who can advise me I

Hi diceman24

Before we can answer your query we need to ask a couple of questions:

1) Will you be giving up self employment due to ill health
2) Did you pay National Insurance

If you have at least 50 weeks of NI Contributions in both of the Tax Years 2017-18 and 2018-19 then you can make a claim for New Style ESA.

If you are awarded Limited Capability for Work then the NE ESA is only payable for a year, if you receive Limited Capability for Work Related Activity then it is payable for as long as you meet the criteria.

Our UC and ESA claim guide explains the criteria that you will need to meet.

www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/help-for-claimants/esa1

You may want to seek advice from your local welfare rights unit, although at present in this climate it may be quite hard to see someone face to face.

Gary

diceman

If you have only earned £4500 per year then you are under the threshold for NI Contributions although the Tax Credits should have given your NI Credits.

If this is correct then you cannot claim New Style ESA and your only option would be Universal Credit, see

www.gov.uk/apply-universal-credit

You can also make a claim for Personal Independence Payments, the criteria is different from ESA/UC, see our claim guide on the following

www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/help-for-claimants/pip

Gordon

Hi Gordon

diceman24 states that he is already receiving high rate DLA for both components.

Gary