I have been too ill to work for some time and have been living on a sickness benefit called Employment and Support Allowance, but I have heard this might stop soon. It’s already a real struggle to get by and I’m in no state to go back to work. What can I do?
If you’re getting contributory Employment & Support Allowance (ESA) - the form of ESA you should be getting if you paid the right amount of National Insurance contributions before you were ill - you may be affected by changes happening soon.
From 1st May, if you’re in what’s known as the Work-related Activity Group, you can only get contributory ESA for a maximum period of 1 year. Time spent in the Work-related Activity Group before 1st May counts towards the year, so if you’ve already been getting it for 1 year and you are in this Group, your contributory ESA will stop on 1st May. You won’t be affected if you’re in what’s known as the Support Group, which is made up of people not expected to be able to work again at any time.
If you have a condition which is getting worse, you may be able to go into the support group instead of the work-related activity group. Also, if you’re terminally ill or you’re undergoing, recovering from or likely to get certain kinds of cancer treatment, you will be in the support group. If you’re in the support group, your contributory ESA isn’t time-limited. You should get in touch with Jobcentre Plus and give them evidence of your condition.
If your contributory ESA stops, you may be able to get income-based ESA instead. This will depend on your income and savings, and any income and savings of your partner, if you have one. If you were getting both contributory ESA and income-based ESA, you will get more income-based ESA to replace the contributory part.
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The Jobcentre will write to you before your benefit stops, telling you what’s happening and asking if you want to be considered for income-based ESA. You’ll have to provide details of your and your partner’s income and savings promptly, so that the Jobcentre can transfer you to income-based ESA straightaway, if you can get it. You won’t have to make a new claim for ESA or have more medical assessments because of this change. If your money goes down as a result of these changes, you might be able to get more of other benefits, such as Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit, Pension Credit or tax credits. For more information about the ESA changes, go to the Directgov website at
www.direct.gov.uk or get more detailed personal advice from your nearest Citizens Advice Bureau.
West Devon Citizens Advice Bureau
TAVISTOCK: Kingdon House, North Street, Tavistock PL19 0AN Open Monday Wednesday 10-2pm & Friday 10.00am - 2.00pm Drop in or ring 08444 111 444 during these hours.
OKEHAMPTON: The Ockment Centre, North Street, Okehampton EX20 1AR Open Tuesday Wednesday 10- 2pm & Thursday 10.00am-2.00pm. Drop in or ring 08444 111 444 during these hours.
Website:
www.westdevoncab.org.uk
West Devon CAB also offers “Drop In” Outreach advice sessions at Bere Alston Surgery and The Community Centre, Princetown, every 3rd Wednesday of the month.
For further information, or to make an appointment, ring 01837 52105
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