Unpaid leave & ESA?

DEBTMONKEY1A

Hello,

Some of you may know my circumstances from previous posts (!). In a nutshell, am off work myself with high blood pressure & stress & am on statutory sick pay. I am also caring for my g/f who has mental health issues.

We're still waiting to hear about DLA (& carers allowence if awarded correct band) & have applied for housing/council tax benefit & just a few days ago ESA.

If my blood pressure/stress did improve (& doc would no longer give sick notes) & I stayed off work (as g/f needs someone with her) on unpaid leave would this affect her ESA/HOUSING BENEFIT/COUNCIL TAX BENEFIT in any way?

Also, if I did take time off work unpaid (ONLY IF no more sick-notes were issued) & was sacked because of this would I be able to claim Jobseekers allowence or something similar??

Thanks in advance!

DEBTMONKEY1A

Any ideas anyone or are you all in the garden with a beer??! (Wish i had a garden!)

DEBTMONKEY1A

any more for any more?!!

DEBTMONKEY1A

BUMP bump!!!!!!!!!!!!

NASA_2

Is she claiming the Contributory part of ESA?

DEBTMONKEY1A

Not sure but on page 8 of statement it says 'claim sub-type' & then ESA & in brackets (C +IR)???

NASA_2

Then its an income related claim and your details should be held as well.

If you stay off on unpaid leave then it shouldnt really have an effect on your partners ESA claim.

If you are fit for work then you could claim JSA. If you claim JSA it would have to be a Contributions Only claim as there cant be two Income Related claims going at the one time. If you claim JSA(C) and are entitled then this money will be taken in in full against your partners ESA(IR) claim. If she is entitled to the (C) part of ESA then she will get about £64.30 if not then about £36 .

DEBTMONKEY1A

ESA-so just to clarify the last bit of your post-if I was sacked for taking unpaid time off I COULD try & claim JSA?

Given the circumstances & g/f's health problems do you thenk the 'decision maker' would allow me JSA straight away-or would I have to wait a few weeks?

NASA_2

DEBTMONKEY1A wrote: »

ESA-so just to clarify the last bit of your post-if I was sacked for taking unpaid time off I COULD try & claim JSA?

Given the circumstances & g/f's health problems do you thenk the 'decision maker' would allow me JSA straight away-or would I have to wait a few weeks?

So long as you didnt deliberately cause yourself to become unemployed you should be fine. I emphasise the should because Decision Makers can be inconsistent at times - which isnt all that susprising given the complex nature of the benefit system.

If such an occurance happens then make the claim immediately and explain the situation to them in full detail.