Trying to survive on fresh air!

Roma_Fletcher
Roma_Fletcher Online Community Member Posts: 30 Contributor
in Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
Hi guys, I wonder if anyone can tell me how I'm supposed to survive with no money whilst I'm waiting for my tribunal?!! I can't even afford my prescriptions. Thank you. :(

Comments

  • debbiedo49
    debbiedo49 Online Community Member Posts: 2,890 Championing
    Welcome, what’s your tribunal for ? 
  • Roma_Fletcher
    Roma_Fletcher Online Community Member Posts: 30 Contributor
    Hi @debbiedo49 my tribunal is for ESA. I'm going to email a local MP today and my housing officer to see if they have any ideas.
  • Toffee
    Toffee Online Community Member Posts: 251 Empowering
    Hi i am waiting for a MR on mine dwp said I should claim job seekers but she said don't make uc  claim as there no return from that i am confused.. Isn't job seekers saying am fit for work which am not 
  • Sam_Alumni
    Sam_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 7,602 Championing
    Hi @Roma_Fletcher
    I think getting in touch with your MP and housing officer would be a great idea.

    There is some information here about benefits you can claim whilst waiting on an ESA tribunal.
  • Roma_Fletcher
    Roma_Fletcher Online Community Member Posts: 30 Contributor
    @Toffee, hi, that's what I thought too! This is all so confusing! I'm about to read the information suggested above, see what it says. 
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 1,737 Contributor
    The user and all related content has been deleted.
  • Toffee
    Toffee Online Community Member Posts: 251 Empowering
    dwp told me if you go on uc thats it you stay on it as there is no return 
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 1,737 Contributor
    The user and all related content has been deleted.
  • debkenzo
    debkenzo Online Community Member Posts: 110 Empowering
    Please check with DWP if you can claim the assessment rate of ESA while awaiting outcome of tribunal hearing. :)

  • Roma_Fletcher
    Roma_Fletcher Online Community Member Posts: 30 Contributor
    I haven't had my tribunal as yet, still waiting for a date
  • debbiedo49
    debbiedo49 Online Community Member Posts: 2,890 Championing
    “You might be able to claim Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) or Income Support while waiting for a decision on your mandatory reconsideration. Claiming these benefits during a mandatory reconsideration shouldn't affect your ESA reconsideration request. Get help from your nearest Citizens Advice if you're not sure whether to claim other benefits.” Can should point you in direction of any other help available. Good luck
  • debbiedo49
    debbiedo49 Online Community Member Posts: 2,890 Championing
    CAB
  • Roma_Fletcher
    Roma_Fletcher Online Community Member Posts: 30 Contributor
    Thank you so much for all the advice. I shall head towards my CAB! Thank you for listening it means the world to me. ❤️
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 273 Empowering
    Hi Roma_Fletcher

    Really sorry to hear of the trouble you're having with your ESA. 

    You are likely to be able to get some ESA at least if the reason that your benefit has stopped is that you didn't pass your work capability assessment. (as opposed for example to not completing the questionnaire or not being able to attend the assessment appointment). Anyway, do go to your CAB with your paperwork and they should be able to put you in the right direction. 

    Regarding your prescriptions and if you don't have an income at the moment, you should be able to get these for free on the grounds of low income.  
    https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/help-nhs-prescription-costs/free-nhs-prescriptions

    I hope this helps a little. 

    Best wishes

    Gill_Scope


  • CHILIDOG
    CHILIDOG Online Community Member Posts: 1 Listener
    I've recently had a kidney transplant 2014 and an aortic dissection 2015.My DLA was stopped as I live in a barge and wasn't receiving my post...I also lost all my  E.S.A premiums due to losing my DLA... I've applied for PIP.... Am I likely to get my sickness benefits reinstated????
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 273 Empowering
    Hi CHILIDOG and welcome to the online community.

    Our benefit system is just a tad complicated, and there are so many ifs and buts about most of the regulations. You lost your premiums when you lost your DLA and this means that you might either still be on income-related ESA or you might be on only contributory ESA.

    Were you working for the couple of (tax) years, or at least for part of them, before your ESA claim started? If you were working for only part of them, did you have an earnings replacement benefit (for example JSA or Carers Allowance) in the other tax year? 

    Are you in or shortly to be in a full service Universal Credit area?  You can check this at entitledto.co.uk.

    If we could know the answer to those two questions, we might be able to give you an idea of whether your sickness benefits will be re-instated if you are awarded PIP.

    Universal credit has made things more complicated, because if you are currently getting only contributory benefit and are in a full service universal credit area, then a new income-related benefit could only be universal credit, not income-related ESA.  Aaahhh! 

    Another option would be to try to visit, if you can, your local CItizens Advice or similar - take your paperwork with you, and hopefully they should be able to answer your question, even if the answer is a bit lengthy!

    Best wishes

    Gill_Scope
    Scope Helpline 
    Tel: 0808 800 3333

     




  • Toffee
    Toffee Online Community Member Posts: 251 Empowering
    Ty I just went on that site gave me some good information 

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