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?

People working in UK but claiming child benefit, when the children live in another European country and probably never visit UK. OK working and paying into system, but I don't agree. Another example of the system set

Claim it. You don't know what will happen in the future and if you are off sick for a long time £45k won't last long. You may need it for example for essential works on your house.

Qualification for contribution based ESA is based on the NI conts (savings are irrelevant) you have made in the 2 tax years prior to claiming. If you don't claim now therefore you will eventually lose your entitlement. If you claim now however and are placed in the support you can continue getting Cont based ESA for as long as you remain unwell.

If you were placed in the work related activity group you can only get contribution based ESA for 12 months.

If you are in the support group your ability or mobility must be significantly impaired. If this has been the case for at least 3 months and likely to be for a further 9 months, you may find you are also eligible for PIP which is also not means tested.

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

That is incorrect.

The figures you have given are for the WRAG group.

The OP has already stated they are in the support group which is for those with more severe disabilities

It's £109.63 per week for support group.

If you are ok financially why claim? Why not leave it for others who are REALLY struggling?

What I don't understand is, if you're of the opinion that you shouldn't claim as you don't need it.
Why did you apply in the first place?
Other posters are saying they've done the same
Whatever your opinion why waste time, admin and supplies processing your claim (when civil servants are very overstretched now) when that could've been used to help someone else when you're not even intending to claim?

Migraleve - bloody well said! The UK is one rule for one - and for another. If I go back to visit family, I pay to see my GP and I pay for any NHS treatment. Whether entitled to or not - its if I can make a few pounds more, then I will dam well try to.

I meant not me - I should have said generically

Op has already explained that she applied just to get NI credits rather than the actual Esa payments.

You need to know whether you are on contribution or income based, as income based you need to let them know you are living with partner and it will stop, but you'll still qualify for the NI to be paid. If it's contribution based then anyone advising you to not claim does not realise if you don't claim it you wil not have NI contributions and you will become ineligible for a state pension when you retire.

I teally can't see the problem with people who are genuinely entitled to claim a benefit after years of contributing. Instead people should be getting concerned about immigrants coming here and claiming hundres a month in rent and tax credits for their large families.

I'm in the support group and claim contributions based. I get a top up due to my age and still don't get £125 a week. I'd query it OP.

Timetomoveup. That is correct. And when you fill out the forms or ring up to claim Esa they check carefully to make sure you are on the right one. Most people who have worked in recent years will be entitled to contributions based. It is part time workers and the self employed who often don't qualify.

When I really needed help (before children) I wasn't entitled to anything. I think the system needs changing.

Why weren't you entitled to help jumpy?there must have been a reason.

I would probably view it as a bit off to take money you don't need whether you are "entitled" to it or not to be honest. I know that's not a popular opinion, but it is a drain on the state to take when you don't need. Not trying to be rude. Just saying.

JumpyCastle

The system is ridiculous. It either wants to reward the rich or the ones who don't want to work.

If my husband stopped working or worked less than 16 hours a week, we'd get proper help. Because he works full time, he gets less money than he would if he claimed benefits. It's ridiculously wrong. Don't get me started on the PIP system and funding for essential mobility aids. The sad fact is, if I was a drug addict or alcoholic I'd get support, funding and guidance. Because I can't walk I get nothing. It's wrong.

Huffletuff. That doesn't sound right. Did you appeal the Pip ?

Huffletuff that doesn't sound right. I struggle with walking on a bad day- can not get around the house without assistance and I get ESA, the disability component and PIP. Have you appealed?

Huffletuff my son was on ESA and has now had to apply for PIP but he was put down as having no points,its a farce, everything he told the assesor was altered to look as if he wasnt as bad as he is
He has no savings is often struggling to walk,
I have had to lend him money to buy food and he is in debt with his rent
I know this happens, as years ago i claimed for DLA and everythinng i told the assessor, a Dr
was changed ,i went to the CAB and they helped me to fill the form in again to appeal,
I had to see a different Dr, and he told me he was sick of this happening, and passed me as having a need to claim, i got it,
It is disgraceful in my opinion, that people can claim when they really dont need the extra money, when others who genuinely do tooare refused
So no one can tell me that these assessors are not told to fail people,

Yes I've appealed.

I can't get ESA.

I'm not entitled to any ESA. I worked right up until the day I was physically unable too. Each month that went past I cut my hours down rather than give up work because I thought it was the right thing to do. Other than a couple of years out to have my kids, I'd worked since I was 16.

When I applied I was told I wasn't entitled because I hadn't paid "enough in", DH earns too much (was under 30k at the time).

It absolutely beggars belief that you can have a household income of £30k, £45k in the bank and be entitled to £125 a week when other poster have an income of zero. Something is fucked up in this country.

Claim it, you've paid into the system, it's yours.

And 45k is sod all these days, it really isn't a lot. You could live off that for day to day stuff but then what ??

Fairy. I think there could be a much fairer way of working out who can get Esa. They should take into consideration what contributions you have made over your working life rather than just look at the past two years.

Best thing to do is give them a call if they've not explained why you're getting it. You don't want to end up with an overpayment and have to pay it back. If they've paid it to you correcting it's probably contribution based and you are entitled to it. That's what deductions from wages are for. Don't feel bad either, if you've paid it in you have a right to have it back. Give them a call to put your mind at rest