ESA....

lorica
lorica Member Posts: 187
edited 7. Apr 2012, 12:53 in Living with Arthritis archive
Anyone else fallen foul to the new ESA rules?

:x :( :x

I got a letter recently saying due to changes to ESA rules I can no longer get contribution ESA. The Government now say you cannot get (Contribution assessed) ESA for more than 12 months. I have four weeks to apply for income assessed ESA. On further investigation I found out that if your wife/husband works more than 24 hours a week then you cannot get it :!:

I contacted the DWP call centre to check what I had read as my wife works 30 hours aweek. The person I spoke too confirmed I'm no longer eligible for ESA, I asked what the Income cut off was, explained that my Wife gets less than £14,000 a year to be told its hours worked that they go on not money earned. I was told it was upto my wife to keep me and not the state. Theres no way my wife can keep me, so i was told I had to get a job!

I do get DLA but most of it goes to pay for my car...

But what is more annoying I had to have another medical for ESA, and a couple of days later got the letter saying I was no longer eligible no matter what the report says!

So let alone having being robbed of my mobility, I have now been robbed of my dignity and emotional stability. Whats the point of living? Im a drain on the government... And yes I have considered it......

Comments

  • barbara12
    barbara12 Member Posts: 21,281
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I cannot put into words what I think of this governments abuse of the disabled, they are hitting us because they can get away with it.
    I am so sorry you are being treated like this, we have quite a few people on here that are so worried about losing benefits
    If it was me I would be getting on to my MP and anyone else that could help, sorry Im not being much help, but I do feel for you, and really do wish you well with it all.x
    Love
    Barbara
  • jaja
    jaja Member Posts: 135
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi lorica....i havnt yet ...but will....these new rules arnt really known by many YET....they have been so well hidden in very difficult to understand rules...we have all 'cut our cloth' over the years to cope with our disabilities and the inevitable limit this puts on most of our abilities to earn....and in the past...even in Mrs Thatchers day...changes were Never retrospective...but not now...and there has been a very well orchestrated shift in opinion over the past few years,seemingly lumping all people on any type of benefit as the 'undeserving poor'
    But you are not alone...we all face this and there are some good people and associations fighting on our behalf..

    Keep strong..JAJA
  • janie68
    janie68 Member Posts: 1,186
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Why do the govt think it's ok to limit contribution based ESA to 12 months and not income based? At least you've paid your stamp and we are all being punished for working??? How backward is that?

    I am so sorry that hismis happening to you. I would go for your medical, if you get put into the WRAG again, appeal to get put into the support group as that is not limited to 12 months? Although you have to have said medical in 12 months again on support group. There's nothing to lose? I could be wrong on this so speak to CAB and ask them.

    Wish you lots of luck in this

    Janie
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Oh Mark, I am so sorry that this has brought you so low again. I've often wondered about using my DLA for a car but as I now drive so little (thanks to the arthritis which currently seems to be everywhere) I decided it wasn't financially worth it. Would it be viable for you to stop the Motability and have the money instead? I don't know what the rules and regs are on that but I manage to run Daisy on very little expenditure, which is just as well as I don't have much to expend. :roll:

    As for the ESA I have no wise words as I am not involved with that at all. How about contacting your local CAB? They have a wealth of information and can offer practical support. All systems have to have their cut-off points somewhere and when one collides with them it does seem so very unfair (because it is) whilst others cheerfully 'work' the system at the expense of the genuine claimants. The only answer is to fight, to stand up to them and show the ridiculousness of their ways. You are worth much more than you currently feel, of that I am positive, and I hope you can soon see that. DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • Folara
    Folara Member Posts: 568
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I know how you feel. We are already struggling so much that I am considering rehoming my cats. Thankfully my horse is out on loan and not costing me anything. I'm selling a huge amount of stuff on eBay to pay bills too" but when that's gone that's it.

    I have worked since I was 13 years old. Bloody long and hard hours and never had time off except to have the kids and even then I only took two weeks with the first and 6 with the second cos he was prem and I was in hospital for 2 weeks before even having him.

    I am being penalised for my hard work. I should have stayed at home and done nothing and taken all the benefits etc.

    I'm so furious I could spit. I am currently appealing to be put in the Support Group as I actually do fit in with 3 of their descriptors but the whole of DWP are a complete idiotic farce.

    I am now contacting my local MP and venting my opinion to him, along with evidence of the complete incompetence of the system and the idiots that run it.

    How the hell we are going to survive now I don't know.

    Fols x
  • theresa4
    theresa4 Member Posts: 696
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    So sorry to hear Its the same for me.

    Its so wrong that after all our years of hard work we count for nothing. I will have to ask my hubby for everything soon which I feel is unfair at a time when everyone is struggling it puts further strain on relationships. Its bad enough being physically dependant without being finanacially dependant too. If I couold work I would already be working but I cant simple as.
    Please dont give up on yourself we cant let them grind us down
    sending some hugs they are still free (((())))
    Theresa
    There are many things in life that will catch your eye, but only a few will catch your heart...pursue those. --Michael Nolan



    Theresa xxx
  • jaja
    jaja Member Posts: 135
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi...i think the advise to go to the C.A.B very good advise they can tell you if you are getting everything you should get...you didnt mention WTC because your other half working...there could be other stuff you entitled to so do get it checked and the MP thing aswell...theyve got to do somthing for their money!!

    JAJA
  • dee2010
    dee2010 Member Posts: 41
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi I am sorry your going though this too. I am to losing my ESA but was adviced if I was placed into the support group of ESA then I will still get the money. Also was told if my partner earns over £9000 a year then he would keep me too. They do not consider your out goings. My partner is self employed and works part time but also considering leaving work to look after me as we are worse of with him working. How does this work? So unfair.
    RA since feb 2010

    methotrexate, plaquenil, prednisolone, diclafeac, tramadol, co-codamol, enbrel


    **Davina**
  • jaja
    jaja Member Posts: 135
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi ...dee2010..same advice to you ...check with cit.advice....to check you are getting everything you can...and also Working Tax Credit can be claimed if you self employed...

    JAJA