Contribution Based ESA

I am hoping someone can help me to understand the following. My daughter has one child. She receives contribution based ESA and child tax credit. This is her only income and she has no savings. Because she receives 'contribution based' rather than 'income based' she is not entitled to claim for a budgeting loan neither will she be entitled to a cold weather payment should it become payable in her area. She is receiving exactly the same amount of money as she would be if she were receiving income based ESA but is entitled to no help from the social fund etc. Why is this and is there anything she can do to change the situation as it seems very unfair. The DSS have informed her that she is not entitled to income based ESA. Thanks for any help on this.

Hi San100, that sounds the same as me. I receive assessment ESA (awaiting appeal), child tax credit, child benefit and housing benefit.

Best wishes,
Rachel

San100 wrote:

I am hoping someone can help me to understand the following. My daughter has one child. She receives contribution based ESA and child tax credit. This is her only income and she has no savings. Because she receives 'contribution based' rather than 'income based' she is not entitled to claim for a budgeting loan neither will she be entitled to a cold weather payment should it become payable in her area. She is receiving exactly the same amount of money as she would be if she were receiving income based ESA but is entitled to no help from the social fund etc. Why is this and is there anything she can do to change the situation as it seems very unfair. The DSS have informed her that she is not entitled to income based ESA. Thanks for any help on this.

You say the other is income based ? when did she last work ?

Dave wrote:

San100 wrote:

I am hoping someone can help me to understand the following. My daughter has one child. She receives contribution based ESA and child tax credit. This is her only income and she has no savings. Because she receives 'contribution based' rather than 'income based' she is not entitled to claim for a budgeting loan neither will she be entitled to a cold weather payment should it become payable in her area. She is receiving exactly the same amount of money as she would be if she were receiving income based ESA but is entitled to no help from the social fund etc. Why is this and is there anything she can do to change the situation as it seems very unfair. The DSS have informed her that she is not entitled to income based ESA. Thanks for any help on this.

You say the other is income based ? when did she last work ?

About 18 months ago. She was on Jobseeke'rs Allowance but then made a successful claim for ESA. I should have added she gets full housing benefit, council tax benefit and child benefit.

San100 wrote:

I am hoping someone can help me to understand the following. My daughter has one child. She receives contribution based ESA and child tax credit. This is her only income and she has no savings. Because she receives 'contribution based' rather than 'income based' she is not entitled to claim for a budgeting loan neither will she be entitled to a cold weather payment should it become payable in her area. She is receiving exactly the same amount of money as she would be if she were receiving income based ESA but is entitled to no help from the social fund etc. Why is this and is there anything she can do to change the situation as it seems very unfair. The DSS have informed her that she is not entitled to income based ESA. Thanks for any help on this.

Unfortunately, ESA(CB) is not a qualifying benefit for either a cold weather payment or social fund loans. These rules are laid down in the social security regulations, and not open to challenge by the right of appeal.

It is also the case that a claimant cannot substitute contribution-based ESA for income-based ESA. This will change however for certain claimants after April 2012, when ESA(CB) will be limited to twelve months.