Totally confused about ESA and stuff!

WaltonVale

Hi folks,

I have spent all after noon researching this, and I think I have it straight in my head, but could you correct me if I am wrong.

Background - I work full time and earn £42K a year. My OH is 60 (turned 60 on the 9th Feb) has not worked for around 30 years due to depression (severe enough to have been sectioned for 2 years around 15 years ago) and anxiety which has resulted in him being hospitalised twice in the last 2 years with irregular heart rythms (I know there is an actual name for it aortic something or other!!) when on both occasions has meant that he has been knocked out and defibulated to get his heart working normally, he has sleep apneoa (sp) and uses a CPAP machine at night, type 2 diabetes which he takes metformin for, high BP which he is on medication for. Until recently he attended weekly group therapy at the hospital with a consulant psychiatrist, but was discharged as it was not having a positive affect and was recomended to be put on a coure of CBT, but this did not happen. He also has problems with his lungs - recently investigated, appears parts of his lungs have fused together, needs to have an MRI but is refusing as he is too scared to (yes, I know, he is a pillock!)

Anywhoo!!! For the whole time I have been with him, comming up for 10 years, he has been on incapacity benifit, today he got a letter saying that he will be assessed for ESA - letter outlines the process - phone call, questionaire, interview and then judgement.

I have searched on the internet and found the assessment criterea which scores you from 0 - 15 on basic tasks. It would appear that the maximum score he would get on the whole test would be 12 (based on coping with change and social engagement) and that is generous, so I am assuming he will not qualify for it as none of it seems to take into account anxiety or depression.

I understand what will happen if he does get ESA so thats fine, but if he does not get ESA, does he get nothing?

Looking at JSA I earn too much for him to recieve anything and he won;t be eligiable for state pension until 2017 - is this right?

Obviously we don't claim HB or anything, so apart from CB and current Incapacity Benefit (don't claim DLA as it doesn't affect his mobility), would he essentially not contribute anything to the household expenses until he is eligable for his pension?

Blimey, that turned out to be a lot longer than expected!!

So, my actual questio is, is that all correct of have I gone wrong somewhere?

Thanks

L

PippaGirl_2

I think all your assumptions are correct. I wonder though, given the anxiety and coping with change, whether he may be eligible for the mobility componant of DLA? My ASD dd receives LRM for much the same reason.
Of course it will be changing to PIP at some stage and then perhaps not, but for now, I think he may qualify. You may feel it isn't worth it for the £20.55 a week though but it helps dd out with her needs.

mazza111

Yes you've got it right. Even if he qualifies for the WRAG, as you work he would only get that for a year. Do you think he has care needs because of his illness, you say he has no mobility needs but DLA can also just be claimed for care needs.

WaltonVale

Thanks for the advice - I am fairly sure he wouldn't be eligable for DLA because aside from the added transport costs to and from drs. appointments, everything he gets, including prescriptions are provided by NHS as he has diabetes. Guess we need to tighten our belts even more over the next 5 years!

Bogof_Babe

WaltonVale wrote: »

Looking at JSA I earn too much for him to recieve anything and he won;t be eligiable for state pension until 2017 - is this right?

Not sure if this is a typo, but if he's just turned 60 he won't get his state pension until Feb 2018.

https://www.gov.uk/calculate-state-pension/y/age/male/1953-02-09

WaltonVale

Opps, yes, sorry, that was a typo - I know it is 5 years I just forgot we were in 2013!!!!