EAS ENDING

My Esa is about to run and i’m not sure what i should do next. Can anyone advise me. As i own my own flat but stay with my mum as she can’t live on her own i’m worried i’m not entitled to anything.I’m still waiting for a decision from filling in the ESA claim form which i submitted im may. The anxiety is making my symptoms worse.

Hi,

I just need a bit of clarification.

You say that your ESA is about to run out but you filled the forms in in May. Was May a second round of forms or was it the initial application?

You are entitled to contribution based ESA for 12 months. At the end of 12 months you don’t stop being eligible to ESA it’s just that the money becomes means tested. If you have other resources they are taken into account and for many people this means an end to payments.

Other resources include pensions, savings and a partner’s wages. A home that you own is not counted as savings but any income that you make renting it out would be taken into account. Your mum is not counted as a partner so any income or savings that she has do not count.

If you have no other income your ESA will swap from contribution based to income based but the payments will stay the same.

Jane

Than k you for your reply and help. yes it a second round for the form. do i have to apply or does it just carry on. i dson’t have a lot of savings its well below the £16,000. I don’t stay in my flat and im worried they may make me sell it and live on that money. My mum is 81 and won’t be around for ever. In facvt im saving tham alot of money by being here. she looks after me and i look after her. Have you been forced into taking a job.

Fiona

Hi Fiona

When your 12 months is up you will get a financial circumstances form so that DWP can assess if you are eligible for income based payments.

The rules for capitol are – any savings under £6000 are disregarded. If you have more than £16,000 you will not be eligible. Between 6 and 16 you are classed as having tariff income of £1.00 for every £250 (or part £250).

Property is not classed as capitol. If you are renting it out while you are not living there any profit (after mortgage etc) is classed as income. The DWP can not make you sell your flat so please relax about this.

As for being forced into taking a job - no no and no.

Hi Jane

Thnak you so much I feel better about this. Im well below the £6,000 and some of it is not mine. You hear so much rubbbish in the paper.