A Fairer Benefits System for those who pay their contributions

I was recently unfortunate enough to of had to rely on Government benefits, due to being off work on long term sick leave with debilitating sciatica down my left leg and slowly but surely losing feeling in it. Having paid National Insurance since I was 16 and having been in full time employment for most of my working life, I was sure that I would be able to access some of the benefits offered.

I applied for Employment Support Allowance, which took ages to come through, due to the incompetency of the staff in the call centre messing up the application form, but eventually I was awarded both Contributions based ESA and a little Income based ESA. At this point I was also informed that I would be entitled to free prescriptions, to Council Tax Benefit and also to apply for help with my Mortgage after 13 weeks.

I filled in all the relevant application forms and sent them off, only to hear last week to my surprise that I am not eligible for any of them. On further investigation I was told the following, and In My Opinion disgusting news.

Because I have paid National Insurance and have worked as much as I possibly could over the years, I am entitled to Contributions based ESA which means I get approximately an extra £15-20 every two weeks than if I was on Income Based ESA. However only those people that are on Income based ESA get FREE prescriptions, get council tax benefit (FREE COUNCIL TAX) and get either Housing Benefit or SMI - Support with Mortgage Interest Payments. Just not having to pay the council tax of £77 per month would mean I would be better off on Income Based ESA - but because the figures show that I get slightly more money on Contribution Based ESA I have to stay on it.

Basically this means the Benefits Agency/Government are saying that if you have worked hard and paid your National Insurance for however many years you have been working, if you ever are unfortunate enough to need benefits, you are not entitled to anywhere near the support that those who haven't worked and contributed are allowed. I am not saying these people don’t necessarily deserve the help and support, but do believe the same should be offered to those that have contributed and worked hard.

If, like me, you think this is disgusting and needs to be changed, PLEASE sign this petition join this group and put your own comments below. There is also a facebook group linked below which you are all more than welcome to join.

Please think about this, not just for me, but for anyone else who is working hard and paying their contributions. You never know what might happen, or when you may need some help and at the moment it just isn't there!!!

The "British Governement" and "Benefits Agency" seriously need to look at how they go about helping those in need!

Thanks to all in advance!
Sincerely,