Unable to work

Dal_Whinnie

My daughter has not been well enough to work for at least the last two years. She is a single mother with 3 children aged 7-12.

She got Employment & Support Allowance, Housing Benefit, Child Tax Credits and Child Benefits. She also receives maintenance from her former husband.

She has recently been reassessed for Employment & Support Allowance and was given 12 points (she requires 15 to continue to get benefit). As a consequence her Housing Benefit has also been suspended.

She is not well enough to work and her doctor supports this. She has therefore appealed but she now doesn't know what to do, she has rent due shortly let alone normal costs and she just does not have the money to pay these. Her doctor advises her to remove the stress!!

I know that these benefits will start again if her appeal is successful but is there anything she can do in the meantime. She is terrified about losing her home and the effect on the children.

Are there any other benefits to which she might be entitled and is there any advantage in any of her children being registered as carers?

kingfisherblue

I think she stays on ESA while an appeal goes through, and HB is usually based on household income, not just specific benefits.

As for registering the children as carers, it may be beneficial for them, but not to claim any benefits. If they are registered with the local Young Carers, they will get any additional emotional support that they need. They may also be able to attend a youth club style session each week, to give them a break.

Oldernotwiser

Ashburn97 wrote: »

My daughter has not been well enough to work for at least the last two years. She is a single mother with 3 children aged 7-12.

She got Employment & Support Allowance, Housing Benefit, Child Tax Credits and Child Benefits. She also receives maintenance from her former husband.

She has recently been reassessed for Employment & Support Allowance and was given 12 points (she requires 15 to continue to get benefit). As a consequence her Housing Benefit has also been suspended.

She is not well enough to work and her doctor supports this. She has therefore appealed but she now doesn't know what to do, she has rent due shortly let alone normal costs and she just does not have the money to pay these. Her doctor advises her to remove the stress!!

I know that these benefits will start again if her appeal is successful but is there anything she can do in the meantime. She is terrified about losing her home and the effect on the children.

Are there any other benefits to which she might be entitled and is there any advantage in any of her children being registered as carers?

You don't seriously expect a child between the ages of 7 and 12 to care for someone for a minimum of 35 hours a week?

kingfisherblue

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

You don't seriously expect a child between the ages of 7 and 12 to care for someone for a minimum of 35 hours a week?

Unfortunately, there are young carers who do. The link below states that the 2001 census shows that there were 175000 young carers in the UK, 13000 caring in excess of 50 hours a week. The average age of a YC is 12, according to the link.

http://www.barnardos.org.uk/what_we_do/our_projects/young_carers.htm

My assumption from the post, though, was that there might be some type of benefit (and I'm not sure that the OP knows about Carer's Allowance or its criteria) that could be claimed because the children are caring for their mother. I would hope that the children need to offer minimal care for their mother, and that other family members help out as much as possible. Unfortunately, I realise that i may be wrong

Dal_Whinnie

Thank you for the comments. I understand that the ESA has been stopped as has the housing benefit which is why she is in a financial panic and doesn't really know what way to turn. She has always worked but is able to do very little these days, the doctors don't really know what the problem is but now think it is Lupus.

Regarding the children as carers, they don't do very much to help their mother, just create a lot more work for their grandparents!! I just wondered if their was any benefit in registering them (and I wasn't just thinking financial)

Muttleythefrog

She should be able to get ESA assessment rate while awaiting appeal (once appeal is made to DWP).. usually requires continual sicknotes from doctor... presumably then she'll be able to get CTB/HB restored.

http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/index/your_money/benefits_index_page_ew/employment_and_support_allowance.htm

If you are waiting for an appeal to be heard, you can either claim Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) or continue to get the basic rate of ESA, depending on your circumstances. If you want to get ESA you should tell the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). You must also continue to provide medical certificates.
You will receive the same amount of money, whether you claim JSA or remain on ESA while an appeal is being decided. If you claim JSA this should not affect your appeal. If you claim JSA you will have to show that you are available for, and actively seeking, work that you are capable of doing.

Regarding appealing... it's important to be familiar with the descriptors and the evidence in the case... get any supporting medical evidence she can. If the doctor really is helpful then a good statement perhaps explaining why descriptors x,y,z etc apply to her at this time would likely help. Her case will be first reconsidered by the DWP (hence evidence sent now could help) to see if they can change decision... then they'll send papers off to tribunals service (to arrange appeal hearing) if they can't.

Blackpool_Saver

Where is the Father to these children, why can't he help out a bit more?

Dal_Whinnie

Blackpool_Saver wrote: »

Where is the Father to these children, why can't he help out a bit more?

Good question! He doesn't live locally so only has the children to stay weekends unless the children have other activities (football, cricket, whatever) that they want to do. This gives mother a welcome break but during the week us grandparents help with taking to and from school, after school activities, sleepovers, etc. Clearly, it would be better for the children if mum was able to do more with them but I am not too worried about the children, it is the pressure on mum of all the financial stress and hurdles that concerns me. You are advised to seek help from the local authority and keep them informed so you let them know the latest position and their only help is to say, "we'll stop the housing benefit as well then....."

FBaby

If her GP believes she might be suffering from Lupus, then she can have blood tests to confirm it. The issue with misdiagnosis of Lupus is that GPs don't always think of this as a potential condition because the symptoms can be vague and are often associated to other conditions, however, once it is suspected, the diagnosis should be straightforward. It sounds like she needs to push things with her GP if it has been going on for two years.

t0rt0ise

FBaby wrote: »

If her GP believes she might be suffering from Lupus, then she can have blood tests to confirm it. The issue with misdiagnosis of Lupus is that GPs don't always think of this as a potential condition because the symptoms can be vague and are often associated to other conditions, however, once it is suspected, the diagnosis should be straightforward. It sounds like she needs to push things with her GP if it has been going on for two years.

That's not totally correct. If the GP suspects lupus then they should refer the patient to a rheumatologist. Preferably one who specialises in lupus, the lupus unit at St Thomas's for example. Sometimes the symptoms are obvious but the blood tests don't show positive in which case it would be classed as sero-negative. It would also be important to check for other antibodies including those that cause APS (antiphospholipid syndrome) and SSA and SSB and so on for Sjogrens. It is not really a job for the GP.

vintagebrighton

FBaby wrote: »

If her GP believes she might be suffering from Lupus, then she can have blood tests to confirm it. The issue with misdiagnosis of Lupus is that GPs don't always think of this as a potential condition because the symptoms can be vague and are often associated to other conditions, however, once it is suspected, the diagnosis should be straightforward. It sounds like she needs to push things with her GP if it has been going on for two years.

Not always as simple as it sounds..... unfortunately neither is sorting the position the OP is in.

OP, if your daughter informs HB of her income she should get her benefit reinstated but based on her current circumstances. As far as I know HB has to stop if a qualifying benefit stops but they can reassess based on current income. Does your daughter have new forms to complete? If not, she should request them straight away to avoid arrears building up.
If she can find one, it would be beneficial for her to find a welfare rights adviser to help with her appeal - maybe the CAB can help? I know they're really pushed for resources so there could be a wait but persist.

Hope she/you gets things sorted.