Not looking forward to life with no income!

Crisp_£_note

Just about to receive my last ESA payment before they terminate it due to my 365 day allowance.


So far it has been close to 9 months since I submitted the application form for PIP and I had my medical assessment just 2 weeks ago!

When I rang them earlier this week to chase it they assured me it wouldn't be too much longer just another 2 - 3 weeks!

Needless to say I am still waiting to hear about my PIP claim. I had a rather useless letter from DWP about it yesterday which just informs me " We've now got the information and reports we need about your condition and how this affects you for your claim to Personal Independence Payment. We're sorry it's taken longer than expected to give you a decision on your claim bur we'll contact you as soon as we've made a decision. Yours sincerely Office Manager".

My husband is part time self employed car valeter (which is a seasonal and luxury trade these days) and also has a seasonal job doing car parking at festival events around the UK. This often leaves me home alone to fend for myself. Not entirely sure he is happy with me to make a claim on his income (but its a different story if I have the money to spend on the food of course )

We are now stressing as we really have no clue as to how we are going to manage without the ESA. This was barely enough when it got paid to cover the food and other essential shopping items and once in a blue moon a cheap day out.

My husband does get Working Tax Credits but their barely enough to pay the priority household bills and rent.

So now the ESA has gone we have less (actually NO) money for food other than what husband can scrape up and that gives its own problems as he wont eat fruit or veg so without any money I am not in control of the food so we eat unhealthily (in my opinion) whereas before at least I could try and make sure I got something of my 5 - 7 a day but not any more.

Husband won't be able to get a full time job as he has outdated qualifications and retraining will mean going back into education which he hated the first time round so it might take years to get anywhere.

Me I feel I still can't go back to work and fear I never will. I have a lifelong degenerative condition and with this in the past year I have developed mental issues such as depression, anxiety confidence and trust issues and other fears such as agrophobia etc (some I know are most likely quite irrational).

I feel our situation is quite a mess and it's probably all my fault and can't see a way forward

I am wanting to appeal to ESA as I am in the Work Related Action Group (WRAG) group and feel I need to be in the long term SUPPORt GROUP if thats the correct name?) but don't know if it is too late or if I need my Dr's help or what??

I rang DWP and asked what to fo as my ESA is coming to an end and they have sent us a ESA form for re-assessment. However I noticed in the "NOTES" section under the Income-related Employment and Support Allowance it states "You will not be entitled to income-related ESA if your partner is working more than 24 hours a week ....." Well my husband doesn't have a set working pattern as some weeks (especially in winter) he only manages to scrape by at 30 hours and others when he is away at festival car park work it can be 100 hours a week! When we do the Working Tax Credit renewal form we have to explain that his average working week is figured out based on the total hours expected to work being divided out over the 52 week annual period which then brings it right down to around 30 hours over 6 days (his festival car park work isn't every month it is more of as and when they need staff but it is a 'proper' job through the books with a real employer so not a sneaky cash in hand so to speak.

Trying very hard not to get too anxious or depressed but feeling a bit stressed and hopeless right now

Thanks for reading. Sorry to vent

fabforty

Crisp_£_note wrote: »

Just about to receive my last ESA payment before they terminate it due to my 365 day allowance.


So far it has been close to 9 months since I submitted the application form for PIP and I had my medical assessment just 2 weeks ago!

When I rang them earlier this week to chase it they assured me it wouldn't be too much longer just another 2 - 3 weeks!

Needless to say I am still waiting to hear about my PIP claim. I had a rather useless letter from DWP about it yesterday which just informs me " We've now got the information and reports we need about your condition and how this affects you for your claim to Personal Independence Payment. We're sorry it's taken longer than expected to give you a decision on your claim bur we'll contact you as soon as we've made a decision. Yours sincerely Office Manager".

My husband is part time self employed car valeter (which is a seasonal and luxury trade these days) and also has a seasonal job doing car parking at festival events around the UK. This often leaves me home alone to fend for myself. Not entirely sure he is happy with me to make a claim on his income (but its a different story if I have the money to spend on the food of course )

We are now stressing as we really have no clue as to how we are going to manage without the ESA. This was barely enough when it got paid to cover the food and other essential shopping items and once in a blue moon a cheap day out.

My husband does get Working Tax Credits but their barely enough to pay the priority household bills and rent.

So now the ESA has gone we have less (actually NO) money for food other than what husband can scrape up and that gives its own problems as he wont eat fruit or veg so without any money I am not in control of the food so we eat unhealthily (in my opinion) whereas before at least I could try and make sure I got something of my 5 - 7 a day but not any more.

Husband won't be able to get a full time job as he has outdated qualifications and retraining will mean going back into education which he hated the first time round so it might take years to get anywhere.

Me I feel I still can't go back to work and fear I never will. I have a lifelong degenerative condition and with this in the past year I have developed mental issues such as depression, anxiety confidence and trust issues and other fears such as agrophobia etc (some I know are most likely quite irrational).

I feel our situation is quite a mess and it's probably all my fault and can't see a way forward

I am wanting to appeal to ESA as I am in the Work Related Action Group (WRAG) group and feel I need to be in the long term SUPPORt GROUP if thats the correct name?) but don't know if it is too late or if I need my Dr's help or what??

