I am confused - income support, disability, ESA?

bizzylizzy

I'm sorry if this has been covered on this forum already, but I haven't found it and I am also very confused with it all. Please be gentle with me......

My OH has severe Fibromyalgia, I have been his carer for almost 3 years. I get CA, he gets DLA (high mobility, middle care) and we both get IS (as a couple).

Will he be moved on to ESA? What does that actually mean? If he is, will I still be able to get CA? And what will happen about our rent which is currently paid because we get IS?

Sorry for all the questions. Thanks for reading.

Indie_Kid

You can still get CA if he still receives mid or high rate care, you care for him for at least 35 hours per week and you earn £100 or less per week.

TOBRUK

bizzylizzy wrote: »

I'm sorry if this has been covered on this forum already, but I haven't found it and I am also very confused with it all. Please be gentle with me......

My OH has severe Fibromyalgia, I have been his carer for almost 3 years. I get CA, he gets DLA (high mobility, middle care) and we both get IS (as a couple).

Will he be moved on to ESA? What does that actually mean? If he is, will I still be able to get CA? And what will happen about our rent which is currently paid because we get IS?

Sorry for all the questions. Thanks for reading.

!. people who are currently receiving Incapacity Benefit will be moved on to ESA.

2. Housing Benefit changes where there will be cuts are going to be made (I think) next year.

3. People who are receiving help with mortgage interest payments saw a cut starting last October.

However, the government is going to make big changes to the benefit system across the board. All benefits such as IS, IB, ESA, JSA etc will be changing as there will only be one benefit for all.

DLA will be changing in two years time with a different name, different rates and new assessments - this is currently being discussed in Westminster.

bizzylizzy

Thanks for the replies. I thought that the changes meaning he would be put on to ESA were starting in April?
If he is put on ESA do they expect him to be able to work?

MrsManda

bizzylizzy wrote: »

Thanks for the replies. I thought that the changes meaning he would be put on to ESA were starting in April?
If he is put on ESA do they expect him to be able to work?

DLA is nothing to do with ESA. ESA is for people who cannot work due to illness, DLA is for people who have care/mobility needs.
People on incapacity benefit are being moved on to ESA.
So as he's not receiving Incapacity Benefit he won't be moved on to ESA. However if he's unable to work due to illness, he may be able to claim ESA as well as DLA.

dmg24

MrsManda wrote: »

DLA is nothing to do with ESA. ESA is for people who cannot work due to illness, DLA is for people who have care/mobility needs.
People on incapacity benefit are being moved on to ESA.
So as he's not receiving Incapacity Benefit he won't be moved on to ESA. However if he's unable to work due to illness, he may be able to claim ESA as well as DLA.

They could be receiving IS for reason of Incapacity, in which case he will be assessed for ESA.

bizzylizzy

He doesn't get an Incapacity payment (as in cash) but is on the non payment form of it. The reason we get IS is that I stopped working part time (was getting WTC then) in order to care for him full time. Then we were put on IS and I got CA.
What will it mean for him to be put on ESA ? We get full HB because we are on IS. How will it affect that? Will he be told he has to find work? (he can't work)
Sorry for all the questions again, it's very confusing and extremely worrying,

dmg24

You will still receive full HB because you will be entitled to income based ESA. He may get put in the Work Related Activity Group, in which case he would be expected to look at ways to get back to work, but there would be no compulsion for him to actually work. I really would try to forget about it until it happens - easier said than done, I know.

bizzylizzy

Ok, thank you. I will try to stop worrying, as long as we will still be able to pay the rent which has been a big worry. I know that DLA is a whole other issue - as he gets high rate mobility he gets a car through Motability. He would be totally stuck indoors without it. We'll just have to wait and see with that too.......