Sign off JSA to care for brother.

Garth1

Hi, I currently claim JSA but have recently been looking after my brother who has had his foot amputated. I have to help him with stairs and going to hospital appointments etc..

he hasn't put a claim in for DLA as yet.

as I'm on JSA i'm expected to work, but i'm with him a majority of the day every day so I obviously can't get a job even if there was one.

what are my options with JSA? if I tell them i'm caring for him will they stop my money, or can I go onto Income Support? will i have to sign off and back on?

will they not care because he's not receiving DLA and i'm not down as his carer?

Many thanks.

DX2

Garth1 wrote: »

Hi, I currently claim JSA but have recently been looking after my brother who has had his foot amputated. I have to help him with stairs and going to hospital appointments etc..

he hasn't put a claim in for DLA as yet.

as I'm on JSA i'm expected to work, but i'm with him a majority of the day every day so I obviously can't get a job even if there was one.

what are my options with JSA? if I tell them i'm caring for him will they stop my money, or can I go onto Income Support? will i have to sign off and back on?

will they not care because he's not receiving DLA and i'm not down as his carer?

Many thanks.

They won't care that you are a "carer" until he is awarded DLA. i would stick with your JSA claim until such a time he get's DLA.

Garth1

Thanks. i didn't think it would be simple enough. but in reality if i'm not looking for work or unable to work, then either they stop my money or i stop taking it.

knowing my luck i'll go in there and mention it. and they'll point a gun at my head to get me to repeat the part where i said that i'm looking after him for too long and say you've earned yourself a sanction but no help

DX2

Garth1 wrote: »

Thanks. i didn't think it would be simple enough. but in reality if i'm not looking for work or unable to work, then either they stop my money or i stop taking it.

knowing my luck i'll go in there and mention it. and they'll point a gun at my head to get me to repeat the part where i said that i'm looking after him for too long and say you've earned yourself a sanction but no help

Sadly you are betwen the devil and the deep blue sea.

You can't claim Carers allowance as DLA hasn't be awarded, you say you can't claim JSA as you are looking after your brother. I don't know of any other benefit you might be able to claim.

Garth1

With JSA i have to be actively seeking work, i'm with him well over the qualifying 35 hours because i have to so i have no time for anything. i've read on the gov site that income support is a possibility where i don't have to sign on or look for work.

but seems that only applies if he is claiming DLA.

the way i look at it is if i were to sign off and then go back and say i've got no money and i'm looking after a diabled person. they'll say we'll only give you help if you agree to stop looking after him and look for a job.

dmg24

Another point to consider is that, unless he has other health conditions, your brother may not qualify for DLA. Once he has adapted to his new lifestyle he is unlikely to have sufficient care needs to get anything more than LRC/ LRM.

Garth1

at the moment he's taking medication that knocks him out and makes him confused. he lives in a flat that only has stairs. i think it will only be short term but the social worker he has seems to suggest that he'll get full mobility and middle care.

when he pulls his finger out and fills the forms in i think he'll be up and about anyway.

dmg24

Garth1 wrote: »

at the moment he's taking medication that knocks him out and makes him confused. he lives in a flat that only has stairs. i think it will only be short term but the social worker he has seems to suggest that he'll get full mobility and middle care.

when he pulls his finger out and fills the forms in i think he'll be up and about anyway.

I wasn't sure, so checked the guide that the DWP use, which states that lower limb amputations should lead to few care needs. Whilst it is acknowledged that there will be a period of adaptation, this will not lead to a DLA award as he needs to have had the needs for three months and expect to have them for a further six months.

I would take independent advice, maybe from a charity that deals with amputations?

sunnyone

There is a rule for claiming IS as a carer while a claim for DLA is being assessed but thats as much as I can remember for now but even that is out because he hasnt a claim pending.

Garth1

dmg24 wrote: »

I wasn't sure, so checked the guide that the DWP use, which states that lower limb amputations should lead to few care needs. Whilst it is acknowledged that there will be a period of adaptation, this will not lead to a DLA award as he needs to have had the needs for three months and expect to have them for a further six months.

I would take independent advice, maybe from a charity that deals with amputations?

He has had the needs for the past 5 months. he has been unable to walk and it's only now that he's had the operation. i think the next 6 months is the stairs where he lives.

Garth1

sunnyone wrote: »

There is a rule for claiming IS as a carer while a claim for DLA is being assessed but thats as much as I can remember for now but even that is out because he hasnt a claim pending.

I've read that too.