Aspergers and Benefits

cakeforbrains

Hi there.

My older brother has Aspergers Syndrome. He's in his late thirties. He currently works for my Mum in her shop because, having tried the normal (menial) working world for several years we've found that his communication difficulties are just too great to cope with it. My Mum holds his hand a lot and helps him with things like organising his bank account and so on. He lives literally right next door to her and I can't imagine him coping with being further away than that.

Unfortunately it looks like my Mum is going to have to wind up her business (and maybe even go bankrupt). She is terrified of having to send my brother back into the normal working world due to his difficulties. Is there any kind of benefit he might be able to claim to ease the pressure? I'm so confused by the changing system. Any advice would be welcome.

pmlindyloo

Is he claiming any benefits at the moment as he is living on his own? Housing Benefit/Council Tax Support/Disability Living Allowance? Of course this will depend on how much mum is paying him and how may hours he is doing?

If mum has to give up the business then he can claim Job Seekers Allowance or Employment Support Allowance. if he is awarded one of these and they are income based then he would be entitled to HB and CTB.

Need some more information please.

Benefits he is currently on.

Hours he is working. Salary he is being paid.

Not sure whether you want info about benefits now or if mum gives up the business.

cakeforbrains

pmlindyloo wrote: »

Is he claiming any benefits at the moment as he is living on his own? Housing Benefit/Council Tax Support/Disability Living Allowance? Of course this will depend on how much mum is paying him and how may hours he is doing?

If mum has to give up the business then he can claim Job Seekers Allowance or Employment Support Allowance. if he is awarded one of these and they are income based then he would be entitled to HB and CTB.

Need some more information please.

Benefits he is currently on.

Hours he is working. Salary he is being paid.

Not sure whether you want info about benefits now or if mum gives up the business.

More with regards to if (when) Mum gives up the business. He works 20 hours a week at the moment but I don't know how much she pays him. He lives on his own and I think he gets some help with rent and council tax. He doesn't claim any kind of disability benefits.

So yeah, basically I wanted to know what would happen when he's got no job anymore, given that he can only really 'work' for my Mum because she makes so many allowances for him and his needs.

pmlindyloo

cakeforbrains wrote: »

More with regards to if (when) Mum gives up the business. He works 20 hours a week at the moment but I don't know how much she pays him. He lives on his own and I think he gets some help with rent and council tax. He doesn't claim any kind of disability benefits.

So yeah, basically I wanted to know what would happen when he's got no job anymore, given that he can only really 'work' for my Mum because she makes so many allowances for him and his needs.

In that case he could apply for Job Seekers Allowance or Employment Support Allowance. The latter are for people who are not fit for work and he would need a fit note from the doctor.

Difficult to say which is the best route without further information.

If he applied for Job Seekers Allowance then there should be a Disability Advisor at Job Centre Plus who could help.

Is your brother getting help from a social worker/other professional who would support a claim for ESA?

Look up the descriptors for ESA and see if he 'fits' the profile.

Does he have any care needs? You can look up Disability Living Allowance and again, see if he would fit the descriptors.

Sorry to be vague but without knowing your brother's 'needs' it is difficult to help more.