New style ESA not means tested?

bluefox
bluefox Online Community Member Posts: 647 Empowering
in Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
Is it true that NEW style ESA is not means tested? 

I’m pretty sure that’s what I’m claiming but I’m not aware of what means tested and non means tested actually means…

Say for instance, I moved in with a partner, would I be able to claim my new style ESA still?

Comments

  • janer1967
    janer1967 Online Community Member Posts: 21,922 Championing
    Hi there 

    Yes new style esa is not means tested so you can still claim if move in with partner 

    If a benefit is means tested then earnings and savings are taken into account of all claimants when establishing eligibility 
  • bluefox
    bluefox Online Community Member Posts: 647 Empowering
    Thank you for that info 

    I think I am claiming new style ESA. I last worked November 2020 but worked for 17 years straight. I guess it’s new style ESA, as in the letter they said they would continue to make NI contributions. 
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing
    Yes, it's New style ESA you're claiming because you also claim Universal Credit too, which is means tested.
  • bluefox
    bluefox Online Community Member Posts: 647 Empowering
    So

    New style ESA not means tested
    UC means tested 
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing
    bluefox said:
    So

    New style ESA not means tested
    UC means tested 

    Corrct.
  • bluefox
    bluefox Online Community Member Posts: 647 Empowering
    I never understood why you get a small additional amount of UC from LCWRA. 

    My UC application was primarily for housing element. 
  • calcotti
    calcotti Online Community Member Posts: 10,001 Championing
    edited November 2022
    bluefox said:
    I never understood why you get a small additional amount of UC from LCWRA. 
    Because UC LCWRA pays slightly more than ESA Support Group so you get the excess. 
    bluefox said:
     I guess it’s new style ESA, as in the letter they said they would continue to make NI contributions. 
    Anybody on ESA gets Class 1 NI credits regardless of whether or not it is new style or means tested.

    Those on UC only get Class 3 NI credits.
  • bluefox
    bluefox Online Community Member Posts: 647 Empowering
    Does this mean when I do return to employment I won’t be stung with a huge NI bill?
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing
    bluefox said:
    Does this mean when I do return to employment I won’t be stung with a huge NI bill?
    I have no idea what you mean by that. Your NI credits are being paid because of the benefits you claim at the moment. 
  • bluefox
    bluefox Online Community Member Posts: 647 Empowering
    I’ve only ever had one job since I was 18 until now 36. So not sure how these things work  :'(
  • calcotti
    calcotti Online Community Member Posts: 10,001 Championing
    bluefox said:
    Does this mean when I do return to employment I won’t be stung with a huge NI bill?
    If you are working you pay towards NI contributions calculated on a weekly or monthly basis if you you earn more than the relevant threshold that week/month. You don’t pay for NI credits you receive while claiming benefits.
  • bluefox
    bluefox Online Community Member Posts: 647 Empowering
    Are they getting rid of New Style ESA altogether?
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing
    bluefox said:
    Are they getting rid of New Style ESA altogether?

    No, what makes you think that? It's a contributions based benefit only so it will never be gotten rid of. The old Contributions based ESA no longer exists.
  • bluefox
    bluefox Online Community Member Posts: 647 Empowering
    poppy123456 said:
    bluefox said:
    Are they getting rid of New Style ESA altogether?

    No, what makes you think that? It's a contributions based benefit only so it will never be gotten rid of. The old Contributions based ESA no longer exists.
    I was told they were going to get rid of New Style ESA and move everyone onto Universal Credit
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing
    That's not correct. New style ESA won't ever be part of UC because it's not means tested. You've misunderstood the changes, Income Related ESA is one of the 6 benefits that are ending and everyone will be moved across to UC.
  • bluefox
    bluefox Online Community Member Posts: 647 Empowering
    poppy123456 said:
    That's not correct. New style ESA won't ever be part of UC because it's not means tested. You've misunderstood the changes, Income Related ESA is one of the 6 benefits that are ending and everyone will be moved across to UC.
    Ah okay and ESA is designed more around employment isn’t it and help moving into and out of employment? 
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing
    No, not at all. ESA is more for those who have a health condition and have a limited capability for work, providing they've paid the correct amount of NI contributions in the 2 tax years prior to their claim.
  • bluefox
    bluefox Online Community Member Posts: 647 Empowering
    Yeah that makes sense. It was just the DEA at my job centre who has been in touch with me was saying you can go through programmes on ESA with your conditions etc to find a job eventually. Even if LCWRA. 
  • calcotti
    calcotti Online Community Member Posts: 10,001 Championing
    bluefox said:
    Yeah that makes sense. It was just the DEA at my job centre who has been in touch with me was saying you can go through programmes on ESA with your conditions etc to find a job eventually. Even if LCWRA. 
    Yes you can. The intention is to support people into employment - but if they have LCWRA not to oblige them to do so.

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