ESA Wait

lilyandlogan

Hi

I was just wondering if anyone would be able to offer assistance. My partner had been claiming Jsa for both of us and he gets low rate dla. We have 2 children aged 5 n 1. I worked for 10 years before losing my job before I got pregant with out 2nd child. Our citizens advice worker told partner to claim esa as he has learning difficulties and is suffering from depression. We have now waited the 13 week assessment phase and was wondering if anyone in the glasgow area can give an idea of how long it took to get a decision either way? I know everyone says that the money will be back dated if successful however if unsuccessful we will have lost out on fair bit of money and got ourselves into a tight position financially so can't decide if I should just go and apply for jsa as I'm actively seeking work anyway, but then I have to the problem of child care as don't think at this moment in time partner could deal with youngest. I hope I have explained this aswell as I can. I don't have anyone else to turn to as don't want family knowing our business and partner doesn't quite get why I'm so worried cause he can't grasp the financial side of things and keeps sayin we will get by 🙈

pmlindyloo

Have you been added to your partner's ESA claim?

Are you receiving any other benefits? Housing Benefit/Council tax reduction/Child Tax Credits?

Can't answer the question about how long you will have to wait but can tell you that you are not losing out on any money as the assessment rate of ESA is the same as JSA.

What makes you think you are losing out on money?

lilyandlogan

Sorry Yes I have been added to partners claim. We are in reciept of hb ctc and cb. My partner got the disablilty premium on his jsa which is like an exta £50+ a week which you don't get on esa so for the last 13 weeks we have been down £600ish.

pmlindyloo

lilyandlogan wrote: »

Sorry Yes I have been added to partners claim. We are in reciept of hb ctc and cb. My partner got the disablilty premium on his jsa which is like an exta £50+ a week which you don't get on esa so for the last 13 weeks we have been down £600ish.

OK, understand.

Difficult one to answer as we don't know your partner's difficulties. How did he get on with job seeking?

I believe you would be better off financially on JSA because of the disability element being added.

If he is awarded ESA there would be no extra premiums because he is receiving low rate care of DLA.

For JSA purposes any DLA award entitles you to the Disability Premium. He would get the component (either WRAG or Support group) but this may not outweigh the disability element. (I will see if I find the current rates)

To be honest, only you can decide whether you go back to the joint JSA claim or work and use child care (some of the child care fees may be repaid through tax credits.)

You could have a play around on the benefit calculator on https://www.turn2us.org.uk.

Rates are here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/275291/Benefit_and_Pension_rates_2014-15.pdf

lilyandlogan

Thank you very much for your reply. My partner has problems with reading writing concentration communication and understanding things. He hasn't did well on previous job searches and even when he had to attend working links I had to attend aswell to explain what the advisor was telling him and the advisors was telling me to fill out the applications and sending emails and cover, which I didn't have a problem with but our cab worker said that shouldn't have been happening as they should be able to work with my partner one to one and that's why he said to apply for esa. I will have a wee look at that website thanks I don't have first clue about benefits and neither has my partner as he's only just started over the last year or so to claim dla as we didn't think he would qualify for that until social worker told us to apply n he's 25.

Indie_Kid

The component for the work related activity group (WRAG) is a few pounds a week less than the disability premium on JSA. But he may get more support with his disabilities and getting back to work.

lilyandlogan

Thank you indie kid, he is wanting to get out to work but when he was on jsa they were telling him to apply for jobs in places like william hill and places like that and telling him he would be sanctioned if he didnt but he is no where near able to apply for jobs like this or work in an environment like that.