tax credits/ incapcity/ carers allowence

Fallenfairy

Hi I wonder if someone might be able to help me, i have gone round and round websites and now just need a answer :eek:

I have been in uni for 3 yrs and am just qualifying as a nurse, last Novemeber my husband was diagnosed with Hyperthyroidism and Graves disease - he was told to stop working but he continued to see me through the last part of my course.

I am now at the end of my course and my wonderful husband is on his last legs and very ill and will need to stop work a.s.a.p.

could someone advize me what benefits we can get.

I will earn 21,000, (per annum) we get 210 in tax credits (a week) and DLA £356 (a month) as my son has Aspergers.

Could my husband claim incapcity Benefit? (or what ever they are calling it this week ) and if so does this effect our tax credits?

Also ... could he then claim a carers allowence for our son? he couldnt before as he worked to many hours (even tho he was home with him during the day and worked nights!) but if he is signed off himself would that be right?.... i am confused!!!

Any advice grately recieved - thank you in advance

Robbie64

Your husband can claim Carers Allowance so long as your son gets DLA care component at the middle or higher rate. He has to provide care for 35 hours per week. Carers Allowance can be backdated for up to 3 months.

He can also claim Employment And Support Allowance if he has paid enough NI contributions since 2007. ESA is paid at a flat rate for 13 weeks then payment of a higher rate but dependent on undergoing a medical. Both CA and ESA are NI income replacement benefits and cannot be paid at the same time under overlapping benefits rules. Your husband will have to decide which benefit to be paid although he can claim both.

DX2

Fallenfairy wrote: »

Hi I wonder if someone might be able to help me, i have gone round and round websites and now just need a answer :eek:

I have been in uni for 3 yrs and am just qualifying as a nurse, last Novemeber my husband was diagnosed with Hyperthyroidism and Graves disease - he was told to stop working but he continued to see me through the last part of my course.

I am now at the end of my course and my wonderful husband is on his last legs and very ill and will need to stop work a.s.a.p.

could someone advize me what benefits we can get.

I will earn 21,000, (per annum) we get 210 in tax credits (a week) and DLA £356 (a month) as my son has Aspergers.

Could my husband claim incapcity Benefit? (or what ever they are calling it this week ) and if so does this effect our tax credits?

Also ... could he then claim a carers allowence for our son? he couldnt before as he worked to many hours (even tho he was home with him during the day and worked nights!) but if he is signed off himself would that be right?.... i am confused!!!

Any advice grately recieved - thank you in advance

Would your husband be eligible for DLA?
He could claim CA if you get middle/high rate DLA for your son.

Robbie64

Incidentally, Carers Allowance is paid at a lower amount than ESA but has far easier qualifying conditions. For the first 13 weeks the difference is just a few £ but after 13 weeks, if your husband passes Work Capability Assessment (the medical for ESA) the difference is about £30 or so per week. Your husband may not pass the WCA, in which case he would either have to claim Jobseekers Allowance or opt to get Carers Allowance.

It is worth him claiming both though as Carers Allowance can be backdated whereas ESA normally can't be. If ESA is paid he would then have underlying entitlement to CA.

Robbie64

Incidentally, Carers Allowance is paid at a lower amount than ESA but has far easier qualifying conditions. For the first £13 weeks the difference is just a few £ but after 13 weeks, if your husband passes Work Capability Assessment (the medical for ESA) the difference is about £30 or so per week. Your husband may not pass the WCA, in which case he would either have to claim Jobseekers Allowance or opt to get Carers Allowance.

It is worth him claiming both though as Carers Allowance can be backdated whereas ESA normally can't be. If ESA is paid he would then have underlying entitlement to CA.

bagqueen

How can you claim CA when you are saying you are too ill to work and trying to claim ESA? Not getting at you but it just seems odd.