What benefits can my brother get please?

annie1975_2

timeou wrote: »

Sorry I am the op, I think he has about 35k left on the mortgage, thanks

Sorry...Too much to pay it all off then...Might be worth looking in to reducing it (maybe).

pmlindyloo

Have just found this:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/On_a_low_income/DG_180321

which says that there is no waiting period for support for mortgage interest if you are claiming gurantee pension credit.

marybelle01

And I hate to be the bearer of bad news,but alcoholism is "self inflicted". She has no claim to benefits for this, and it would be impossible to seperate her other mental conditions from the alcoholism - anxiety and depression are both direct results of excessive alcohol intake. She might, in the future, have some chance of a claim - but she would have to enter treatment and give up alcohol. If she won't even entertain that, then she won't get benefits.

timeou

Thank you all again, I'm a bit confused, can he claim both pension credits and JSA at the same time? Will a visit to the job centre be the starting point to finding out what he is entitled to or are there different benefit departments for different things? Sorry, neither of us know where to start as it's his first time out of work ever and I have no experience either. It seems a minefield!

timeou

marybelle01 wrote: »

And I hate to be the bearer of bad news,but alcoholism is "self inflicted". She has no claim to benefits for this, and it would be impossible to seperate her other mental conditions from the alcoholism - anxiety and depression are both direct results of excessive alcohol intake. She might, in the future, have some chance of a claim - but she would have to enter treatment and give up alcohol. If she won't even entertain that, then she won't get benefits.

Okay that's useful to know, thanks, she's been like it for years, never earned nor paid 'stamp' just out of the system never claimed anything to my knowledge.

Torry_Quine

marybelle01 wrote: »

And I hate to be the bearer of bad news,but alcoholism is "self inflicted". She has no claim to benefits for this, and it would be impossible to seperate her other mental conditions from the alcoholism - anxiety and depression are both direct results of excessive alcohol intake. She might, in the future, have some chance of a claim - but she would have to enter treatment and give up alcohol. If she won't even entertain that, then she won't get benefits.

That's not true. DLA is given on the basis of needs not diagnosis.

However it's likely that given she won't see her GP or take medication prescribed it would be very hard to get. If there isn't enough information on the form then her GP will be contacted for a report and this by the sounds of it won't be very helpful.

rogerblack

It is not the case that alcoholism can never lead to a claim for benefits.
ESA, and perhaps DLA certainly.

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/foi-19-2011-ib-alcoholism.pdf - many thousands are claiming.

Alcoholism is not always a rational choice.

One thing not mentioned.
If he pays off part of the mortgage earlier than he is required to, he may be treated as still having the money.
'Notional capital'. This applies to most means tested benefits.

In addition, the wife possibly (assuming children), may have some NI credits on that basis. Was child benefit ever claimed?
This will help boost her pension a little, even if she hasn't worked.

As to her claim of ESA - in principle this is possible, but for the moment, it would only be useful for building up NI credits.
She will not have relevant contributions, and will not be entitled at all due to the 32K of savings to income-related ESA.

timeou

Her gp is well aware of her problems as she was hospitalised with multiple organ failure a while ago due to her problems. She was discharged and received some treatment for a while but this has all fallen by the wayside again and her problems have returned but she isn't interested in getting help.
Thank you all for your help, he is visiting the job centre on Monday morning but will spend the weekend feeling a bit happier knowing he is at least entitled to JSA for 6 months and possible pension credit too. He is very fit and able and will be looking a little part time job too so is now feeling a bit more positive. Thanks again folks

timeou

Yes child benefit was claimed so she may be due something when of pensionable age. He just needs this money and anything he can claim to help eke it out to last 3 years or so until his state and private pensions kick in. He would be able commute some money from his private pension but apparently will be penalised heavily the earlier he does this.

seven-day-weekend

timeou wrote: »

Thank you all again, I'm a bit confused, can he claim both pension credits and JSA at the same time?NO - one or the other - Pension Credit would be best if he is eligible as he will not be obliged to look for work. Will a visit to the job centre be the starting point to finding out what he is entitled to or are there different benefit departments for different things? See the link for Pension Credit I have posted in my previous reply, it will give you the phone number to apply Sorry, neither of us know where to start as it's his first time out of work ever and I have no experience either. It seems a minefield!

Your best bet, as I said in my previous post will be to see a Benefits/Welfare Rights Advisor at the CAB, they will be able to tell him what Benefits he is entitled to and help him to claim.

Also see my comments in blue above.