Confused??! Help with Disability living allowence/carers allowence

DEBTMONKEY1A

Hello all,

Wonder if you could advise.

My other 1/2 had a short psychotic episode (bought on by extreme stress) & unfortunately was sectioned. Her recovery was fairly quick & she is now much better but still not 100%. She has seen an occupational health doctor (she works in a college as a teaching assistant in languages for the local authority) who allowed her a 'graded' (ie slow) return to work on reduced hours.

This she has started & managed the hours given. Her contract is from September -20 may-so she does not have work with the college from 21 may-september each year.

She still has 'odd thoughts' but as she's recovering now she knows they are 'odd' & does not beleive them! However-the very fact that she has these thoughts (allbeit that they are slowly fading) does upset her & her ability to focus has been greatly diminished.She also has a visit 2 times a week from a psychiatric nurse.

Now this is where it all becomes more complicated. The flat she rents is in HER name (& we've just recently e-mailed the council to remove the additional 25% discount for single occupancy) but I live there!

I am employed in a Sales position & in the past few weeks I have had to come home to see her as she's been very panicky/upset about these 'thoughts' etc (once wanting to 'jump in front of a bus' as she was so fed up-not that she'd do it but obviously I came home sharpish!)...to the point where I feel my employers may get rid of me (illegal I know as been there 1 1/2 years, etc-know they have to do meetings, etc but if they want rid they will find a way!).

Her ability to get a job in the summer will be greatly diminished as her confidence/'focus' skills etc are low (& as she's done her previous job for 4 years she can just about cope with that on reduced hours).

One of her nurses mentioned 'disability living allowence' & a 'carers' allowence for me (IF i was sacked & not working!). Done a bit of googleing & she'll be approaching the 3 month ill stage soon.

My question is to the king folk on here-what could she/we claim if A)-I'm still working (but not registered as a tennant on agreement) & she's off for the Summer or -what could we BOTH claim if i got sacked??!

Sorry to waffle on-been a very very hard few months!

DEBTMONKEY1A

BUMP! Don't want to fall off this page!

earplugs

She can claim Disability Living Allowance once past the 3 month ill phase - ring the benefits enquiry line to request the DLA pack - 0800 882 200 - it'll take 7 to 10 days to come through to you.

What rate shes gets the care component of DLA will determine whether she has an underlying entitlement to Carers Allowance. She would have to be awarded the middle rate of the care component of DLA to obtain the underlying entitlement to Carers Allowance.

If you are working you can't claim Carers Allowance but if she did get awarded the middle rate for the care component of DLA it would be worth her telling her local authority to see if there is a reduction in her council tax bill due to her receiving DLA.

If you got sacked then you would want to claim jobseekers or income support, however, the Jobcentre may say that you have caused your own unemployment and not allow you to claim JSA or IS for a number of weeks. If you are in receipt of JSA or IS then you can make claims for Housing Benefit/Local Housing Allowance and Council Tax Benefit. Depending on what your income is will determine whether you receive the Carers Allowance or whether she receives the underlying entitlement to Carers Allowance which she can offset against other benefits.

Might be worth a trip to your local citizens advice bureau and ask them to do a better off calculation for you regarding benefits - they can also help your partner to fill in the DLA form if you feel you need help.

Good luck!

DEBTMONKEY1A

Cheers for that! Not got the boot yet but I know their patience is wearing thin. Unfortunately she has no friends/family here at all to look after her as she's from France-so if I'm sacked they'd be on a difficult issue legaly if I took the matter further.

DEBTMONKEY1A

Any more for anymore?? Especially interested on if Housing benefit can be claimed (assuming I'm not working) even if I'm not on tennancy agreement?

How fast does this forum move!

babyhead

Hello.
Sorry to hear about your situation.
I would speak to your local authority about your Housing benefit query - Although I suspect they would probably want you on the tenancy agreement. I am not sure but I think the amounts etc would vary from county to county so it would be better to speak to them directly.

As the poster above has said you would only be entitled to carer's allowance if she could claim middle rate care. If you earn over £95 a week you aren't eligible for carers and I think it also affects other benefits aswell i.e any carers amount gets deducted from income support etc... Probably best to speak to CAB and they might be able to do a calculation for you???

scooby1001

She could try for dla but if she has never had any mental health problems before her break-down she may get turned down as they would expect her to be back to normal with the 6 months.(have to have had it for 3 months and it expected to last another 6 months). There is no harm in trying but i would would be surprised if she got it.

DEBTMONKEY1A

Thanks all! I would hope she'd be recovered in 6 months but certainly for the next 3/4 months she does need some support & i think would be unable to take the stress of a 'new' job quite yet!

Am I still eligable for JSA even if not on the tennancy agreement?

Would it help if my name was on for the Council Tax? At the mo she's just said 'a friend' is staying....but wer'e still not claiming any discount we should not claim!

sunnyone

So she is claiming council tax as a single resident?

Thats fraud.

sunnyone

richard9991

sunnyone wrote: »

So she is claiming council tax as a single resident?

Thats fraud.

sunnyone

Now this is where it all becomes more complicated. The flat she rents is in HER name (& we've just recently e-mailed the council to remove the additional 25% discount for single occupancy) but I live there!

DEBTMONKEY1A

No-single persons discount not being claimed now.