AIBU to cancel my benefits claim.

[Housingcraze]

I have 45k in savings from several inheritances, and am out of work off ill, my partner has moved in with me to my home i own from an inheritance (no mortgage), and earns in excess of 30k a year roughly.

i applied for ESA for my national contributions to be paid, not expecting any money from it to today receiving a letter - to be paid 125.25 per week, which i was pretty shocked tbh, and feel a bit guilty in accepting the money, and even phoned informing them i have savings which im assuming i need to use firstly.

My partner disagrees and says i should openly accept the money and use it?

[HaudYerWheeshtBawbag]

I'd double check as I thought of you had savings in excess of X amount you weren't allowed to claim benefits however you are correct you should be able to be allowed to claim national contributions.

[Musicaltheatremum]

You can claim it with savings. I did when I was off sick as I was having to pay someone to cover me and my insurance policy has a waiting period. I don't think that ESA is affected by savings. This was 5 years ago. Never had to claim since thankfully

[WorraLiberty]

Does it matter to you what your partner thinks?

Just go with what you want to do.

[SilverDragonfly1]

If it's contributions based you're entitled to it, for a year or long term depending on the group you're in. So if you've been working for the last few years and paying tax, you're fine.

[Ditsy1980]

As pp said you can get income based esa or contributions based. It sounds like you've been paying your Taxes/NI for it so are entitled. Definitely take it in that case.

[pointythings]

You're probably getting it contributions-based, which is fine - you've paid in, you deserve to get out. Don't feel guilty.

[Housingcraze]

i am in the support group, im not entirely sure whether its income based or contributions.

I was on ESA 18 months though so i get feeling most likely be income based.

I got a friend whose daughter, has never worked always been on support group ESA/incapacity, she around 24/25 and she has in excess of 100k savings and still gets full ESA and housing benefit. so maybe it is the case???

[bimbobaggins]

I thought there was a limit that you could have ? 16 thousand and after that you weren't entitled to anything.
I recently received money and I cancelled my tax credits even though I was still entitled to it. I just felt there was so many people much worse off than me and I would have felt guilty.

[PinkHeart5911]

If you are entitled to the money with that amount of savings, then keep it!

[Awwlookatmybabyspider]

I think the going rate for ESA is £100 there abouts for existing claimants, and It went down to £73 in April for new claimants. So £125.pw does seem a bit excessive. However.If it's contribution based you might get more, but. I'd phone up on Monday. Incase they've made an error. You don't want them pouncing in a few months about an over payment.
And if it is right. Fantastic. All well and good, and don't you dare feel guilty. Its your money. To have 47k in savings. You've clearly paid enough into the system

[supercolour]

If it's contributions based ESA then it isn't affected by your savings or partner's income at all, so you've no need to worry. It is based just on your NI contributions so it is a recognition for paying into the system and you shouldn't feel bad about it. I get ESA and PIP despite having a large amount of savings and a high earning DH, but I am on both for the long term and the amount you get doesn't reflect the financial impact of my disability over the years.

[livsmommy]

If it is income based ESA you are not entitled to it if you have over 16k in savings unless those savings are in a trust.

[Becca19962014]

It's £109 a week if in support group and £73.10 per week if in work group (same as JSA) for applications since April 2017 - work group contributions based ends after twelve months. They're the same whether contribution or income based, though you wouldn't get income based with your savings or partners income.

If you've applied since April there's been an error.

You dont qualify for disability premiums due to savings and wouldn't qualify for housing/council tax benefit.

[Migraleve]

Honestly I think it's awful to claim benefits with a sizeable amount in the bank and a partner pulling in over 30k.

I can't see why anyone would ever think this is acceptable. No wonder our country is fucked.

You do not in any way NEED benefits.

[Huffletuff]

That's insane. Actually insane. I have had to leave work because I'm disabled. My husband earns 17k, we have no savings, we live in a rented house and we are using food banks to live. I'm not entitled to ESA because my husband earns too much and I didn't earn enough to have the contribution based side of it.

It's sick how this world works.

[Huffletuff]

Oh and before anyone says I haven't contributed, Ive worked since I was 16 and took three years out to train as a teacher.

[Babyroobs]

If it's contributions based you are entitled to it regardless of any savings as it's a non means tested benefit.
I work as a benefits advisor and people frequently come in wanting to claim benefits with £50k in the bank and owning 2 houses so don't feel bad about it. I guess most people would see it that you have paid into the system so why not take out.

[Notsosureanymoors]

Totally agree Migraleve. This is why the country is fucked. More fool the government though that allow this to happen as well though.

[Babyroobs]

Huffletuff - If you are disabled are you no getting a disability benefit such as DLA or PIP ?

[eggsandwich]

I would ring them to clarify that you have 45k in savings, as I have just done esa for my teenage son who has severe learning difficulties as well as asd and he was placed in the support category because he will never be able work sadly, and he has accrued approximately £8000 over the years in savings via birthday, Christmas money and also a savings plan thinking we were helping for his future, but because we are above the £6000 you are allowed in the support category he gets £1 deduction for every £250 above £6000 he has which is fair enough.

On the goverment website it does say that you wont qualify for income related esa (which my ds gets) if you have more that £16000 in savings.
But as you are getting contributions esa you may be ok, but I would check with them, also I'm not sure but having your partner living with you that works may affect what you may get, have a look at the gov website which should help.

[Babyroobs]

The thing is tough hat if people are off long term with sickness or disability, then £45k is quickly going to disappear, it's probably 3 years income for someone on a low salary. Why should people suddenly have no money of their own and be reliant on a partner when they have always worked ? £100 a week is hardly a replacement for a good income !!

[indigox]

You've paid NI contributions, this is what they're for.

[Babyroobs]

Op, you are fine to claim contributions based ESA, if you have paid full NI contributions for tax years 2014-15 and 2015-16 then you will be eligible regardless of savings or owning a house or having a partner who earns a decent wage.

[Migraleve]

You know what, I have also 'paid' into the system. But fuck me I care about more than myself.

How many times on the threads about the NHS do people get told not to get a script for paracetamol etc when they can afford to buy it, well this is the same thing but on a much bigger scale.

When you have £45k in the bank, no mortgage and a partner earning 30k it's an absolute pisstake to claim benefits regardless of entitlement.

A few years down the line we are going to lose our NHS and our benefit system will be cut back so far that it won't benefit anyone. Well don't for contributing to the decline of our children's futures.

[Huffletuff]

Are you not getting a disability benefit

I've recently been in the press because my Pip assessment was so full of lies it was fraudulent. They've done a second assessment today after I was turned down and raised complaints with everyone I could complain to, which apparently never happens. Meanwhile, I've had zero income for months while the fiasco continues.