Just what is going on with ESA these days?
LeeA380
Community member Posts: 59 Connected
I have been claiming ESA due to an accident at work since mid july 2020.
Of course, next month is the "end" of my claim.
I am awaiting a telephone assessment to see if this can be extended or whatever (I phoned them today and the guy told me a call was planned from around August 2020, yet no-one has bothered to ring me).
I also learned that rather than ESA continuing into the next 12 month period until assessment, it actually gets suspended immediately.
How is this my fault? I know I am not the only one in this predicament!
Covid or no covid is not hard to arrange a telephone interview! I am now thinking that DWP are using the pandemic as an excuse.
So what can I do next? Apply for UC? What if I don't get it? Live on the streets?
Of course, next month is the "end" of my claim.
I am awaiting a telephone assessment to see if this can be extended or whatever (I phoned them today and the guy told me a call was planned from around August 2020, yet no-one has bothered to ring me).
I also learned that rather than ESA continuing into the next 12 month period until assessment, it actually gets suspended immediately.
How is this my fault? I know I am not the only one in this predicament!
Covid or no covid is not hard to arrange a telephone interview! I am now thinking that DWP are using the pandemic as an excuse.
So what can I do next? Apply for UC? What if I don't get it? Live on the streets?
0
Comments
-
If you are eligible apply for UC. You can receive UC at the same time as ESA anyway (depending on your financial circumstances). Obviously you may not be due any payment, particularly if you have a working partner. You can use a benefits calculator to check.
Government have been lobbied to extend the 12 month limit on ESA for those waiting for assessments but all such lobbying has fallen on deaf ears.0 -
calcotti said:If you are eligible apply for UC. You can receive UC at the same time as ESA anyway (depending on your financial circumstances). Obviously you may not be due any payment, particularly if you have a working partner. You can use a benefits calculator to check.
Government have been lobbied to extend the 12 month limit on ESA for those waiting for assessments but all such lobbying has fallen on deaf ears.
I used a benefits calculator and it told me I could get £411 per month but minus £323 unearned income (i,e. ESA benefits that I am on?), which would leave me with around £80 per month?
Surely I am not expected to live on £3 per day?0 -
LeeA380 said:calcotti said:If you are eligible apply for UC. You can receive UC at the same time as ESA anyway (depending on your financial circumstances). Obviously you may not be due any payment, particularly if you have a working partner. You can use a benefits calculator to check.
Government have been lobbied to extend the 12 month limit on ESA for those waiting for assessments but all such lobbying has fallen on deaf ears.
I used a benefits calculator and it told me I could get £411 per month but minus £323 unearned income (i,e. ESA benefits that I am on?), which would leave me with around £80 per month?
Surely I am not expected to live on £3 per day?
UC is, of course, set to fall by £87/month in October when the COVID uplift is removed.0 -
It's ludicrous isn't it.
Back in january
https://www.rightsnet.org.uk/welfare-rights/news/item/dwp-has-no-plans-to-extend-time-limit-for-payment-of-contributory-esa-where-claimants-have-reached-365-day-limit-but-not-had-work-capability-assessment
And the underlying reason is obvious - Fewer than 40,000 ESA WCAs were completed in the quarter to September 2020, down from 170,000 a year earlier, according to DWP statistics.
I hate the way official response to a question/challenge is to say we are doing xyz when xyz doesn't directly address the problem raised.
0 -
Surely if I click submit on my online UC claim, then my existing benefits will be stopped (apart from 2 weeks grace)? So I wouldn't be getting any benefits at all if my claim failed with UC.0
-
LeeA380 said:Surely if I click submit on my online UC claim, then my existing benefits will be stopped (apart from 2 weeks grace)? So I wouldn't be getting any benefits at all if my claim failed with UC.
Are you claiming any benefits besides new style ESA?0
Categories
- All Categories
- 13.6K Start here and say hello!
- 6.7K Coffee lounge
- 51 Games den
- 1.6K People power
- 32 Community noticeboard
- 21K Talk about life
- 4.8K Everyday life
- 2.2K Families and carers
- 797 Education and skills
- 1.7K Work
- 386 Money and bills
- 3.2K Housing and independent living
- 807 Transport and travel
- 628 Relationships
- 1.2K Mental health and wellbeing
- 2.3K Talk about your impairment
- 835 Rare, invisible, and undiagnosed conditions
- 887 Neurological impairments and pain
- 1.8K Cerebral Palsy Network
- 1.1K Autism and neurodiversity
- 33.6K Talk about your benefits
- 5.4K Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- 17.9K PIP, DLA, and AA
- 5.6K Universal Credit (UC)
- 4.7K Benefits and income