Keep trying for ESA or sign on for JSA?

hardpressed

My brother who's 62 has been on ESA for just over a year, he's has various health problem and his Doctor agrees with him that he is not fit to work. Had the medical and went to a tribunal who both said he is fit. Doctor has now added depression to his problems on his sick note. He's reapplied for ESA and has been told it will be at least 3-4 weeks before he get's any money, that's if they decide he's eligible. At the moment he's down to his last £10 and his rent is due.

As I have to sort out things for him because he can't cope, the thought of another year of filling in forms and taking him to medicals etc is daunting. I just wonder if it would be easier for him to sign on, even though he says he can't work. I can't see anyone offering him a job at his age and with his problems. Or am I being unrealistic?

Indie_Kid

As he's over 60, he could claim pension credit instead?

hermum

With regards to his rent if he has no income he should still get housing benefit, he'll probably need to go in & see the council. This happened to my brother & his rent was paid even though he got no other benefit.

hardpressed

I was thinking that perhaps he could claim JSA and pension credit as that will mean he would get about the same amount as he got on ESA.

krisskross

Surely he can simply claim pension credit and forget about JSA and ESA. If he gets pension credit he also gets rent and council tax paid.

hardpressed

I didn't realise he could apply for Pension Credit without having ESA or JSA, I thought it was just to top up a persons income. I'll get him to phone them tomorrow, thank for the advice.

hardpressed

Thanks for all your advice, contact the Pension Credit people who were very helpful, he's entitled to PC and has received his first payment, I wished we'd have known he could claim it a year ago.

hardpressed

My brother has been an idiot and knows it, he's made mistakes and got himself in a muddle but he was pennyless and I had to bail him out, that's what families do. I've worked 2 years beyond pension age, have a small pension, which I paid into and now have to pay tax on, have modest savings, so no help with council tax etc. So his disposable income in comparison is more that mine. But I have a comfortable home, he has, and is very grateful for, a bedsit, and numerous health problems which means he rarely goes out. He would love to feel well and have a job but that is unlikely to happen.

cit_k

How old do men have to be to be eligible for pension credit?

I thought men retired at 65 (or later depending on date of birth) - can you get pension credit before retirement age, or am I missing somethiing here?

healy

cit_k wrote: »

How old do men have to be to be eligible for pension credit?

I thought men retired at 65 (or later depending on date of birth) - can you get pension credit before retirement age, or am I missing somethiing here?

Yes they used to be able to get it at 60 for a long time but I think this may be changing if it has not already.

bertiebat

cit_k wrote: »

How old do men have to be to be eligible for pension credit?

I thought men retired at 65 (or later depending on date of birth) - can you get pension credit before retirement age, or am I missing somethiing here?

I also thought that was rather odd, but someone on these boards IIRC said it related to the EU saying that it was unfair for men to be treated differently to women of the same age.

I would therefore imagine that it will already have increased (and continue to do so) in line with the women's pension age catch up with men process.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Pensionsandretirementplanning/StatePension/DG_4017919

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Nl1/Newsroom/SpendingReview/DG_192159

Though looking at that site it says the latest pension changes are not yet law, so who knows!