IB or income support disability?

healy

my_two_cents wrote: »

I did. Changed from long-term IB to IS in May 2008.

Asked to fill in an IB50 form, panicked and requested to be put on IS. Got a call to tell me I would be taking a drop in income . . . as if they cared :rolleyes:

This made me more determined . . . passed the IB test though

Also got asked if I was no longer incapacitated, told then I still was, but that I just preferred to claim as a parent.

That is because you claimed as a lone parent, on income support rather than Incapacity Benefit others cannot switch to IS from IB if they qualify for IB.

my_two_cents

healy wrote: »

That is because you claimed as a lone parent, others cannot switch to IS from IB if they qualify for IB.

That was the reason why I said you could claim IS on five different grounds, of which being a lone parent is one, so if you meet the requirement of one of the grounds, and as long as you are ready to take a drop in income, you can switch from IB.

katholicos

This is the first i have read about the changes and really appreciate this thread. Thanks!

I have been unwell for about 9 years but because i am a single parent i never saw the point of claiming IB as I was already claiming Income Support just before i got sick.

Now it's going to look like i don't want to quit benefits but i am not well enough to work full time so i think i don't really have much choice but to make a claim for IB.

Is it best to wait for the changes to take place and then claim for IB? I am worried that as a famuly we will suddenly have nothing to live on if i don't claim before the changes come in to place.

Is this a 'definate' that the bill will be passed?

Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

Edited to ask: can i still claim housing benefit if i do manage to get IB?

healy

my_two_cents wrote: »

That was the reason why I said you could claim IS on five different grounds, of which being a lone parent is one, so if you meet the requirement of one of the grounds, and as long as you are ready to take a drop in income, you can switch from IB.

My point is that this does not apply to the OP as they have a partner.

my_two_cents

healy wrote: »

My point is that this does not apply to the OP as they have a partner.

My point was based on your "you cannot choose" comment. Can we kiss and make up now

my_two_cents

katholicos wrote: »

This is the first i have read about the changes and really appreciate this thread. Thanks!

I have been unwell for about 9 years but because i am a single parent i never saw the point of claiming IB as I was already claiming Income Support just before i got sick.

Now it's going to look like i don't want to quit benefits but i am not well enough to work full time so i think i don't really have much choice but to make a claim for IB.

Is it best to wait for the changes to take place and then claim for IB? I am worried that as a famuly we will suddenly have nothing to live on if i don't claim before the changes come in to place.

Is this a 'definate' that the bill will be passed?

Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

The welfare reform regarding lone parent is scheduled to be rolled out in November 2008, and is only applicable to lone parents whose youngest child is over the age of 12 and whose reason for claiming income support is solely because she is a lone parent. Parents whom are carers, foster carers, have a disability or have a disabled child are not affected.

katholicos wrote: »

Edited to ask: can i still claim housing benefit if i do manage to get IB?

If you claim IB, you might get benefit at a rate higher than IS after claiming for more than six months, but by the time you pay for pro-rated rent, council tax, prescription, etc IMHO, you would kinda wished you had stayed on IS.

calleyw

katholicos wrote: »

This is the first i have read about the changes and really appreciate this thread. Thanks!

I have been unwell for about 9 years but because i am a single parent i never saw the point of claiming IB as I was already claiming Income Support just before i got sick.

Now it's going to look like i don't want to quit benefits but i am not well enough to work full time so i think i don't really have much choice but to make a claim for IB.

Is it best to wait for the changes to take place and then claim for IB? I am worried that as a famuly we will suddenly have nothing to live on if i don't claim before the changes come in to place.

Is this a 'definate' that the bill will be passed?

Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

Edited to ask: can i still claim housing benefit if i do manage to get IB?

The reform has been put in place already and the childs age at which a lone parent is expected to be job seeking will be reduced down to 7 years old from 2010. More info here

To claim IB you need have paid enough NI in the last 3 tax years. Other wise it is IS. But with the new ESA coming in to place not sure of the new rules.

As long as you house income is low enough and you have no savings over the thresholds you should still be able to claim HB and CTB.

Yours


Calley

HGLTsuperstar

my_two_cents wrote: »

The OP is on long-term IB.

So is my Mum - should she be getting more?

stazi

IB long term basic is £84.50pw. Depending on age at the start of sickness, then an age addition can be payable in addition as follows-
Age under 35 at start +£17.75pw
Age under 45 +£8.90pw
Age over 45 £NIL.

healy

my_two_cents wrote: »

My point was based on your "you cannot choose" comment. Can we kiss and make up now

If you are entitled to IB you cannot choose to claim IS instead, this is the case with OP so to suggest claiming IS is wrong because it is not possible.