ill health retirement

smartie wrote: I was on ESA in the support group before my employer retired me through ill health after 34 years service. after jumping through hoops and three assessments by ATOS (who undertook the assessments for the local authority who employed me I was retired on tier 1 which means they enhance the pension as if I was 65. I understand that I am not entitled to ESA as I have to much income but can somebody tell me what happens about my national insurance stamp as I am worried that when I get to 65 I will not be entitled to my full state pension. I am worried that in ten years time I will have to continue on such a tight budget as I am now.

The first thing you need to do is to confirm whether you are still entitled to payment, just because you have a pension it does not automatically mean that your ESA will stop.

If you are receiving Income Related ESA then your pension would be deducted £ for £.

If you are receiving Contribution Based ESA then there is an £85/week disregard followed by a £1/week deduction for every £2/week of pension in excess.

If you received ESA(CB) with and ESA(IR) top-up then it is £ for £ until the ESA(IR) Is eroded and then the ESA(CB) rules for the remaining pension amount.

Even if your ESA is no longer payable, as long as you keep the ESA claim open and conform with any re-assessment requirements then you will continue to receive NI Credits that count towards a full State Pension.

Gordon