Hi, not sure if anyone can help us......

MrsCrafty

My husband has been self employed for many years and due to ill health (Emphysemia possible asbestosis) has had to stop working. He cannot do it any more. He is 58. We have two children aged 3 & 6 and I work full time.

When he visited the job centre they told him in no uncertain terms to fark off because he has only paid class 2 contributions all of his life.

I can't believe that a man who has paid tax & NI for 40 years cannot get any help.

Could anyone help me here. I don't want to put too much information on here (but to be honest anyone who knows me knows I am skint so hell), but the other thing I am interested in is that if he signs on, his NI gets paid, is that correct, plus we are entitled to free prescriptions (he has glaucoma which needs eye drops every month). Can anyone help me here

healy

MrsCrafty wrote: »

My husband has been self employed for many years and due to ill health (Emphysemia possible asbestosis) has had to stop working. He cannot do it any more. He is 58. We have two children aged 3 & 6 and I work full time.

When he visited the job centre they told him in no uncertain terms to fark off because he has only paid class 2 contributions all of his life.

I can't believe that a man who has paid tax & NI for 40 years cannot get any help.

Could anyone help me here. I don't want to put too much information on here (but to be honest anyone who knows me knows I am skint so hell), but the other thing I am interested in is that if he signs on, his NI gets paid, is that correct, plus we are entitled to free prescriptions (he has glaucoma which needs eye drops every month). Can anyone help me here

If he is unable to work due to ill health he can claim ESA, his self-employed class 2 conts cover this but not JSA.

More detail here: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/FinancialSupport/esa/DG_171894

If he signs on he will receive NI credits.

Tehya

Hi, I'm no expert in NI contributions so can't help you there. Has he tried to claim ESA (employment and support allowance is paid when someone is sick) I'm not sure of the effects of NI on ESA but it might be worth trying.

If you get no joy with ESA you may be able to get some form of tax credits if your wage is low. There are child tax credits which even with a good wage can generate a small amount of tax credits paid to you then there is working tax credits these depend on how many hours are worked and what income you have already. I think the top limit you can earn and still be entitlled is somewhere around £17K per year but someone else on here will be able to confirm this for you.

You could try putting your details into the directgov benefits checker, I've usually found it pretty accurate. https://www.dwpe-services.direct.gov.uk/portal/page/portal/ba/lp the link will take you straight to it.

If you are awarded WTC (the working part of tax credits) you are automatically awarded free prescriptions, you are sent a NHS Exemption Certificate which is a credit card sized card you show to dentists, opticians, pharmacies etc.

Hope this helps,

Tehya

PS If your husband is very ill and you feel he has become disabled you could also try and get DLA. Ifyou are awarded DLA Care at either the Middle or Higher rate you may get even more help with tax credits etc. If you do try for DLA my advice would be to approach his GP/Specialists etc and get their support and also contact the CAB or Welfare Rights or even a local disability charity like DIAL.

MrsCrafty

Thank you very much for your support. I have done it and it seems that we are allowed something as a family. Thanks again.

MrsCrafty

Just an addition, my hubs didn't want to live off me or the state, but I knew that he must be entitled to something after having paid in alll of his life. Even if he gets £30 per week, that will make him feel better than living off of me as he is old school and has spent all of his savings already.

Tehya

MrsCrafty wrote: »

Just an addition, my hubs didn't want to live off me or the state, but I knew that he must be entitled to something after having paid in alll of his life. Even if he gets £30 per week, that will make him feel better than living off of me as he is old school and has spent all of his savings already.

Hi again,

It's scary when you suddenly lose half the families income and for the person who's sick it can make things a lot worse. Once you have the correct support in place your husband will find it easier. My husband fell ill a couple of years ago and like you we found things extremely difficult but it does get better.

He blamed himself and hated claiming disability related benefits as it just confirmed what his doctor's were saying. He's had to come to terms with the fact that he'll never work again but he's come through it all with his self respect intact with lots of encouragement and understanding from both friends and family.

Don't forget there's a wealth of information on here and there's always someone willing to help,

Tehya

MrsCrafty

Yes, I am getting cross with the fact that he wont claim anything. He has done his savings and I don't have any. So we are really skint now. I am paying the childminder and it's all so flippin hard.

I wanted to know that he could claim something outside of what I earn. The only benefit we get is Child Benefit which is £132.00 per month.

I earn £46,000 per annum. I know that lots of people would see that as huge but I don't care. I have worked all of my life so has hubs and he should be entitled to something after putting in 43 years.

MrsCrafty

Tehya wrote: »

Hi again,

It's scary when you suddenly lose half the families income and for the person who's sick it can make things a lot worse. Once you have the correct support in place your husband will find it easier. My husband fell ill a couple of years ago and like you we found things extremely difficult but it does get better.

He blamed himself and hated claiming disability related benefits as it just confirmed what his doctor's were saying. He's had to come to terms with the fact that he'll never work again but he's come through it all with his self respect intact with lots of encouragement and understanding from both friends and family.

Don't forget there's a wealth of information on here and there's always someone willing to help,

Tehya

Thats exactly what my DH is going through. My attitude is that he should get something back after paying in properly for all of these years. He has never claimed a penny but paid it all correctly. My Father still will not either and lives off his work pension and will not claim a penny.

MrsCrafty

These people are weirdos, My Father & Husband as they don't want to take money from the state.

I do.

MrsCrafty

Tehya wrote: »

Hi again,

It's scary when you suddenly lose half the families income and for the person who's sick it can make things a lot worse. Once you have the correct support in place your husband will find it easier. My husband fell ill a couple of years ago and like you we found things extremely difficult but it does get better.

He blamed himself and hated claiming disability related benefits as it just confirmed what his doctor's were saying. He's had to come to terms with the fact that he'll never work again but he's come through it all with his self respect intact with lots of encouragement and understanding from both friends and family.

Don't forget there's a wealth of information on here and there's always someone willing to help,

Tehya

How much time do you have????

bunny999

You should claim child tax credits. Could your husband do the child minding ?