Benefits Advice

alexjonsson

TrainGeek1808 wrote: »

I have - does my IS increase then when my SSP finishes?

Must admit the IS is the one which confuses me most!

They have sent me a letter saying I'll hear within 6 weeks and be invited to a work-based assessment if applicable - I'm guessing that won't apply given my situation??

Thanks

TrainGeek

I'm happy to be corrected on this, but my understanding is that you'll be receiving an Income Support 'couples top up' of SSP (because assumingly your partner is unable to work), which will be approximately an additional £20. You will also then be entitled to passported benefits.

After your SSP end, I should imagine that your IS will end and you will have to claim ESA - this is where I may stand corrected, but I don't know why this wouldn't be the case.

Your employer should issue you with the form SSP1 before 23 weeks of receiving SSP. You may need to chase them for this, depending on how efficient your HR department is. You can use this to claim ESA - don't know if it'll be contribution or income based as I don't know what NI you've paid.

There should be no problem getting ESA - assuming you're getting chemo/radio you automatically go into the Support Group.

I am also a terminal cancer patient. I've been through the benefits system, on and off with employment, for the last 5 and a half years. I've had to go through the whole working out benefits thing, which can be stressful when combined with your treatment as well as just mentally dealing with your diagnosis.

The MacMillan benefits might be just as useful as the CAB, as often they are attached and funded by the CAB - as is the case with my local one. Don't be afraid to go armed with your own research and understanding of the benefits system - this will help them more than someone who has no idea.

Also don't be afraid to ask questions, and question people when you think they're wrong. I had to spoonfeed my HR department the right information to make sure I got the right SSP.

Happy to help if I can provide any more information regarding being terminal.

All the best.

alexjonsson

alexjonsson wrote: »

I'm happy to be corrected on this, but my understanding is that you'll be receiving an Income Support 'couples top up' of SSP (because assumingly your partner is unable to work), which will be approximately an additional £20. You will also then be entitled to passported benefits.

After your SSP end, I should imagine that your IS will end and you will have to claim ESA - this is where I may stand corrected, but I don't know why this wouldn't be the case.

Your employer should issue you with the form SSP1 before 23 weeks of receiving SSP. You may need to chase them for this, depending on how efficient your HR department is. You can use this to claim ESA - don't know if it'll be contribution or income based as I don't know what NI you've paid.

There should be no problem getting ESA - assuming you're getting chemo/radio you automatically go into the Support Group.

I am also a terminal cancer patient. I've been through the benefits system, on and off with employment, for the last 5 and a half years. I've had to go through the whole working out benefits thing, which can be stressful when combined with your treatment as well as just mentally dealing with your diagnosis.

The MacMillan benefits might be just as useful as the CAB, as often they are attached and funded by the CAB - as is the case with my local one. Don't be afraid to go armed with your own research and understanding of the benefits system - this will help them more than someone who has no idea.

Also don't be afraid to ask questions, and question people when you think they're wrong. I had to spoonfeed my HR department the right information to make sure I got the right SSP.

Happy to help if I can provide any more information regarding being terminal.

All the best.

Sorry I just read something about Carer's Allowance and IS - from that I guess you'll be able to stay on IS. Someone else can confirm this is this is a situation I've never had. Sorry.

TrainGeek1808

nannytone wrote: »

at the moment, you will be claiming income support as a couple.
the amount you receive in SSP will be deducted pound for pound from the income support award.
after SSP ends, the income support will rise by the exact same amount as you receive in SSP.
you will probably have to tell them of the change.... they won't sort it out automatically.
i would tell them about 4 weeks before the SSP ends

Thank you

That makes sense and seems straight forward - I'll put a note to ring them early August.

Thanks

TrainGeek

TrainGeek1808

merlin68 wrote: »

You have to attend work focused interviews, but there nothing to worry about. There normally every 3 years. If you dont attend they can sanction you. yes your is will go up after ssp finishes. otherwise it is to much messing around changing everything again.
Believe me ive just had to change from is to esa, give me is any day. plus you dont get the disability premiums straight away on esa like you do on is so will be worse of.

Thank you - if I don't have to apply for a new benefit it makes things a lot easier!

Any ideas which disabled premiums we'll get? I'm on enhanced care and mobility, my wife standard care and mobility.

Thanks

TrainGeek

TrainGeek1808

alexjonsson wrote: »

I'm happy to be corrected on this, but my understanding is that you'll be receiving an Income Support 'couples top up' of SSP (because assumingly your partner is unable to work), which will be approximately an additional £20. You will also then be entitled to passported benefits.

After your SSP end, I should imagine that your IS will end and you will have to claim ESA - this is where I may stand corrected, but I don't know why this wouldn't be the case.

