Esa, child benefits and child tax credits

Nobby.D

Hi I am a full time single father who unfortunately does not work due to a back Problem so all i get is ESA,CHILD BENEFITS AND CHILD TAX CREDITS. I get my rent and council tax paid due to being on ESA, I was wondering if anyone could tell me if there was anything else i could apply for as when speaking to the job centre they told me i could not get anything else or any other help, My son is 7 and he helps me around the house I might add i do not ask him to but when i can not move due to the pain in my lower back he offers to help even tho most of the time i do say no i will do it when better so he is a good boy, I must add i do not like being on benifits as i am not being a very good role model for my son

If there is anyone who can suggest anything it would be very great full

princessdon

you could try for DLA then you are really on the full whack of benefits, it's the only thing missing from your list.

Then you can get someone paid carers allowance if the award is higher etc.

On a practical none benefit note - Is there a young carers society near you that your child can attend and benefit from?

Horseunderwater

Hi Nobby
Ring the education dept of your council and ask if you qualify for free school meals or help with bus pass to get your son to school if not already provided. Have you been assessed by Occupational therapy? They may be able to provide equipment to help you cope better. Lots of help out there, it is knowing where to look. If you have problems paying for water or other utilities, then each company often has schemes that can help. Charis.org I think is the name to get the links.

eadieb

You can try disability living allowance but you need to apply before it changes to PIP next year which has different rules. You would be better getting assistance to fill in the DLA form from someone like CAB as it takes hours and hours. The benefit is paid because you can show that a health problem you have creates a care need. They do not pay it simply because you have a health problem. You would need to explain things on it that your son helps you with when you are unwell. Also. you should write down all the stuff that would improve things for you 'if' you had someone to do them. You dont need to actually have someone doing the caring, but show that it would benefit you if you did have someone helping you. Sometimes people find it useful keeping a diary for a few weeks to work out how often difficulties occur and how long activities take. the form asks lots of questions about how long it takes to do things but if your condition is variable then I find it is often acceptable to write this on the form and state how you are when at your best and when at your worst. dont worry about going outside all the box's. add extra information like gp letters or reports and anthing else of use. And above all, repeat yourself all the way through it and dont assume that if you have said earlier in the form that e.g when your back is bad you dont leave your bed', that they will automatically assume that your therefore can not prepare a meal. Repeat youself through the form.

Ideally, read up on the internet the rules for getting DLA before filling in the form.

If you get awarded DLA at the lower rates then this is not taken off your other benefits. If you got an award of middle rate DLA then this will get you a higher rate of ESA/IS payment

Nobby.D

Thank you so much eadieb i will look into this

Nobby.D

I will ask but last time i looked into it the age of the child had to b five or under and my son is 7 but i will defiantly look into it, Thank you Horseunderwater

zoominatorone

How can someone get money for a carer that they don't have?

Is it just another way to get more money a week?

Nobby.D

Thank you princessdon I will look into this

Nobby.D

zoominatorone i have no idea But i will not claim for something i do not have i do not believe in diddling the system but i will look into the other bits

HB58

You say that you wil do things 'when I am better'. Note that, in order to claim DLA, you must have had significant care and/or mobility needs for the majority of days for the past 3 months and this must be expected to continue for a further 6 months. If this is the case, then it is certainly worth getting some help to fill in the application form.

Mojisola

zoominatorone wrote: »

How can someone get money for a carer that they don't have?

Is it just another way to get more money a week?

DLA isn't specifically for a carer. If you have the needs and are awarded the benefit, you can use the money any way you choose.

Someone might use the money to pay for a taxi when they have to travel which then leaves them fit enough to do small jobs round the house. They might use the money to buy equipment/gadgets which mean they can keep their independence. They could save it up and buy a mobility scooter. And I'm sure you can think of other examples.