What benefits is he entitled to???

sammybo22

Hi

My father in law has recently been diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis. His occupation is a butcher. He is thinking of taking early retirement due to his workload (working in freezers and cutting meat) which is causing him pains in his hands.

Can anyone help with what benefits he will be entitled too, my father in law and mother in law are in a substantial amount of debt. He has never been on any benefits before and is unsure if he would be better off. I am not sure how much he earns per month a rough guess by what he has been saying would be £1100 after tax and NIC. My mother in law works part-time (under 16 hrs/week) with an agency doing home help.

Can someone point me in the right direction, so that I can pass advice on to him.

Regards

Sammy

seven-day-weekend

How old is he? How old is his wife? And is he employed or self-employed?

sammybo22

He is 53, mother in law is 51, and he is employed by a supermarket in Scotland

seven-day-weekend

If he has been paying his full insurance stamps, he should be able to get Incapacity Benefit. This is not a means-tested benefit.

Depending on income and savings, he may be eligible for Council Tax Benefit and Housing Benefit if he rents his house.

These are all I can think of, but I'm sure someone else will come along soon if there is anything else.

Meanwhile, try www.entitledto.com

healy

He would be able to claim Incapacity Benefit if he can get a sicknote from his Doctor. Also possibly DLA if he has care and/or mobility needs. Neither of these two are means tested. If he rents he may get some housing benefit but it would not cover the full rent. Also he may get some Council Tax benefit.It is best to get face to face advice from a Welfare Rights Officer to see exactly how he would stand, they can be found at the CAB, local Council and at disability oganisations.He is unlikely to be better off on benefit.

Morglin

He would be entitled to IB, (assuming the DWP accept he could not do any job, after he has completed an IB50) and maybe DLA - and would possibly get all of his rent and CT paid (depending on what savings or other income he may have).

Try this, and also send him to the CAB who will do a full benefits check:

http://www.entitledto.co.uk/

Lin

firesidemaid

could his wife work full-time if necessary?

if he gets dla then she may also get carer's allowance plus you can work so many hours. if no dla, then they would have to work out how it would affect their benefits depending on how much she earnt/worked?

like another poster said - is it just his current job he cannot do or do you think he will not be able to do any job?

also, does he have a works/private pension? do they own their house or rent?

also, are they making headway with the debts and has the reason for them stopped.

calleyw

sazzacat wrote: »

if he gets dla then she may also get carer's allowance plus you can work so many hours. if no dla, then they would have to work out how it would affect their benefits depending on how much she earnt/worked?

To get carers allowance you have to care for the person for 35 hours + a week and earn no more than £86 a week. And the person you are caring for has to get DLA care of middle or higher rate.

My husband had a stroke and has no left side and he only gets lower rate care. And I have to help him in and out of the shower, cut up his meals etc for him.


Yours


Calley

krisskross

Once treatment is sorted out then Rheumatoid arthritis can often be well managed. Perhaps it would be best to see what treatment options are and how well he responds to treatment before taking irrevocable steps. My husband has had rheumatoid arthritis for almost 20 years, treatment keeps getting stepped up but touch wood, with painkillers he is ok.

sammybo22

thanks for all your comments, they are much appreciated