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Will I still be entitled to ESA?

grinandbearit
Posts: 4 Newbie
Hello everyone
Was wondering if anyone could give me some advice.
I have been off work since last year due to severe depression. I started claiming ESA in September when my money ran out. I was a private tenant, and received housing benefit and council tax benefit.
I had my medical with ATOS a few months ago. They decided I was fit for work and cut my benefits. This is what they are doing to everyone... anyway, I am currently appealing which may take a few months and in the interim I'm still in receipt of ESA.
However, I have recently moved in with my partner. I rang benefits to tell them, and they've sent me a confusingly-worded 'change of circumstances' claim form.
My partner is on a low wage. She brings in just under £750 net a month. Her mortgage is £600 a month. She is struggling a great deal.
Surely they cannot expect her to support me as well as herself on that money? Obviously, I can't claim housing benefit there. It's not a tenable situation. She rang up to find out about tax credits the other day and was in tears at the end of the call - she will not be entitled to anything as a year and a half ago she was made redundant from a well-paid job. As it stands, it is highly feasible she may lose her flat.
Sorry for rambling. In short, will I be eligible for any benefits? I am doing my best to get better so I can start earning again. My partner has worked hard all her life, paid lots of tax, was unlucky enough to buy a flat at the market's peak, and is now on a lot less money, less than she needs to survive really. The message we keep getting is, there's no help available, really. It makes me sick that hardworking people who for whatever reason have had to take a knock can get no assistance...but if you're long term unemployed, you'll get a free laptop! Makes me sick...rant over
Is it worth me even submitting my claim? Please, any help or advice gratefully accepted...really struggling here
Was wondering if anyone could give me some advice.
I have been off work since last year due to severe depression. I started claiming ESA in September when my money ran out. I was a private tenant, and received housing benefit and council tax benefit.
I had my medical with ATOS a few months ago. They decided I was fit for work and cut my benefits. This is what they are doing to everyone... anyway, I am currently appealing which may take a few months and in the interim I'm still in receipt of ESA.
However, I have recently moved in with my partner. I rang benefits to tell them, and they've sent me a confusingly-worded 'change of circumstances' claim form.
My partner is on a low wage. She brings in just under £750 net a month. Her mortgage is £600 a month. She is struggling a great deal.
Surely they cannot expect her to support me as well as herself on that money? Obviously, I can't claim housing benefit there. It's not a tenable situation. She rang up to find out about tax credits the other day and was in tears at the end of the call - she will not be entitled to anything as a year and a half ago she was made redundant from a well-paid job. As it stands, it is highly feasible she may lose her flat.
Sorry for rambling. In short, will I be eligible for any benefits? I am doing my best to get better so I can start earning again. My partner has worked hard all her life, paid lots of tax, was unlucky enough to buy a flat at the market's peak, and is now on a lot less money, less than she needs to survive really. The message we keep getting is, there's no help available, really. It makes me sick that hardworking people who for whatever reason have had to take a knock can get no assistance...but if you're long term unemployed, you'll get a free laptop! Makes me sick...rant over
Is it worth me even submitting my claim? Please, any help or advice gratefully accepted...really struggling here
0
Comments
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Are you on Contributions based or Income Related. IF your are ESA (ir) than it will affect your entitlement, but if it is ESA (c) then it wouldn't.
February GC £26.68/£2500 -
Hi.
I'm on Income Related. Do you think they are going to completely cut me off or put me on a reduced rate? I'm actually trying (hard) to get a job now, but it's not easy...even if I switched to JSA the situation would be the same, would it not?
(it really angers me...why not give regular working people some help? if she ended up losing her flat, we would both be homeless, probably long-term unemployed and would need to be housed...by the council, at great cost! it seems shortsighted, to say the least)0 -
grinandbearit wrote: »Hi.
I'm on Income Related. Do you think they are going to completely cut me off or put me on a reduced rate? I'm actually trying (hard) to get a job now, but it's not easy...even if I switched to JSA the situation would be the same, would it not?
(it really angers me...why not give regular working people some help? if she ended up losing her flat, we would both be homeless, probably long-term unemployed and would need to be housed...by the council, at great cost! it seems shortsighted, to say the least)
You wont get a penny, her wage is enough to keep you both by the ridiculosly low goverment figures.0 -
It's absolutely insane. I'm at breaking point here. Does the fact that she has a £600 a month mortgage to pay have no bearing at all?0
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grinandbearit wrote: »It's absolutely insane. I'm at breaking point here. Does the fact that she has a £600 a month mortgage to pay have no bearing at all?
No, why would it?0 -
What would you advise me to do?0
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grinandbearit wrote: »What would you advise me to do?
apply for any and every job be it full or part time and your partner can also see if she can get another job to keep your heads above water.0 -
She wouldn't get help with the mortgage unless she was unemployed for more than 13 weeks0
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