can you help ? esa and ca

brian36

hello, can i ask if someone knows the ruling on this situation please.
so we have myself was self employed now not working due to illness ,my wife working 24 hours work and we have 3 kids 1 is disabled and at present i get carers allowance for him, we also get tax credits and working tax credits.
my question is, does carers allowance get effected if i claim for esa?
if it does should my wife claim the carers allowance? i am a bit confused as really we both are looking after him obviosly more than 35 hours a week.
many thanks:)

rogerblack

Your wife cannot presumably claim carers, as she earns over 100/week.
Have you worked significantly in the last couple of years?
You could only claim contributions ESA, again, your wifes income is too high.
If you are entitled to DLA, that would not affect things.
If you were entitled to contributions based ESA, then claiming CA would give you an 'underlying entitlement' to CA, which would not be paid - you would then be paid a topup of 30 quid a week as a 'carer premium' on your ESA.

This would not be payable if you are claiming income-based ESA.

If you have not worked in the last 2 years, there is limited point in claiming ESA, as it will not be paid.
Not no point, as if you claim ESA for over 13 weeks, then get into work, you may be eligible for back to work funding.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/moneytaxandbenefits/benefitstaxcreditsandothersupport/employedorlookingforwork/dg_10013908

pmlindyloo

Looking at your previous posts you seemed to have been previously receiving ESA.

Am just asking because I was wondering why you stopped and changed to CA.

Sorry if you think I am being nosy but just wondered if there had been a problem with your ESA and whether that would make a difference to whether you should reapply or is it because you came to the end of your 12 month contribution based ESA?

If it is the latter then you would have to apply for income based ESA.

Even if your OH's salary meant that you were not entitled to it you would still be awarded your NI credits.

Have you tried putting your details into the benefit calculator on www.turn2us.org.uk to check your eligibility for any other benefits - HB, CTB?

brian36

many thanks for that, yes my wife earns more than £100 a week,she gets around £10 wtc on top
i assume since tax credits make up to level of earning the no point of claiming esa. thanks again:beer:

and to pmlindyloo,
i was getting esa about 8 months ago but then got letter saying no longer entitled, i called and was told as incme was above limit, i would however get a insurance credit done. sosorry if sound confused but thats part of why off,anyway i believe its as over limit taking into account wifes earnings/tax credits and carers allowance.
i did go to medical and weird but doctor found in my favour but dwp decision was no.
so now confused as to whether i have been tirned down because of incom,e or the dwp.
will maybe call and find out,
thanks to you all for taking time out to reply.