What happens when IB stops but nearing retirement age.

Oldernotwiser

chesky369 wrote: »

Have you considered Earnings Support Allowance - ESA - it's for those who would be eligible for work as far as age is concerned, but have either physical or mental health problems. It only came in on 27 October but your local Job centre should be able to help. But I would go to your local CAB first, to get their backing beforehand.

If OP's husband is ineligible for IB, which was the point of the post, he won't be eligible for ESA either as the criteria are more stringent, I believe.

TomsMom

chesky369 wrote: »

Have you considered Earnings Support Allowance - ESA - it's for those who would be eligible for work as far as age is concerned, but have either physical or mental health problems. It only came in on 27 October but your local Job centre should be able to help. But I would go to your local CAB first, to get their backing beforehand.

Thanks Chesky. Something else to look into. I think a visit to CAB will be a good idea as this seems to be so complicated.

Oldernotwiser

TomsMom wrote: »

Thanks Chesky. Something else to look into. I think a visit to CAB will be a good idea as this seems to be so complicated.

ESA is the benefit that's replacing IB, it's not something additional.

TomsMom

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

ESA is the benefit that's replacing IB, it's not something additional.

According to the DWP website ESA replaced IB for new "customers" from 27/10/08. As he's been getting IB for a few months then it obviously doesn't apply to OH. It's good to look into all these things and either eliminate them or make a note of them for further investigation later on.

He will know in a couple of weeks whether he is in remission or not and whether he remains on IB for the immediate future. If not then we can start looking into what is available, and the suggestion of CAB seems to be a good one.

I do think it's important, in these days of benefit scroungers, that benefits actually go to those who genuinely meet the criteria rather than those who manage to find a way to fiddle the system (and there's a fair few of those where we live). We hear of so many benefits not being claimed by people who are entitled to them, particularly the elderly, and being encouraged to claim them but it seems to be a case of if you don't know about them then you miss out unless you ask.

EdInvestor

Some more benefits info:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=3933

I'd have thought it's very likely (check with MacMillan) that given his health IB will continue to be payable up to state pension age and that your main concern should be to get the tax situation sorted when he starts to draw the pensions - and alsoi to get the latter well sorted from the spouse point of view..

TomsMom

Thanks Ed. I will pop over and have a read of that a little later on as there's a casserole calling :rotfl:

chesky369

Although ESA is replacing IB, its criteria are very different. For instance, one of the changes is there is a far higher recognition of mental illness or stress. The form for claiming is huge and you really should get help filling it in. five pages are devoted to mental health and over 15 pages to physical health. It;s important to know how to answer the questions in the most relevant way and that means not 'making the best' of things but saying how matters are on the worst days.

Oldernotwiser

chesky369 wrote: »

that means not 'making the best' of things but saying how matters are on the worst days.

That is definitely not the correct thing to do and would amount to benefit fraud. I read and post a great deal on the Benefits Board and that attitude is very much frowned on. Telling it like it is is the way to go, neither minimising or exaggerating a condition.

Oldernotwiser

Timbo wrote: »

Yes your better off telling them what its like at its worst,and don't let them lead you into answers either,like,but you can do so and so can't you,just say no you can't without extreme pain or danger whatever they thing may be

If you fill in a form describing your bad days as normal then you will be lying and liable to prosecution. If you have a medical examination you should tell the truth and give some idea of how often things are at their worst. No need to minimise (a very British trait) but you shouldn't lie either.

mardatha

Tomsmum, he can go onto PENSION CREDIT if he's over 60. My Oh did that, was totally easy and fast to claim, then he just phoned his employer after being off sick for 6 months, said he wasnt coming back. It isnt a lot of money but you get full CT and rent rebates plus dentist and optician free.