ESA Query

joseph9a

nannytone wrote: »

at 23, the amount she receives sounds about right.
you cannot claim ESA at the same time as income support as they are both out of work benefits ( the same thing but for different reasons)

https://www.gov.uk/employment-support-allowance/what-youll-get

according to this link ESA is £57 roughly a week so if she lost her income support but got ESA she would be £37 a week better off is that right?

Thanks

tomtontom

joseph9a wrote: »

She goes twice a day every day and each time is there between 2 and 4 hours so yes id say she covers 35 hours a week

The frequency of visits and the time spent caring would appear to contradict the reasons why she feels she is unfit for work.

joseph9a

Ive just noticed it says after 3 months you have to go to a work activity group, what if your not fit to go to this? As I know she wont as she is basically at rock bottom

nannytone_2

joseph9a wrote: »

https://www.gov.uk/employment-support-allowance/what-youll-get

according to this link ESA is £57 roughly a week so if she lost her income support but got ESA she would be £37 a week better off is that right?

Thanks

no that isnt correct.
any ESA would be reduced by the carers allowance in the same way that her income support is as carers allowance is taxable income

joseph9a

tomtontom wrote: »

The frequency of visits and the time spent caring would appear to contradict the reasons why she feels she is unfit for work.

You don't know her though, have you ever suffered with depression or anxiety? she feels anxious around new people, and always feels she is being judged, and people are laughing at her. She can manage a 2 minute walk to her aunts and she does things like puts her head down and doesn't look up with her mp3 player in. she doesn't feel as anxious around her family.

I don't mean to be funny but if people could give me advice please and not question if my ex is genuine please as i have witnessed her self harming and find it annoying when people say things which make out she may be exaggerating or lying. I don't want to have to keep justifying things or defending her. I'm not being funny but unless you are a doctor i'd appreciate advice on the benefits not whether you think she is genuinely suffering with depression/anxiety (and don't say actually i am a doctor ha)

joseph9a

nannytone wrote: »

no that isnt correct.
any ESA would be reduced by the carers allowance in the same way that her income support is as carers allowance is taxable income

So if she is getting currently:

Carers £60

IS £20

and she was awarded ESA £57 (I have rounded these figures)

how much would she get if awarded ESA and which benefits would be stopped/reduced?

tomtontom

joseph9a wrote: »

You don't know her though, have you ever suffered with depression or anxiety? she feels anxious around new people, and always feels she is being judged, and people are laughing at her. She can manage a 2 minute walk to her aunts and she does things like puts her head down and doesn't look up with her mp3 player in. she doesn't feel as anxious around her family.

I don't mean to be funny but if people could give me advice please and not question if my ex is genuine please as i have witnessed her self harming and find it annoying when people say things which make out she may be exaggerating or lying. I don't want to have to keep justifying things or defending her. I'm not being funny but unless you are a doctor i'd appreciate advice on the benefits not whether you think she is genuinely suffering with depression/anxiety (and don't say actually i am a doctor ha)

I have a long term mental health condition. I did not suggest that she was not depressed, but rather that her caring responsibilities are contradictory to her not being fit for work - being depressed does not mean she will automatically qualify for ESA, far from it.

Her ESA award would ultimately be decided by a decision maker who would make their decision based on the (written) evidence in front of them. My advice is given on the same basis.

nannytone_2

the current income support rate is £57 a week. she will also be receiving a carers premium.
the amount od carers allowance is deducted from the amount, leaving her with carers allowance and an income support top up.
ESA would be exactly the same.
£57 plus a carers premium ( you also need to consider if her caring responsibilities would contradict the reason she is claiming ESA) the carers allowance would them be deducted.
she would be in exactly the same financial position until ESA main phase started, and would then gain about £28 a week if successful.
she would probably also have to attend work focused interviewsvat the job centre4

joseph9a

tomtontom wrote: »

I have a long term mental health condition. I did not suggest that she was not depressed, but rather that her caring responsibilities are contradictory to her not being fit for work - being depressed does not mean she will automatically qualify for ESA, far from it.

Her ESA award would ultimately be decided by a decision maker who would make their decision based on the (written) evidence in front of them. My advice is given on the same basis.

Ok thanks, as I said i wasn't being funny just that sometimes on here rather than helping with the problem people make funny remarks (I dont mean you)

Surely though someone who is not fit to work and has history of trying to take their own life, there must be some help for them with benefits? She doesnt stick up for herself and her family arent great (partly as they dont know how bad she is) so I feel I have to fight her corner. I am trying to move on but i need to be happy knowing she is getting the support needed, as im not the type of person to think like im not with her no more so its not my problem. If I didnt leave her in a good position id always be worrying

joseph9a

nannytone wrote: »

the current income support rate is £57 a week. she will also be receiving a carers premium.
the amount od carers allowance is deducted from the amount, leaving her with carers allowance and an income support top up.
ESA would be exactly the same.
£57 plus a carers premium ( you also need to consider if her caring responsibilities would contradict the reason she is claiming ESA) the carers allowance would them be deducted.
she would be in exactly the same financial position until ESA main phase started, and would then gain about £28 a week if successful.
she would probably also have to attend work focused interviewsvat the job centre4

I just dont get how if you are unfit to work mentally, why you would have to goto a work based thing at the job centre. If you are worried about leaving your home, how would this be possible? unless she just goes and possibly has a panic attack. I have actually had to take her to A&E a few times because she thought she was having a heart attack although I know it was a panic attack. I'm not asking you directly but if anyone knows how this works would be great. Is ESA the benefit she should be looking at? I think she should be on long term sick while she gets help medically or professionally