Thousands of disabled people and people on "sick" to lose benefits on the 30th April
As part of the Governments Welfare Reform Bill (now an Act), Contributory Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) will be limited to 12 months. This comes into affect from the 30th April 2012 and for the first time is to be aplplied retrospectively. This means that anyone who has been on Contribution based ESA for a year or more by April 30th will lose this benefit on April 30th. For many this means relying on a partners income for others it means taking a cut in income while having to go on income based ESA. The biggest losers are couples.