Coming off Incapacity Benefit

rlp6

Sorry I think I orginally posted this in the wrong section (disability forum).

My boyfriend has been suffering from disability problems for the last 7 years (physical and depression/anxiety). Following treatment over the last few months though he is feeling much better and is ready to try and get back in the working world. He informed DLA of his improved circumstances, and whilst he still recieves DLA he has been put on the low rate for both care and mobility which he is fine with. He only received the letter informing him of this drop in benefit today and will contact his local jobcentre on monday to tell them how he intends to come off incapacity benefit too and will look to get a job instead. He is concerned though that he has only really gradually got better over the last few months and that the Incapacity Benefit people may think he shouldn't have been recieving the benefit it over that period will ask for the money back or worse prosecute for not informing them sooner. He hasn't got the money to repay any over payments, and doesn't even want to consider the poetential for prosecution.

Is he worrying too much, or is this a genuine concern? Any advice you could give me would be of great help. Thanks

healy

I do not think there will be a problem as he is now saying he feels better and is ready to come off IB. I assume you mean he is going to come off IB and claim JSA instead. I do not think he will be asked to pay anything back if he changes from one benefit to the other.

dirtyflannel

That incapacity lark is a stress in itself think being on it makes you worse. Tell them nothing except his outlook changes from day to day which it probably does. If he starts adding fuel to the fire it will only confuse issues. Can he not go on that work thing for people on incapacity to see if he can cope with a job. I think they pay up to about £75 extra on top of IB too I may be wrong as things change but ask at CAB first think it is called permitted work . Good luck

rlp6

Thanks for the replies. Yeah I think he'll just be moving on to JSA. Money is obviously an issue with regards from going to IB to JSA but this will be balanced by the lack of stress IB often brings. He is just worried that they'll interpret his decision to leave IB as an indication that he has been fine for awhile, when in reality he hasn't really had "a change in circumstances" just more of a slow, gradual change which is much harder to define.

Oldernotwiser

dirtyflannel wrote: »

That incapacity lark is a stress in itself think being on it makes you worse. Tell them nothing except his outlook changes from day to day which it probably does. If he starts adding fuel to the fire it will only confuse issues. Can he not go on that work thing for people on incapacity to see if he can cope with a job. I think they pay up to about £75 extra on top of IB too I may be wrong as things change but ask at CAB first think it is called permitted work . Good luck

If he's well enough to come off IB he'll be committing fraud if he stays on it.

kats1

No, he won't have to pay any money back. He just needs to ring IB and tell them he is going to make a claim for JSA and he wants to close his IB claim. Asking about permitted work first though like dirtyflannel said would be a good idea.

rlp6

kats1 wrote: »

No, he won't have to pay any money back. He just needs to ring IB and tell them he is going to make a claim for JSA and he wants to close his IB claim. Asking about permitted work first though like dirtyflannel said would be a good idea.

Thanks Kats thats what he's hoping. It seems so ridiculous that a person actively looking to make a positive move to not be reliant on benefits (and save the country money) still has to potentially jump through hoops.

zappster1966

rlp6 wrote: »

Thanks Kats thats what he's hoping. It seems so ridiculous that a person actively looking to make a positive move to not be reliant on benefits (and save the country money) still has to potentially jump through hoops.

I'm genuinely curious to find out why you think there's so many hoops to jump through, it's a common theme on this board.

A final line from his GP will be enough to close his IB claim. One phone call to a freephone line and that's his JSA form completed (by them ... he only signs it). Quick trip to the Job Centre to hand the form in and that's that.

Is it really so onerous ? What would make the change easier for him ?

rlp6

zappster1966 wrote: »

I'm genuinely curious to find out why you think there's so many hoops to jump through, it's a common theme on this board.

A final line from his GP will be enough to close his IB claim. One phone call to a freephone line and that's his JSA form completed (by them ... he only signs it). Quick trip to the Job Centre to hand the form in and that's that.

Is it really so onerous ? What would make the change easier for him ?

I think its just a remnant of him catastrophizing every situation he finds himself in, and government campaigns targetted at benefit theives can often make genuine claimaints feel paranoid whens theres no need to be, so thats probably why this question keeps popping up. His mental wellbeing has improved but he is still in a vulnerable state, so whilst it might not seem to be jumping through hoops for some, it can become very stressful for those who have suffered with anxiety and/or depression issues.