Any Benefits at all?

[Bridgemaster]

I am totally new to any kind of benefits claiming as I have worked non stop for the past 40 Years, however due to circumstances beyond my control I had a requirement to leave my previous employment on 17th September, and I immediatly applied for JSA, unfortunatly on 26th September I suffered a heart attack and have spent the past week in hospital,

I have now been told that due to the fact that for 9 months in 2008-I was self employed and only paid class 2 contributions, as I I did not earn sufficient to pay class 4 conts I am not entitled to JSA, I have phoned and asked about some kind of sickness/ ill health benefit and was told that if I did not qualify for one I will not get the other?

I think the world has gone mad I have been paying into a system for over 40 years and and the first time I ask for a little bit back I am told no, needless to say I am trying to not get too wound up about it due to the heart problem but it is getting difficult not too, anyone got any ideas? all help greatly appreciated

[honeybee13]

Hello and welcome to the forum if this is your first visit to us. I'm so sorry to hear about your health problems. Please try not to get het up about all this; you need to look after your own health first. My father had a heart attack a while back and learned the hard way to try and let go of problems.

 

It must be disappointing to have paid in for most of your working life and to find the system letting you down when you need it most. I don't know enough to advise you, but we have people who know lots here, and I'm sure one or more of them will be around later with words of wisdom.

 

So please bear with us, we'll do as much as we can.

 

My best, HB x

[ErikaPNP]

Do you have any other form of income? A partners income? Savings in excess of £16000?

 

In respect of your sickness, how does it limit you in your day to day activities? Do you have care or mobility needs which arise from your condition?

[antone]

, I have phoned and asked about some kind of sickness/ ill health benefit and was told that if I did not qualify for one I will not get the other?

 

On the information given here, I can't say for sure, but the rules for Employment and Support Allowance (roughly speaking, a benefit paid to people who are unwell and unable to work) are different when it comes to class 2 contributions. It is possible that the adviser you spoke to assumed that contribution-based ESA works in the same way as contribution-based JSA. This isn't a safe assumption.

 

In other words, you may qualify for ESA based on your class 2 contributions. As I said, I can't say for sure one way or another, but I wouldn't write the idea off. Benefits are extremely complex, and most processors only deal with one of them. It could well be that the person you spoke to was truly unaware of the rules for ESA. But in general, class 2 contributions do count towards contributory ESA.

 

To make a claim you would need to be able to provide a medical certificate stating that you have limited capability for work, and it really isn't the easiest of benefits to deal with. But I wouldn't write off the idea of claiming on the basis of the information you've posted here about your contributions.

[honeybee13]

Hello again. I read the directgov website and it says the same as Antone is telling you. It looks complicated though. Have you spoken to your local CAB? They usually know about benefits. Also, there's Welfare Rights if they operate in your area, who have a good name. I believe you contact them through either the CAB or your local council.council website.

 

My best, HB

[fly poster]

Hi don't know enough about your current medical condition, but one thing I can say for sure, is that when I worked as a support worker, often DLA (disabled living allowance) was turned down on first application, and then given on appeal. I can't see how someone can tell you on the phone your won't get incapacity benefit ot DLA, as the poster said above, phone CAB definately. there is also as pointed out two types of JSA - contributions based, and income based - I have gone from being self-employed onto income based JSA. I find it very hard to beleive you are not entitled to any kind of sickness benefit with a heart condition.

 

That said, if you feel you are capable of some work (you have to be fit for work to qualify for JSA), then maybe registering again as self-employed, and claiming working tax credits is the way forward? you get 51 pounds pw, and housing benefit, and you still are entitled to this 51 even if you work and earn up to (I think) 4000 pounds in a year, after that the amount you recieve starts going down. I don't recall being asked about savings when I applied for credits, so dunno if they count if you have any, but don't quote me on that.

[ErikaPNP]

Savings don't count for tax credit, but the interest on any savings over £300 does.