ESA or Income Support?

johnwayne

Our current situation is:
DH receives Income based JSA
DS (7) receives HRC & LRM DLA

I have just been awarded HRM & HRC DLA.
My husband has applied for Carer's allowance for me, I have not claimed CA for my son as I was not sure if I can as I am disabled and have care needs myself.

So my question is what would should we do now? Do I claim ESA or should DH claim IS?
DH is hoping to get a part-time job once our other DS (4) is at school full-time as I could manage for a few hours without him. So it is just to tide us over untill probably October time when he can hopefully get work.

Should we do this through the Job Centre or the helpline?

I did try and ask this question of the helpline but as DH's CA is still in the application stage they werent willing to give me any advice. As for the JC it depends on the advisor as to whether they are willing or able to give advice.Unfortunately DH got the same advisor who had been extremely unhelpfull in advising him when I became ill so no help there either.

So just need some friendly advice so we know what to do next please?

Thanks

Widelats

johnwayne wrote: »

Our current situation is:
DH receives Income based JSA
DS (7) receives HRC & LRM DLA

I have just been awarded HRM & HRC DLA.
My husband has applied for Carer's allowance for me, I have not claimed CA for my son as I was not sure if I can as I am disabled and have care needs myself.

So my question is what would should we do now? Do I claim ESA or should DH claim IS?
DH is hoping to get a part-time job once our other DS (4) is at school full-time as I could manage for a few hours without him. So it is just to tide us over untill probably October time when he can hopefully get work.

Should we do this through the Job Centre or the helpline?

I did try and ask this question of the helpline but as DH's CA is still in the application stage they werent willing to give me any advice. As for the JC it depends on the advisor as to whether they are willing or able to give advice.Unfortunately DH got the same advisor who had been extremely unhelpfull in advising him when I became ill so no help there either.

So just need some friendly advice so we know what to do next please?

Thanks

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2009/oct/28/work-capability-assessment-incapacity-benefits

Either ask for a different JC adviser (you can do this, i went through 6 advisers in 3 weeks, all of them were useless, i ended up seeing the manager of the JC for my interviews about work and training)

OR play the waiting game and see what happens with your claims before deciding what to claim, ESA i think is hard to get.

You still do care for your son, put in the claims anyway and see what happens.

johnwayne

Widelats wrote: »

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2009/oct/28/work-capability-assessment-incapacity-benefits

Either ask for a different JC adviser (you can do this, i went through 6 advisers in 3 weeks, all of them were useless, i ended up seeing the manager of the JC for my interviews about work and training)

OR play the waiting game and see what happens with your claims before deciding what to claim, ESA i think is hard to get.

You still do care for your son, put in the claims anyway and see what happens.

Thanks for that.

Thats what puts me off ESA. Having read about all of the problems with regards to claiming it. I'm not able to do any type of work at the moment (maybe if someone needed a mobility scooter tester or a bed tester I'd be able to do that....if I didnt fall asleep on the job). Having said that I am not able to do a job does not mean that they will agree though:(

I will get him to request another advisor if its her he sees next week, in fact I think I will go along with him and make sure he does;)

Yes I do still care for my son, I read with him, watch him, play with him, help him dress, guide him in his physiotherapy, encourage him,etc. so yes I can see your point. I cant run around after him but having thought about it I still do an awful lot for him even though I cant do a lot for myself:o.

Thanks again

NASA_2

Claim Income Support. So long as the claim is registered IS can pay.

johnwayne

NASA wrote: »

Claim Income Support. So long as the claim is registered IS can pay.

Ok thankyou. It seems that I got a rather unhelpfull person on the helpline.

daska

OP, would it help to know that there is no definition of 'care'. According to the CA lady I spoke to it can be as simple as being on the end of a phone (her words), or watching over someone and calling for help if they put themselves in danger, or as full on as providing full personal care.

ESA pays more and might provide more in the way of premiums on other benefits (I'm still trying to get the answer to this question re ESA and DLA in regards to housing) but I have found the ESA process incredibly stressful.

AngelBadger

ESA isn't easy to get but it widely varies from place to place, also since you're on HRM & HRC for DLA you'll most likely be in a stronger position. Have you tried the entitledto website? You put in your info and they tell you what you're entitled to claim.

johnwayne

daska wrote: »

OP, would it help to know that there is no definition of 'care'. According to the CA lady I spoke to it can be as simple as being on the end of a phone (her words), or watching over someone and calling for help if they put themselves in danger, or as full on as providing full personal care.

ESA pays more and might provide more in the way of premiums on other benefits (I'm still trying to get the answer to this question re ESA and DLA in regards to housing) but I have found the ESA process incredibly stressful.

Thanks for that Daska it certainly reassures me. My son needs watching from the moment he wakes as he has not got any idea about danger & seems to seek it out, I do watch him while DH gets on with the things I am unable to do. Thinking about all the things that I do actually do for him it certainly adds up to an awful lot. Even when I am in bed I still care for him as we cuddle up and watch Dr Who.:D

As for ESA thats what worries me the stress. Stress seems to make my Lupus flare really badly.

AngelBadger wrote: »

ESA isn't easy to get but it widely varies from place to place, also since you're on HRM & HRC for DLA you'll most likely be in a stronger position. Have you tried the entitledto website? You put in your info and they tell you what you're entitled to claim.

Do be honest AngelBadger I havent. Its usually the first thing I would have thought of telling people:o. I'll go take a look!

NASA_2

ESA only pays more if you pass the medical. In all other cases it pays less or the same as other benefits as it doesnt have the disability premium.

suelees1

I'd advise your husband to claim IS as a carer (do it tomorrow!!). Even though you're disabled you can claim CA as a carer as well. You'd then be entitled to two carers premiums in your IS assessment + the disability premium + the enhanced disability premium

The work capability assessment usually carried out around 13 weeks after you first claim ESA is very stringent.

Additionally as NASA says there is no disability premium with ESA

johnwayne

Thanks everyone.

It seems the IS is the way to go.

I am fairly confident that I would get some sort of ESA but I really dont need the stress of it.

Will get on the phone asap.

Thanks again your advice is very much appreciated