Limited Capability for Work Questionnaire.HELP

traceylouwilky

This is my first post so ill try to be brief. Hubby is Self Employed and has been ill since the 13th January with Crohns. He has attended lots of hospital appointments and at the moment is too ill to work. I filled out all the forms for sick pay but he hasnt paid enough NI to claim this. I work 34 hours a week and we have one child aged 15. A letter arrived saying that he isnt entitled to anything, i expected this but thought they could have helped out with prescription charges of council tax etc. We have currently spent over £40.00 on meds. The next day a limited capability for work questionnaire came through. Why does he need to fill this out when we have been told he cant claim anything? Any advice would be good :mad:

watcher13

So that he can get NI credits

Horseunderwater

If you are doing 34 hours per week and depending on your income level, you may get working tax credit - if not this year - perhaps next year. You certainly qualify for the hours - but income would need to be less than approx £15900 or so.
If he has not paid enough Nat ins - then he cannot get ESA contributions and your income would prevent Income related. There is really not much you can do apart from cutting back on all unessessary outgoings. I know that it is not what you want to hear, but that is the harsh reality that many people have had to living on benefits or a reduced income. If you need help to sort out a proper budget the Debt free wanabee board on here and the old style money saving one are 2 very helpful forums - especially the first one.

nannytone_2

if your income is low, you may qualify for free prescriptions. you claim by filling out a HC1 form.
otherwise, you can get a pre payment prescription. this is a one off cost, that will pay for all prescriptions for a set length of time, and can save a considerable amount if ;oys of meds are needed

traceylouwilky

watcher13 wrote: »

So that he can get NI credits

Im not filling in another 20 page booklet when they have all the information they need. Whats the point in them paying NI if he cant claim anything? To top that off he would have to have an interview.
Complete waste of every ones time i think. Booklet is now in the bin.

Horseunderwater

http://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/2422.aspx?CategoryID=68&SubCategoryID=161
Either every 3 months = £29.10 or annually = £104. Believe me it is a big saving if you can do the yearly one.
Can all be done on line with a debit card. In the mean time after applying get a receipt for any med's issued from today on. Then the Pharmacy can refund you the charges once you have that card.

soolin

nannytone wrote: »

if your income is low, you may qualify for free prescriptions. you claim by filling out a HC1 form.
otherwise, you can get a pre payment prescription. this is a one off cost, that will pay for all prescriptions for a set length of time, and can save a considerable amount if ;oys of meds are needed

I second this, it works out cheaper to get one of these if you take anything more than a prescription once a month.

traceylouwilky wrote: »

Im not filling in another 20 page booklet when they have all the information they need. Whats the point in them paying NI if he cant claim anything? To top that off he would have to have an interview.
Complete waste of every ones time i think. Booklet is now in the bin.

You may regret that if when he retires he has insufficient NI credits to get a full enhanced state pension. having NI paid now on his behalf would also mean that should this happen again in the future he may well have sufficient credits to claim something.

The leaflet is not onerous to complete and it seems silly to ignore it if it may have benefit in the future.

traceylouwilky

soolin wrote: »

I second this, it works out cheaper to get one of these if you take anything more than a prescription once a month.


You may regret that if when he retires he has insufficient NI credits to get a full enhanced state pension. having NI paid now on his behalf would also mean that should this happen again in the future he may well have sufficient credits to claim something.

The leaflet is not onerous to complete and it seems silly to ignore it if it may have benefit in the future.

I know what you mean but ill just have to pay the NI as and when i can. I dont think its fair that to receive this he will have to have an interview, its ridiculous.

mazza111

Welcome to the world of being ill.

It happens to all of us, whether we're entitled to the benefit or just the NI credits.

traceylouwilky

mazza111 wrote: »

Welcome to the world of being ill.

It happens to all of us, whether we're entitled to the benefit or just the NI credits.

My hubby has had Crohns since 1997 and has never had to claim a penny before, it makes me mad that we cant even claim the cost of his meds. Think ive had my rant for today.

epitome

Why hasn't he paid his full national insurance for tax years
April 10 - Apr 11
&
Apr 11 - Apr 12 ?

And if he hasn't paid it in full, how about paying it now so that he can re-apply for the benefit? Of course this may not work due to rules I am unaware of but it's worth doing just to top up his NIC tax years.

If he is still registered as self employed fair enough on paying his NI yourself - won't cost much, but if no longer registered self employed those NI credits are worth £13 a week.