Your employer should issue you with the form SSP1 before 23 weeks of receiving SSP. You may need to chase them for this, depending on how efficient your HR department is. You can use this to claim ESA - don't know if it'll be contribution or income based as I don't know what NI you've paid.

There should be no problem getting ESA - assuming you're getting chemo/radio you automatically go into the Support Group.

I am also a terminal cancer patient. I've been through the benefits system, on and off with employment, for the last 5 and a half years. I've had to go through the whole working out benefits thing, which can be stressful when combined with your treatment as well as just mentally dealing with your diagnosis.

The MacMillan benefits might be just as useful as the CAB, as often they are attached and funded by the CAB - as is the case with my local one. Don't be afraid to go armed with your own research and understanding of the benefits system - this will help them more than someone who has no idea.

Also don't be afraid to ask questions, and question people when you think they're wrong. I had to spoonfeed my HR department the right information to make sure I got the right SSP.

Happy to help if I can provide any more information regarding being terminal.

All the best.

Thank you for the very detailed response.

Yes my wife is also unable to work - she was previously but definitely now would have to be my carer (I'm not supposed to be left alone - risk of seizures, etc - touchwood, nothing yet!)

I have a good relationship with my boss, and am good friends with our HR manager who is a payroll fountain of knowledge - so I've no worries I'll get everything I need from there.

My salary is approx £30k, so it would be income based I believe, though I see your note re: IS continuing - perhaps this becomes irrelevant?

Having never claimed benefits myself it's a minefield, and things I could do without - but it has to be done, the forms are horrendously complicated I found - and my work is heavily paperwork based!

I'm happy enough with the other benefits - I just find IS a bit of a nightmare to fathom!

I'm the sort of person who likes to understand things, so I'll be asking plenty of questions.

Thanks for the good wishes, and the very same to you.

TrainGeek

nannytone_2

you will get 2 x disability premium, 1 x severe disability premium and 1 x enhanced disability premium, plus 1 x carers premium.

the severe dis§ability premium is usually only payable if the claimant lives alone and no one claims carers allowance.
this doesn't apply if 1 sisabled people live together ( both receiving either rate of PIP or middle rat care DLA)

you would be better off stopping the carers allowance claim and receiving 2 x severe disability premium instead ( carers premium is around £35 a week, severe disability premium is around £62 a week)

nannytone_2

just to add to my post above ...
the carers allowance is the passport to income support ....
but you would be entitled to ESA contributions based, with an income based top up for your wife.
a terminal illness is an automatic pass into the support group, so no work focused interviews would be necessary.

its up to you whether you decide to keep the carers allowance claim and go onto income support, or claim ESA instead.
the financial difference between claiming carers premium and the second severe disability premium is about £28 a week.

i suppose it depends how much you need the extra income.
good luck

TrainGeek1808

nannytone wrote: »

you will get 2 x disability premium, 1 x severe disability premium and 1 x enhanced disability premium, plus 1 x carers premium.

the severe dis§ability premium is usually only payable if the claimant lives alone and no one claims carers allowance.
this doesn't apply if 1 sisabled people live together ( both receiving either rate of PIP or middle rat care DLA)

you would be better off stopping the carers allowance claim and receiving 2 x severe disability premium instead ( carers premium is around £35 a week, severe disability premium is around £62 a week)

Thanks for clarifying it.

The Carers Allowance is only claimed for 2.5 weeks - from when my PIP started and my IS/HB, etc started. I'm not claiming carers allowance from 1 April.

So, IS will be (weekly):

114.85 couples allowance
45.95 couples disablement premium
61.10 single disablement premium
22.60 15.75 couples single enhanced disablement premium
34.60 single carers premium

---

279.10 272.35
(88.45) SSP

---

190.65 183.90

Is that right? Sounds a heck of a lot! Does that affect my other means tested benefits (Housing Benefit/Council Tax Benefit)? It seems too much, which in my experience probably means it is!!

Thanks again

TrainGeek

nannytone_2

[if the carers allowance isn't an ongoing claim, the you will have no entitlement to income support, and will have to change to ESA conts based, with an income related top up for your wife.

the amount received would be the same, although you would get no carers allowance, but a second severe disability premium instead.

and yes, the amount looks correct to me.
benefits for sick/disabled can be very generous.
asm you will be receiving an income related portion of benefit, then housing benefit and council tax support will be unaffected/B]

TrainGeek1808

Sorry, I'm confused now - this is what I don't get with IS.

I'm best not claiming Carers Allowance, but if I don't claim it I don't get IS for myself, putting us significantly worse off? That's throwing me somewhat.

Thanks

TrainGeek