Financial help Brother in law poorly

majors

I wonder if anybody can help. My brother in law who is 46 years old and a diabetic is on the list for a double transplant. He as worked upto a couple of months ago when he fell badly ill and ended up having a stroke, which left him 90% blind. Obviously he had to pack in work and went down the aisle of claiming disability which he got knocked back. This is going to an appeal.
His wife works and brings in a salary and they are being told that she as got to support him. They are now struggling financially. The blind centre have been brilliant offering support and social serves ring them every 3 days. They said that they will try and get the appeal brought forward (which she as no date for|).
His wife rang me tonight and said she is very tired working full time and being his carer. Ideally she would like to go part time to ease the strain on her. She as contacted the benefits centre on numerous occasions asking for help. Today she rang them up and asked them if he cannot get disability then is he entitled to JSA. The answer is no, as he is not fit for work. Can anybody please help and advise what benefits he would be entitled to. Thanks for your help

paddedjohn

Isn't he entitled to contributions based ESA?

majors

No. Because he is not fit for work. That is what the benefits told them.

Torry_Quine

When he had to stop work he should have been able to get contribution based ESA at least until he was assessed after approx 13 weeks.

Did he get less than 15 points which is why he is appealling, remember he still needs to send in fit-notes.

KxMx

You can get assessment rate ESA (presuming it's ESA he was denied) -around £71 per week- while appealing a fit for work decision, as long as you continue to send in fit notes.

majors

Will tell my sister to ring again and ask about ESA. Anything is better than nothing.

majors

Sorry just rang her. She as aleady applied for ESA and they refused him.

KxMx

Is the appeal about the ESA refusal? If so, you can still get paid the assessment rate while waiting for the appeal to be heard, as long as continuous sick/fit notes are sent in.
If this decision has not been appealed I would suggest she contacts Welfare Rights who can assist in trying to get a late appeal in, again can be paid as above.

xylophone

Is he entitled to an ill health pension? http://www.pensionsadvisoryservice.org.uk/taking-payments-from-your-pension-pot/ill-health-retirement

xylophone

http://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/about-us

Is there anything here of assistance?

sleepless_saver

They should get a benefits check to see what they are currently entitled to, and what they would be entitled to if the wife reduced her working hours. . http://www.turn2us.org.uk/benefits_search.aspx or try CAB for help.

He will be able to apply for personal independence payment for his care and mobility needs. He can do this 3 months after his health problems started (assuming they will last at least 9 months after that).

Depending on his wife's earnings, they could be entitled to working tax credit which she would need to claim, and council tax benefit.