IR to New-style ESA

blindsafety
blindsafety Online Community Member Posts: 1 Listener
in Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
Greetings all,

Thanks for any advice, in advance

I know this is probably. a silly question but I'm being put under pressure from my brother to decide if I want inheritance money, I know I can't receive more than 16k or my IR ESA will stop but on New-style this isn't the case

I'm registered blind and haven't been employed due to my eyesight (for 5 years) and other health/mobility conditions.

I'm wondering if I could switch to New Style ESA from income-related using my national insurance credits. Yes, credits alone. I have full NI credits for the last five years, yet I know I haven't paid contributions in the qualifying years.

I checked the .gov application process/pages, Citizen's Advice and RNIB and they're saying different things, one says it is still possible under certain conditions that aren't stated... it seems complex. I've also heard a story of someone with IR EESA with SDP who managed to move to New-Style.

Is it worth giving ESA a call to find out if it's possible? (I'm terrible at calling people so try to avoid this lol) or should I accept it won't happen?

Thank you for your patience in reading my issue

Comments

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing
    It would not be possible to move from an all Income Related ESA to New style ESA because for this you would have needed to have worked at some point in the previous 2 tax years. NI credits from ESA alone will not qualify you. 

    However, if any part of your ESA is contributions based then this will continue, even with savings/capital of more than £16,000. 

    When an ESA claim is part contributions based then it will be referred to as Income Related.

    You have no doubt misunderstood what you read with that story because it's impossible to do that. 

    If you've been left money in a will then you will have no option but to accept that money and not accepting it could be treated as deprivation of capital. DWP will eventually find out about that will. 

    If you're not sure exactly what your ESA claim is made up of then yes you can ring ESA to ask. Or you can take your ESA letters to an advice agency and they maybe able to tell you. 

    If you're claiming any other benefits such as housing benefit and/or council tax reduction then both of those will also end with savings or more than £16,000. 

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