Freq. Asked questions

Survivor wrote:

If you are on ESA(CB) and reach your 365day limit, you would be able to claim ESA(IR) if you qualified, taking into account your income, your capital and the number of hours worked by your partner. ESA(IR) would not be time limited (under the current proposals).

I thought if you had been on ESA(CB) for 365 days, if you had a partner working even on a low wage, the ESA was stopped immediately and no other benefits were available. If my ESA (CB) stops and I do not have any income, I get nothing? If I get a job, I can claim ESA (IR)but will probably lose my DLA, but if I am too ill too work, I get zilch? (because husband working)

Not being eligible for ESA(CB) under the 365 day rule will not prevent you from claiming ESA(IR).

It is possible to get DLA if you are in work, depending on what your care/mobility needs are (which may change when, or around the time when, you start work).

You cannot normally claim ESA while working, but there are some provisions in related to permitted work, which you will find information about in the Members Only area.

Many people whose partners are working will indeed lose their ESA under the new provisions.

Sorry you may have already answered this elsewhere, but when is legislation to be debated with regards to time limit on ESA??

But I wont be able to claim ESA(IR) if I not working? Is the income related bit, referring to me as an individual, or relating to the income coming into the household?

Hi Radhika, it was debated in the House of Commons and passed, and it is currently going through the House of Lords for amendments, but basically the part of the bill making ESA(CB)- for those in the WRAG group - has not been amended and will become Law in April 2012.