Esa and no extra help

WelshKitty

Hi all ,

I have been on ESA since start of year and been off work for over year now , I am currently under care of Dr's and awaiting appointments so kinda in limbo , due to this I can't work .

I have around £143 every 2 weeks and my bills before rent and food come to £200 I live with my partner and he earns just enough to cover bills and his expenses as he runs a car and job is not close by .

Rent has been reduced thanks to a kind landlord which is £350 (average around here is £450-£500) and we need to stay in this area as it easiest for us to get places eg work for both etc .

I have rung benefits team today asking for help as I had little savings to help out last few months but they are gone and I been told they can't help us as partner earns just a little too much to help They advised us they could look to try and find a house in area which is completely other side of town .

I feel like there is no one to help us at moment I am just so down and lost I don't know what to do I tried citizens advice and they said the team I spoke to had the final say .

Anyone been in this position? What can I do for help ?

Housing_Benefit_Officer

Have you not applied for Housing Benefit?

Horseunderwater

Have you been sent form ESA50 from ATOS yet and if so have you completed it and sent it back. If not it does seem like a long time as I would have thought that you should have at least got to that stage. Until you do they cannot book you in for what is called the work capability assessment - which is usually done at or around the 20-25 week stage. If you then score a min 15 points you get put into the Work related Activity group - but if you are even worse than that and meet what are called the Support group descriptors as well, then into the Support group you go. May be worth ringing DWP to ask whether that form has been sent out perhaps.

WelshKitty

Housing_Benefit_Officer wrote: »

Have you not applied for Housing Benefit?

Tried today and was told they couldn't help as partner earns just over criteria and only way was if we applied for house to be moved

Caz3121

WelshKitty wrote: »

I have rung benefits team today asking for help as I had little savings to help out last few months but they are gone and I been told they can't help us as partner earns just a little too much to help

I am assuming that your partner is on a low wage as you say it is "just a little too much" for help
Do they work part time? If they are over 25 and work more than 30 hours, have you looked at working tax credits?

WelshKitty

Caz3121 wrote: »

I am assuming that your partner is on a low wage as you say it is "just a little too much" for help
Do they work part time? If they are over 25 and work more than 30 hours, have you looked at working tax credits?

Over 30 hours funnily enough I just texted him asking to check about those he going to check later on

KxMx

Have you been through all your expenses and seen anywhere to save money? For example are you on the cheapest energy plan, drop a brand at the supermarket?

WelshKitty

KxMx wrote: »

Have you been through all your expenses and seen anywhere to save money? For example are you on the cheapest energy plan, drop a brand at the supermarket?

Yep looked for money off stuff shopped around , changed some stuff including insurance saved over £220 with that particular one , even stopped using bus into town to save something which means 2 hr walk each way

pmlindyloo

Horseunderwater wrote: »

Have you been sent form ESA50 from ATOS yet and if so have you completed it and sent it back. If not it does seem like a long time as I would have thought that you should have at least got to that stage. Until you do they cannot book you in for what is called the work capability assessment - which is usually done at or around the 20-25 week stage. If you then score a min 15 points you get put into the Work related Activity group - but if you are even worse than that and meet what are called the Support group descriptors as well, then into the Support group you go. May be worth ringing DWP to ask whether that form has been sent out perhaps.

You need to answer his question as from your post you appear to be on the assessment rate of ESA.

What is happening about your claim?

WelshKitty

pmlindyloo wrote: »

You need to answer his question as from your post you appear to be on the assessment rate of ESA.

What is happening about your claim?

Sorry for some reason I missed that post .

All I had was a claim done over the phone and then forms sent through asking can I do this or that and what is my illness etc I sent them back and just confirmation of them being received and the amount I would receive and how often apart from that nothing since just a letter saying I need to send dr note by this date or let them know any changes .

pmlindyloo

Whilst you are waiting to hear about your medical for ESA then I suggest that you put your details into the benefit checker here:

http://www.turn2us.org.uk/benefits_search.aspx to see if you are eligible for any help.

If you are not then the only other suggestion is for you to go over to the Debt Free Wannabe forum and ask for help/support. They are very non judgemental and will give you ideas for reducing your expenditure.

Basically the truth is you either have to 'up your income' (which hopefully will happen when your ESA is sorted) or 'reduce your expenditure.'

Edit.

You could also ring DWP and ask what is happening about your claim. However, I do believe that in some areas there is a big backlog but no harm in giving them a 'heads up'.

How many bedrooms has your accommodation? Any chance of taking in a lodger?