re Employment Support and Allowance

[mrspask]

a member of my family was diagnosed with cancer last September and had to stop work and go through the trials of surgery/Chemo etc.She received sickness benefit until March this year at which time she applied for ESA.This was refused on the basis that not enough Nat.Ins.Contributions were paid in 2006[3 months short!!]This was due to the fact she was living in New Zealand for 11 years prior to June 2006 when she came home to live and gained employment straight away.This hardly seems fair on top of what she has gone through already and Job Centre Plus have been unsympathetic and very long winded during the last 5 months.Her husband is a pensioner[71]They have the usual outgoings,rent,coucil tax etc and because they have their ''house money''from NZ still in the bank-they cannot claim any benefit.Any suggestions??

[dot.haukes]

tell her to apply to her local authorty for a descretionary award to help with her council tax.
ESA is for non-contribution based benefit I thought, though I could be wrong.
She should get an appointment to see her welfare rights office locally or ask for a home visit.

[TCL-MUMPING]

ESA Contributions Based is exactly that, it's based on National Insurance Contributions and unfortunately yir relative has not paid enough.

You mention "house money" so is that from the sale of a house? If they have too much in savings then again they will not qualify for income related benefits or Pension Credits.

Depending on her age, she may think about claiming Disability Living Allowance (if she needs help with mobility or personal care) or Attendance Allowance.

With regards to the Discretionary Housing Payment mentioned by dot, she will need to be in receipt of Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit and from what you say, she is not getting either.

You say Jobcentre Plus has been unsympathetic but there is little else they can do in these circumstances as they have to award benefits based on the relevant legislation.

[mosesg]

Try your local CLAN Centre as they often offer finacial support for cancer sufferers

[mosesg]

Didn't mean to say CLAn as that is local to my area, but something similar a local Cancer charity maybe would help

[mrspask]

Thanks to all answers to ''relation with cancer and no sickness pay''!!Ironically if they would have come back from NZ in MAR 2006 and started work they would have been ok for allowance!!If they would have come back in April and missed one NI cont. they would have still been unlucky-RULES IS RULES!!!!!