I am furious - my husband has paid NI for over 40 years now and never been signed off sick until two years ago when he was retired through ill health. He cannot even claim pension credit (he is now just turned 60) because I will be a bit above the income "allowed" by Government for the two of us to live on. I cannot even begin to tell you what I would like to do with all Tories!

Hi J42,

Have a look at the info on the link below, re : 24 hours work etc. :

www.benefitsnow.co.uk/esa/incrit.asp#partner

Disregarding the 24 hours, you would still face a means test, which would take into account any income coming into the household.

Have you thought of putting in a claim for DLA, due to your husband's needs and limitations as a result of his conditions.

Have a look at the DLA guides in the orange MEMBERS ONLY area on the left.

You are right this proposed 12 months time limit is truly unfair.

You may wish to gain face to face advice from a trained advisor, who could assess all your options.

cheers

bro58

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

On Direct Gov it suggests that

"When would this change take effect?

The earliest this change can become law is April 2012."


I think they mean the date of commencement It is likely to be law before Christmas unless anyone knows any different ?

The Welfare Reform Bill is currently going through the 'Grand Committee' stage in the House of Lords. A lot of people are busy lobbying the Lords to try and get this section of the Bill, amongst others, amended. So, at the moment there is still a glimmer of hope. However, if this goes through unchanged, a lot of us are going to be in deep doodoo!