Support group indeed!

diceydeb

Since my OH was moved from IB to ESA support group we have lost £40 a week in tax credits and no longer entitled to free dental or prescriptions or hospital travel expenses. We do not get a penny more than when he was on IB but because all his esa is now countable as income we have lost this vital extra help. Due to ongoing health issues we travel to Oxford. Leicester and Northampton hospitals several times a year and have many medications on prescription. I work part time and cant do any more hrs as he needs me to look after him. Its a joke they call this support!

DomRavioli

Have you applied for a low wage health certificate (HC2)? That would entitle to free prescriptions.

Ask the pharmacist for a HC1 leaflet and form - don't get pulled into anything online as they are free to apply for and there are scams out there.

Sounds like your OH is on contributions based ESA - do check with the office to confirm that it is contributions based.

Torry_Quine

diceydeb wrote: »

Since my OH was moved from IB to ESA support group we have lost £40 a week in tax credits and no longer entitled to free dental or prescriptions or hospital travel expenses. We do not get a penny more than when he was on IB but because all his esa is now countable as income we have lost this vital extra help. Due to ongoing health issues we travel to Oxford. Leicester and Northampton hospitals several times a year and have many medications on prescription. I work part time and cant do any more hrs as he needs me to look after him. Its a joke they call this support!

As IB is a contributory benefit then it didn't actually give you free prescriptions etc either.

You do need to look at the low income scheme which may be of help.

Morglin

diceydeb wrote: »

Since my OH was moved from IB to ESA support group we have lost £40 a week in tax credits and no longer entitled to free dental or prescriptions or hospital travel expenses. We do not get a penny more than when he was on IB but because all his esa is now countable as income we have lost this vital extra help. Due to ongoing health issues we travel to Oxford. Leicester and Northampton hospitals several times a year and have many medications on prescription. I work part time and cant do any more hrs as he needs me to look after him. Its a joke they call this support!

As above, if he was on contributory IB, it didn't entitle him to free prescriptions, any more than contributory ESA does,whatever group.

If you are on any means tested benefits, then you both should get them.

Other than that, apply via the HS2.

Lin

sunnyone

I think I know whats going on, IB wasnt counted as income for tax credits purposes but ESA is so they now have about £5k per year extra to declare to tax credits and that has lost them the low income benfits tax credits can bring.

diceydeb

That's it sunnyone, the tax credit system gave us an exemption certificate as accountable income was under their threshold.... but sadly no more even though our income is the same. What a bonkers system. Thanks for replies don't think we will qualify for HS2 as we above tax credit threshold now.

Poppie68

In regards to your prescription charges you can apply for a pre-payment card, if paid monthly it works out a little under £11.00 a month regardless of how many meds are on the prescription.

Saversue

sunnyone wrote: »

I think I know whats going on, IB wasnt counted as income for tax credits purposes but ESA is so they now have about £5k per year extra to declare to tax credits and that has lost them the low income benfits tax credits can bring.

That's mad. I got IB, with is now ESA Support Group. My IB always counted as taxable income, as does my ESA. Tax code adjusted and used against private ill-health pension. So why didn't IB count as income tor tax credits?

KxMx

I'd urge you to do the HC1 form for help with health costs anyway.
Got to be worth a try surely?

HC2 outcome gives free prescriptions and full help with NHS costs.
HC3 outcome gives partial help with health costs no free prescriptions.

Sounds like even an HC3 would be of benefit? I have one and only would have to pay for example £11 a week towards Hospital travel before I get refunded in full.

Also I have a yearly PPC, you can pay monthly via DD it's £10.40 over 10 months so 2 months payment free

sunnyone

Saversue wrote: »

That's mad. I got IB, with is now ESA Support Group. My IB always counted as taxable income, as does my ESA. Tax code adjusted and used against private ill-health pension. So why didn't IB count as income tor tax credits?

It depends when you started claiming IVB/IB, pre 1995 it was tax free and under the change over to ESA it becomes taxable so it also becomes a benefit which must be declared under ESA.

Saversue

sunnyone wrote: »

It depends when you started claiming IVB/IB, pre 1995 it was tax free and under the change over to ESA it becomes taxable so it also becomes a benefit which must be declared under ESA.

My claim is from 2000, so that explains it, thanks
Mind you I am very lucky it was just before the deadline for taking ill-health pension into account.