Contribution Based ESA - What benefits are we entitled to?

Samantha_Greenaway

My 42 year old Husband was diagnosed with Huntingtons disease in Jan 2013 and his employers terminated his employment in December 2014 as he was deemed medically incapable of continuing to do his work. He was awarded with contribution based ESA in January 2015, last month he was placed into the support group, so he is now entitled to the higher rate (£109.30 per week). Last week (6 months after he applied) he had it confirmed that he will get the enhanced rate of daily living component PIP (£81.30 per week). Our 23 month old son is at nursery for 36hrs a week as I work full-time and my husband cannot look after him. We are finding it a huge financial struggle at the moment and wanted to know if there is anything out there that we're entitled to. We have applied for all sorts of things (Council tax reduction, tax credits, 2 year funding for nursery), but we keep being told that because my husband's on contribution related ESA and not Income related ESA we're not entitled to anything! It just seems SO unfair and we're struggling to get advice as there doesn't seem to be anyone to help - We've never had to claim benefits before as we've both always worked full-time jobs so we are completely green when it comes to knowing what to claim for...

Samantha_Greenaway

I'm earning £21,500 a year before deductions and childcare costs are £788.66 per month (less the odd bank holiday)

TELLIT01

Unfortunately Contribution Based benefits don't generally open the door to any other form of support. Working all you life actually seems to be an obstacle to getting any assistance from the State.

pmlindyloo

blondebubbles wrote: »

Based on that information I do not see why you cannot claim child tax credits including help with your childcare.

What does your award from them say? Are all your circumstances correct on it?

It could be that the total income for last tax year was over the limit as husband was working and she didn't explain that their circumstances had changed.

Certainly this link indicates that they would be eligible

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tax-credits-entitlement-tables-working-at-least-16-hours-and-paying-childcare/tax-credits-entitlement-tables-working-at-least-16-hours-and-paying-childcare

Perhaps blondbubbles you could remind us of the procedure for claiming when the income for the current tax year makes you eligible?

Samantha_Greenaway

When I filled out the forms for working tax credit and child tax credit back in January I gave them my husbands income details for the Tax Year 2014-2015. Unfortunately they've said that I ticked the box to say that he was on income related ESA from January 2015 (this could be true as I had no idea there was 2 types back then). So until now they have paid us working & child tax credits, I only found out that we weren't eligible for either yesterday when I rang to ask a question about 2 year funding and now we have to pay back the tax credits that we've received. They did say that we may be eligible for 15hrs a week childcare costs, but we won't know until we receive a letter from them at the end of the month telling us how much we have to pay back and complete more forms...

Samantha_Greenaway

Yes, I updated them with my income for this tax year and confirmed what my husband will be getting from his ESA this tax year.
Also, I told them how many hours my son is at nursery a week, they didn't ask how much it costs - I assume they'll ask this on the form that they're sending.
I also told them about my husbands PIP, this is when they confirmed that they may be able to pay for 15hrs a week childcare - Again, I assume this will be confirmed once they receive the form back...

Samantha_Greenaway

I guess she was asking how many hours he was there as a guide, I don't think she said what form it was, mind you I was so upset when she told me we weren't entitled to anything I wasn't thinking straight (panic mode set in!) She told me to give them 11 days to get the information to me and if i don't hear anything to ring 03000 550673 between 9-4 Mon-Fri

Samantha_Greenaway

Thanks blondebubbles! Do you know if we're entitled to anything else?

xylophone

As your husband has been medically retired, is there any chance of early access to his pension?