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ESA Confusion!

15 replies

Marilyn17 · 26/01/2025 15:15

My dh was awarded ESA in 2019. He had been working full time for many years before he became ill and his employers ended his contract due to his ill health. After a few weeks he was put into the support group for ESA and is still in it now. I think it gets looked at every July but is always just reawarded for another year and we are never contacted to fill in forms etc. He is also in receipt of PIP, so I did wonder if they just check if he's still got his PIP award and go off that (I am aware they are two different things, but you never know). My query is that I don't know what type of ESA dh gets. I know there is new style, contribution based and income related. I'm assuming it was originally contribution based as he'd worked for many years. We are a low income household and also get UC. I had to give up work to become his full time carer, but I don't ever remember being told he's now on income related ESA. Does anyone have any idea? I know I could possibly phone them but I don't fancy hanging on the phone for an hour waiting to be put through to someone!

OP posts:
TigerRag · 26/01/2025 15:18

As you're on UC, his ESA will be contributions based as you can't claim UC and income based ESA at the same time

NikkiAlexander · 26/01/2025 15:20

Contribution esa is indefinite if you're in the support group, income based would have ended if you claim uc. The amount he gets would be deducted from the uc that you get.

CaptainBeanThief · 26/01/2025 15:24

It will still be the contributory based ESA.
I'm in the support group Also, I have been on it for 5 years ( new style) as I worked as well, I'm also on enhanced for both components for PIP and we got UC top up, my husband works FT but as he cares for me ( manages my finances, is my "registered carer")
Also, before anyone jumps on me to tell me I'm a scrounger I have worked from the day I left sixth form but I got very very ill in 2020.

Marilyn17 · 26/01/2025 15:26

Thanks for the replies. Yes, his ESA gets deducted from our Universal credit award every month so I'm guessing from the replies that he's not on income related. I'm still not sure if he's on contributions based or new style?

OP posts:
MargotMoon · 26/01/2025 15:28

Contribution based and new style are essentially the same thing, but as you are on UC yours is called new style. If you hadn't claimed UC yet it would still be called contribution based.

CaptainBeanThief · 26/01/2025 15:30

Yes, sorry contributory/ new style is essentially used interchangeably i.e the same thing.
Hope this helps.

Marilyn17 · 26/01/2025 15:30

@CaptainBeanThief I'm sure no one thinks you are a scrounger but I understand what you mean. My dh worked full time since age 15 and he's now 61. I also worked full time from 16 to my early fifties when I became his carer. We paid our NI contributions in the belief, amongst other things, that they would help people who needed benefits, just never thought it would be us one day!

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Marilyn17 · 26/01/2025 15:32

Thanks so much for the replies. Much appreciated!

OP posts:
CaptainBeanThief · 26/01/2025 15:33

@Marilyn17
I never thought I'd be in this position but, I am and MN and the general population frown upon young people (I'm 31) who are not currently in employment so I don't usually post on these type of threads.
I was in a responsible health care role and I miss it.

Bubblebathsarelikehugs · 26/01/2025 15:34

Try LCWRA x

Marilyn17 · 26/01/2025 15:37

@CaptainBeanThief Well, I for one am glad you posted on this thread. Please don't let anyone make you feel guilty for being on benefits, no one can help being ill or needing a bit of support, whatever their age x

OP posts:
Marilyn17 · 26/01/2025 15:40

@Bubblebathsarelikehugs Yes, he's in the LCWRA group, he gets extra universal credit because of this but, obviously, they deduct ESA from this. Is LCWRA connected to receiving ESA, apologies if I sound stupid I'm just a bit confused by it all!

OP posts:
CaptainBeanThief · 26/01/2025 15:46

@Marilyn17
I also get the LCWRA but the ESA is deducted aswell.
It's just that I get the ESA every 2 weeks instead of UC every month but obviously the ESA is deducted out of that.
Xx

Nonametonight · 26/01/2025 15:50

Marilyn17 · 26/01/2025 15:40

@Bubblebathsarelikehugs Yes, he's in the LCWRA group, he gets extra universal credit because of this but, obviously, they deduct ESA from this. Is LCWRA connected to receiving ESA, apologies if I sound stupid I'm just a bit confused by it all!

Yes. LCWRA is the same as support group on ESA. It's recognising an additional level of need related to the severity of the person's disability

Marilyn17 · 26/01/2025 15:57

Thanks for all the replies, much appreciated!

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