confused

I think I've got myself more than a little confused with everything I've read on this site and others concerning migration from ib to esa. I have been on ib since the 90s, therefore my benefit is not eligible for tax nor is it means tested. If I am correct and there is no transitional protection for existing claimants, once I have been assessed next year or whenever, I will lose the benefit completely as ESA will be means tested & I have a small ill heath pension from my ex employer and my husband is self employed. I understand that the 12 month rule will not apply to those deemed ill enough for the support group but will claimants placed in this group be subjected to the means test. Sorry if this is a bit garbled but my head's totally wrecked!

1. The Government intend to bring in time limited contribution based ESA so that it is payable forn 12 months after which it can be retained subject to a means test which is likely to mean 16000 is the max savings allowed and 6000 the lower limit and a sliding scale of reduced benefit between these. I cannot comment on your pension as I do not know the Govts thinkinbg as regards this

2 Additionally, the means test will include partners income. No full details yet available but it looks that £90.00 a week is the level at which it would affect benefit.

All this is as yet totaly unclear, it is Government policy yet to become law and all finer details yet undecided


You are right about the support group. Those will not be means tested. A lot of people think that support group members will avoid time limiting, that is true, but only as long as they remain in that group. It is not always long term for all, it depends on the prognosis and progress of a persons conditions and recovery

Hi Elaine,

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Elaine
McGoggy wrote:

I think I've got myself more than a little confused with everything I've read on this site and others concerning migration from ib to esa. I have been on ib since the 90s, therefore my benefit is not eligible for tax nor is it means tested. If I am correct and there is no transitional protection for existing claimants, once I have been assessed next year or whenever, I will lose the benefit completely as ESA will be means tested & I have a small ill heath pension from my ex employer and my husband is self employed. I understand that the 12 month rule will not apply to those deemed ill enough for the support group but will claimants placed in this group be subjected to the means test. Sorry if this is a bit garbled but my head's totally wrecked!

That too is my understanding it will go from none means tested to tested and taxed

That said I am 99.99999% sure I will go in the support group

The other thing you did not cover is, in my case I go from no IB50 or medicals as I am exempt to also might be needing a medical.