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ESA contributions based & NI contributions.

  • bro58
9 years 6 months ago - 9 years 6 months ago #124384 by bro58
Hi D,

If you have a "fit note" from your G.P. there is nothing to stop you making a claim for ESA now, if you wish.

www.gov.uk/employment-support-allowance/overview

See also "Understanding Employment and Support Allowance
Our 42 page introductory guide to ESA."


2nd link down this page :

ESA Claims Guides

On application the DWP will check to see whether or not you have the requisite number of NI Contributions for entitlement to payment of CB ESA.

If you don't, you should be able to provide your personal financial details to see whether you can pass the means test for Income Related (IR) ESA.

If you are entitled to either of the above, payment of CB ESA or IR ESA should ensue.

You would initially be placed into The Assessment Phase, the current ESA Assessment Rate is £72.40/Week for a single over 25 year old :

Benefit Rates 2014

Shortly after, if your claim is accepted, you will receive an ESA50 Questionnaire, which you will have to return to ATOS.

Only then will you be assessed under The WCA, with three possible outcomes :

Fit for work

Placed into The Work Related Activity Group (WRAG)

Placed into The Support Group. (SG)

If you are placed into the WRAG or SG, the WRA or SG Component will be paid on top of the £72.40, and the component will be backdated to the start of week 14 of your claim.

As things stand, many claimants are having to wait several months, up to a year or more in some cases, to receive a decision after returning their ESA50.

Unfortunately, they remain on the Assessment Rate until a decision is made.

It was a very good suggestion from MHB that you should start gathering your evidence now, as you will only have 4 weeks to fill in and return The ESA50 once you receive it.

You could even start filling in the PDF version of The ESA50 now. (It should not be returned to ATOS until you receive the hard copy paper version through the post)

It can be downloaded from the link on this FAQ :

Using The PDF Version Of The ESA50 Questionnaire

You should refer to our ESA Claims Guides on the page below whilst filling it in :

ESA Claims Guides

See also :

How long do I have to complete the ESA50?

ESA50 too big for the envelope

&

Sending Documents to the DWP or ATOS

It would help to relieve time constraints, if you were "one step ahead"

bro58
Last edit: 9 years 6 months ago by bro58.

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9 years 6 months ago #124395 by Daffodil
Replied by Daffodil on topic ESA contributions based & NI contributions.
Gordon

Thank you for being so patient with me over the last couple of days. You've explained more in a few posts than I've managed to research myself over weeks.

bro58

Thank you also - I have been reading through all the guides this week and gained such a lot of useful info. I have actually started an ESA50, thought I'd do it in small chunks, helps with the stress levels !! Glad you put that in your reply so I know I'm on the right track.

I have decided to apply now.

I will continue reading through guides and now I have a lot more info I will complete the ESA50, gather reports etc so I will be ready by the time I receive any forms.

Will take your "one step ahead" advice.

Thank you B&W mods for such a great website. I can't praise you enough.

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  • bro58
9 years 6 months ago - 9 years 6 months ago #124396 by bro58
Hi D,

Don't be afraid to ask if you have any further queries as things progress.

Please keep this topic updated. :)

If you haven't already done so, you could Favourite/Bookmark it in your Browser.

We will then have some continuity in the one topic thread, which makes it much easier for The Mods.

bro58
Last edit: 9 years 6 months ago by bro58.

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9 years 6 months ago - 9 years 6 months ago #124398 by Daffodil
Replied by Daffodil on topic ESA contributions based & NI contributions.
Thank you bro58

Will bookmark and update in future.

Am also about to have a PIP assessment in Sept so will put that on a new thread if I get any questions and maybe share timeline on that if it would be of any help to others.

Many thanks.
Last edit: 9 years 6 months ago by bro58.

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  • bro58
9 years 6 months ago #124400 by bro58

Daffodil wrote: Thank you bro58

Will bookmark and update in future.

Am also about to have a PIP assessment in Sept so will put that on a new thread if I get any questions and maybe share timeline on that if it would be of any help to others.

Many thanks.


Yes D,

It would be a good idea to start a new topic for your PIP claim, thanks. :)

bro58

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