I rang DWP and asked what to fo as my ESA is coming to an end and they have sent us a ESA form for re-assessment. However I noticed in the "NOTES" section under the Income-related Employment and Support Allowance it states "You will not be entitled to income-related ESA if your partner is working more than 24 hours a week ....." Well my husband doesn't have a set working pattern as some weeks (especially in winter) he only manages to scrape by at 30 hours and others when he is away at festival car park work it can be 100 hours a week! When we do the Working Tax Credit renewal form we have to explain that his average working week is figured out based on the total hours expected to work being divided out over the 52 week annual period which then brings it right down to around 30 hours over 6 days (his festival car park work isn't every month it is more of as and when they need staff but it is a 'proper' job through the books with a real employer so not a sneaky cash in hand so to speak.

Trying very hard not to get too anxious or depressed but feeling a bit stressed and hopeless right now

Thanks for reading. Sorry to vent

I am not sure what to suggest in the short term, but long term one solution would be for your husband to find alternative employment - a 'real' job - i.e. full-time and regular.


I don't understand why he feels that he cannot get a full-time job without returning to study, but part-time seasonal work is never going to be enough to support a family - not without relying on benefits as well. Unfortunately, as you have found, if those benefits stop for any reason, you find yourselves up the creek. I'm not suggesting that finding a job will be easy, but I do think that he should at least try. You can't help being ill, so don't blame yourself.

cattie

I thought when people were married that they supported each other, whether financially or emotionally. What's the point of living with somebody who isn't willing to support you yourself have no income coming in?

If your husband has an income & receives tax credits then why on earth do you think it isn't fair of you to make a claim on 'his' income. Isn't what is his yours & vice versa? I expect some of his allowance is for having a dependent wife anyway & you will surely receive some HB?

I can never really understand a man taking a part time job as a permanent option when finances are not too healthy. Couldn't he look for another part time job to work in tandem with this current one if he doesn't want to try for a full time job? Many part time jobs suit people with limited or no experience & sometimes it can lead to a full time position.

If you are worried about feeding yourself, can you try to find out if there is a food bank in your area that you could be referred to if things get really desperate?

Also, do you have family or friends who would help you out? Most people would never see a friend go without when going through a difficult period, so don't be too embarrassed to ask for help if you need it.

Big_Tree

fabforty wrote: »

I don't understand why he feels that he cannot get a full-time job without returning to study.

Bone Idleness....

Indie_Kid

The absolute limit for appealing an ESA decision is 13 months. But you must have good cause (such as illness) for submitting a late appeal.

Crisp_£_note

Please don't attack my husband. I don't criticize or say nasty stuff about you and your relatives! Sorry I wasn't going to acknowledge your post but this truly upset me as the words hurt so I needed to respond. Thank you for understanding.
Fact is he does work very hard and has genuine personal problems (not excuses) himself why he can't get a full time job or return to education which I am not going into the reasons why here sorry.
Financially it is simpler to keep things separate we have learnt from past occurances as this is the easiest way we stay out of debt.

Will the Housing Benefit and Council Tax benefits we receive be stopped? That's my main concern now as I will have to inform my in-laws (they own the property) who do help us enough already as do friends and other family.

Thank you to those who provided the helpful advice and support.

Indie_Kid

You will need to inform housing and council tax. Your housing and council tax shouldn't stop. They may increase.

maggieann2luke

Didn't think you could get housing benefit if your home is owned by another family member. There's a section about it in the application form I filled in a few weeks ago. I suggest you look into this as you could be heading for trouble.

Indie_Kid

maggieann2luke wrote: »

Didn't think you could get housing benefit if your home is owned by another family member. There's a section about it in the application form I filled in a few weeks ago. I suggest you look into this as you could be heading for trouble.

You can providing you follow the proper rules regarding payment, (or lack of) evictions and stuff.

Crisp_£_note

The council have always been aware of who we rent our bungalow from and how much we do pay. It's all above board and legit. My mother in law had to undergo an interview with the council and police (she says it was more like being under investigation under caution) to rule out potential fraud before the council would accept our application. The council were unable to offer us a flat at the time either. Its too long and emotional to go through the full scenario (not that I need to) but the best option was for us to have a proper place and not live in a caravan unfit for winter habitation on a holiday park officially only open 10 months of the year. Especially when my health was deteriorating further.

I had a letter from the council benefits today actually to let me know of the change to benefits for both council tax and housing based on the DWP changes - it has actually been increased slightly so we pay a little less each month. It a relief for the short term as it will only last until the end of the month then we will most likely get another one with another update but every little helps in the bigger picture and we are so grateful for the discount and benefit.

Thanks for the support

Crisp_£_note

I will be posting off my ESA re-assessment form later this week as my 365 day allowance is up on 29th of May (2014).

Can anyone suggest anything I should notify them of in the "other information" section to support my claim?

How do I go about appealing to be moved into the support group as this past claim was for the WRAG group?

Update on the PIP application - nothing heard still! Council Tax / Housing benefit have written to us with new amounts of benefits (Council Tax benefit looks set to be updated again in 2 weeks judging by dates on notification statement)

Tax Credits are due for renewal, have the claim pack just need info from husbands accountant and end of claim info from DWP before I can submit that. I have noted though the last 2 payments have decreased and I received an extra payment from them last week so I am hoping their not going to accuse us of an overpayment we need to re-pay (not had one yet since first claimed years ago) - last thing we need right now! I will just have to wait and see but will hold onto extra payment just to be on the safe side at least until the 'all clear' from Working Tax Credits people.

Thanks for the assistance and helpfulness