Dla question

MUMUPLATE

spikeripley wrote: »

TBH i would just either contact the CAB or the DWP, explain your situation re o/h and ask them your options. Make sure you tell them your o/h is on DLA and not capable of looking after the baby on his own. I'm sure in your situation you would be entitled to tax credits and child tax credits plus as raven said can he not claim esa as well

Thanks for the replies - have been trying to speak to Welfare Rights but the person who deals with benefits that we've seen before is on holiday at the moment, think CAB will be my next port of call.

As far as I can work out ESA is the new name for Incapacity Benefit, although OH claimed before the changeover so stays on Incapacity and not ESA? He also has the DLA but only at Low Rate so it seems that he has been deemed unfit for work but not unwell enough for a higher rate of DLA so I could claim the Carers Allowance, therefore maybe they see him as still fit enough to care for the baby? Its such a minefield!

Also when I put my details into entitled.to as though I wasnt working and have no income of my own, it only gives me about an extra fiver a week in CTC, so looks like we may already almost be on the highest amount of CTC and that this wouldnt increase much if any.

sleepless_saver

MUMUPLATE wrote: »

He also has the DLA but only at Low Rate so it seems that he has been deemed unfit for work but not unwell enough for a higher rate of DLA so I could claim the Carers Allowance, therefore maybe they see him as still fit enough to care for the baby?

There's nothing about DLA that makes someone fit or unfit to care for a baby, it will all depend on the individual. I doubt if DWP will take a view on whether someone can look after a child or not - but could be wrong.

I know it's complicated enough just looking at the immediate future, but you also need to take into account that at some point soon your husband will need to go through the assessment for transition from incapacity benefit to ESA. If they decide he can work, which is happening with a fair proportion of people, he would be expected to claim JSA instead until he gets work. Also bear in mind that the government is planning major changes to DLA, probably not till 2014, which will likely remove the present low rate care DLA.

Lady_gaga

what did you both plan to happen when you decided to have this baby?

MUMUPLATE

sleepless_saver wrote: »

There's nothing about DLA that makes someone fit or unfit to care for a baby, it will all depend on the individual. I doubt if DWP will take a view on whether someone can look after a child or not - but could be wrong.

I know it's complicated enough just looking at the immediate future, but you also need to take into account that at some point soon your husband will need to go through the assessment for transition from incapacity benefit to ESA. If they decide he can work, which is happening with a fair proportion of people, he would be expected to claim JSA instead until he gets work. Also bear in mind that the government is planning major changes to DLA, probably not till 2014, which will likely remove the present low rate care DLA.

Thanks for your reply - I totally understand what you're saying and have also been thinking lots about the long term implications of me giving up work. I'm not even sure that I COULD (without being put on JSA and seeking a new job) which is why I was asking the question would I be entitled to anything if I did. Basically I'm just trying to look at all options, if there are any. And I probably worded my post above wrongly, I didnt mean that DLA would or should make someone fit or unfit to care for a baby it was more that taking a look at someone in my OH's situation, he has been awarded Incapacity so is unfit for work, and DLA so he needs help with care and mobility, but there is nothing in place if this leaves him unable to care for any child while I am at work.
It's maybe difficult to put across the situation in a post online - I'm most definitely not looking to claim a benefit and let it enable both myself and OH to stay at home for the rest of our lives. We both worked for years until he was unable to do so, and he is hoping to get back out to work as soon as he fit enough to do so. But at the moment he isnt.
I really just wanted to find out if there was anything in place to help in our situation at the moment, and there doesnt seem to be. Lady Gaga - the baby is now almost 1, so it is about 18mths since we decided to have a baby and back then OH was not as unwell as he is now, as stated in my OP his condition has worsened hence the reason for his DLA claim, up until then we were sure he was improving and would be able to care for the baby and, if and when he returned to the workforce, baby would go to nursery. Unfortunately it hasnt quite happened that way although hopefully in the long run it still can.

bobajob_1966

Could you have some trial sessions, where you go out for a few hours and he looks after the little one? Obviously I do not know your OH, but perhaps he will manage better than you think? Having a baby to care for could also help him with establishing a routine, and in effect be his own security blanket to help with the anxiety.

MUMUPLATE

bobajob_1966 wrote: »

Could you have some trial sessions, where you go out for a few hours and he looks after the little one? Obviously I do not know your OH, but perhaps he will manage better than you think? Having a baby to care for could also help him with establishing a routine, and in effect be his own security blanket to help with the anxiety.

Thanks bobajob we will be trying this out and will see how it goes. Unfortunately it's not just anxiety and depression OH has and there are other health problems, but you are right it may help with routine etc. thanks

merlin68

Looking after the baby could be the making of him. I don't see how the conditions you have listed could prevent someone from doing so.
If not then he can just had you to his claim and get an IS top up.

MUMUPLATE

merlin68 wrote: »

Looking after the baby could be the making of him. I don't see how the conditions you have listed could prevent someone from doing so.
If not then he can just had you to his claim and get an IS top up.

Without going into great detail about his other conditions I'll just say that they most definitely can and do impact greatly on his ability to do normal daily tasks and leave it at that as my thread wasnt to discuss this.

Whilst googling for info I had already found this "You can only qualify for an addition for an adult dependant if you were already receiving this on 6 April 2010.
You will only be receiving an addition for a child dependant if you claimed before 6 April 2003. "

So unless I'm reading it wrongly, it doesnt look like he CAN add me to his claim?

MrsManda

Have you considered speaking to your GP/local social services/your midwife?
They may be able to help you work out a support plan.

It may be worth trying to get your OH in to a routine of looking after the baby now and seeing if there are any support groups/children and parent groups which he can take the baby so that he's not alone.

Do you have a Children's Centre he can attend?

It may also be worth speaking to your boss to see if you can slowly increase your hours rather than go back immediately to full time. So you can ease your OH in gently.