So confused about disability benefits, please help

L-M

Can anyone help? I am so confused and stressed out!

I have tried entiltled to but I'm still unsure about things:o

What I really need to know is what benefits would be available in these circumstances (and ideally a rough idea of the amounts would be sooo helpful)

Married couple
4 children
disabled wife (probably higher rate care and mobility)
husband not working, fulltime carer
house with a mortgage

I understood the tax credits part of the calculator, but the ESA amount seemed to be coming out at about £230 ish? I thougt ESA was a set amount if around £65? And would the husband be entitled to carers allowence or IS?

Also is there any help available with mortgage interest?

Any help or advice very gratefully recieved!

Thanks in advance

Kimitatsu

Could you pad it out a bit with more detail? Couple I assume over 25?

Ages of the children - and are any of them registered disabled and are they all in full time education?

Your wife is not guaranteed to be entitled to higher rate care and mobility, have you tried to apply for DLA yet?

L-M

Hi, thanks for replying, sorry for not giving enough detail

yes both over 25, the children range from 14 to 2 so the older ones are in full time education

Totally understand what your saying about the DLA, I just said that to try and give an idea of the level of disability if you see what I mean? Basically she hasn't applied for DLA yet as the medical problem has just suddenly gotten worse.....she will be wheelchair bound and in a lot of pain and will need a lot of help, but I know there are no guarantees with Dla

As I said it's just all so confusing at the moment and it would help so much to have an idea of the financial situation

DX2

L-M wrote: »

What I really need to know is what benefits would be available in these circumstances (and ideally a rough idea of the amounts would be sooo helpful)

Married couple
4 children
disabled wife (probably higher rate care and mobility)
husband not working, fulltime carer
house with a mortgage

I understood the tax credits part of the calculator, but the ESA amount seemed to be coming out at about £230 ish? I thougt ESA was a set amount if around £65? And would the husband be entitled to carers allowence or IS?

Also is there any help available with mortgage interest?

Any help or advice very gratefully recieved!

Thanks in advance

I'm thinking Income support for couple £100.95
http://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/JCP/Customers/WorkingAgeBenefits/Incomesupport/index.html

Carers premium £29.50
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/CaringForSomeone/MoneyMatters/CarersAllowance/DG_10012529


Support for mortgage Interest.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/On_a_low_income/DG_180321

Child tax credits 4 kids
DLA if your wife is eligible.

L-M

Thanks DX2, those links are really helpful

sunnyone

What are you getting now?

DLA is a very hard benefit to get and saying you think higher rate of both dosnt mean that you will get them, whats the nature of disability?

You cant claim IS unless you are on a entitling benefit such as DLA and you cant claim carers until then and a claim takes months unless you claim under the special rules.

Isnt finding out what can be claimed now more important than ifs and whens, not what you may be entitled to next year?

sunnyone

L-M

At the moment we aren't claiming benefits, we're both working

My wife has had a condition which results in a lot of pain and poor mobilty for a while, but has just 'struggled on'

Now something has happened (sorry I'm trying not to give away too many details so as not to be identified IRL) which means within a very short space of time she will be unable to walk, unable to care for herself and in a lot of pain

This has been a lot to take in, and her health is obviously our main concern, but I can't deny the financial side of things is really really worrying me, if I at least knew what we might be entitled to it might help ease one of our worries

I had heard that DLA is very difficult to claim, but I hadn't realised it took months, all this is just so overwhelming. As I said I don't know what level she'd get if she was entitled to it but I would guess higher rate (she seems to meet all the criteria?) but I just don't know what we'll do while we're waiting or what we'll do if she doesn't get it at all

sunnyone

L-M wrote: »

At the moment we aren't claiming benefits, we're both working

My wife has had a condition which results in a lot of pain and poor mobilty for a while, but has just 'struggled on'

Now something has happened (sorry I'm trying not to give away too many details so as not to be identified IRL) which means within a very short space of time she will be unable to walk, unable to care for herself and in a lot of pain

This has been a lot to take in, and her health is obviously our main concern, but I can't deny the financial side of things is really really worrying me, if I at least knew what we might be entitled to it might help ease one of our worries

I had heard that DLA is very difficult to claim, but I hadn't realised it took months, all this is just so overwhelming. As I said I don't know what level she'd get if she was entitled to it but I would guess higher rate (she seems to meet all the criteria?) but I just don't know what we'll do while we're waiting or what we'll do if she doesn't get it at all

Thats the problem, the waiting and what you live on in the meantime.

Is she entitled to sick pay, company or SSP?

The wait for DLA is approx 12 weeks but it can take much longer, most people seem to be rejected first time and appeal, 50% or so of appeals win but appealing takes even longer. I had a very easy ride for DLA and I got the right awards first time but even that took 10 weeks.

I would visit your GP and give him an up to date picture of your wifes condition, the same with her consultant, make sure they know that she is applying for DLA and ask for there support.

If she needs care SS can do an assessment for short term care needs.

sunnyone

merlin68

you would get £116 income support which includes the carers premium and disabled premium.
£53 CA
£200 tax credits
£59 cb
£280 dla care and £280 dla mobility
They would also pay your rent, council tax, school dinners and health costs.
You can also claim cheaper water if you have more than 3 kids and are on benifits. Dont forget that if you go to hospital you can claim the fares backa s well.
You can also use your mobility part to get a car.

Indie_Kid

L-M wrote: »

As I said I don't know what level she'd get if she was entitled to it but I would guess higher rate (she seems to meet all the criteria?)

This doesn't mean she'll get the higher rates though. I meet the criteria for mid rate care; yet am only on low rate.