Disability benefit

Torry_Quine

As I said contribution based ESA has nothing to do with any other income or savings and only needs a fit-note from his GP to apply.

BlueEyedGirl

Benno_0214 wrote: »

Thanks all; he has an appointment with CAB to progress the benefits application in the next couple of weeks (a long wait!).
At the initial consultation it seemed he would be eligible for:
ESA contribution and income related
Possibly PIP
Housing Benefit
Council Tax Relief
Plus, once private joint tenancy agreement expires in April next year he would go onto priority Local Housing list
Once the g/f's inheritance was mentioned most of the above was looking very unlikely, including the LA housing list.
He is threatening to pay for his bills on credit card for the next few months which is a worrying downward spiral.
The way that his boss has laid him off has been incorrectly done, with no 4 week notice given and the money owed to him has been dismissed (this is a separate matter which we are helping him with!). So, sick pay hasn't come in to the equation.
In terms of Army, we need to reopen his case, I guess, because as far as they were concerned, he wasn't fixed but he was in employment, now that he is medically unemployed I think he has grounds to seek further compensation to cover the coming weeks/months/years of zero work. Do you have any suggestions other than the British Legion to support him with this?
He is a hardworking young lad and it is killing him and his ego not being able to continue with his work.

He will NOT get income related ESA if he is living with his girlfriend and she has savings over £16,000 regardless of what she wishes to use this for / not share it / support him.

https://www.gov.uk/employment-support-allowance/eligibility

Don't try and hide the savings, because the DWP have ways of finding out things.

Certainly make an application for PIP since it is not means tested.

merlin68

You don't need to wait for cab to claim esa ring up Monday and get claim in. All he needs is a fit note from GP. Claim is done over phone so no forms.
There is a 2 week wait for payments.
It is £73 if over 25, or £56 if under.

Londonsu

Benno_0214 wrote: »

Thanks all; he has an appointment with CAB to progress the benefits application in the next couple of weeks (a long wait!).
At the initial consultation it seemed he would be eligible for:
ESA contribution and income related
Possibly PIP
Housing Benefit
Council Tax Relief
Plus, once private joint tenancy agreement expires in April next year he would go onto priority Local Housing list
Once the g/f's inheritance was mentioned most of the above was looking very unlikely, including the LA housing list.
He is threatening to pay for his bills on credit card for the next few months which is a worrying downward spiral.
The way that his boss has laid him off has been incorrectly done, with no 4 week notice given and the money owed to him has been dismissed (this is a separate matter which we are helping him with!). So, sick pay hasn't come in to the equation.
In terms of Army, we need to reopen his case, I guess, because as far as they were concerned, he wasn't fixed but he was in employment, now that he is medically unemployed I think he has grounds to seek further compensation to cover the coming weeks/months/years of zero work. Do you have any suggestions other than the British Legion to support him with this?
He is a hardworking young lad and it is killing him and his ego not being able to continue with his work.

What about Help for Heroes


http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/

BigAunty

He has two issues.

1. navigating the benefits system to find out his entitlements (as there are some non-means tested options that the previous posters have outlined and which it looks like you've got a good handle on).

2. relationship issue - the benefits system does expect partners to support each other and if one of them refuses, its a personal, not a state issue, to resolve.

controversy

Benno_0214 wrote: »

Thanks all; he has an appointment with CAB to progress the benefits application in the next couple of weeks (a long wait!).
At the initial consultation it seemed he would be eligible for:
ESA contribution and income related
Possibly PIP
Housing Benefit
Council Tax Relief
Plus, once private joint tenancy agreement expires in April next year he would go onto priority Local Housing list
Once the g/f's inheritance was mentioned most of the above was looking very unlikely, including the LA housing list.
He is threatening to pay for his bills on credit card for the next few months which is a worrying downward spiral.
The way that his boss has laid him off has been incorrectly done, with no 4 week notice given and the money owed to him has been dismissed (this is a separate matter which we are helping him with!). So, sick pay hasn't come in to the equation.
In terms of Army, we need to reopen his case, I guess, because as far as they were concerned, he wasn't fixed but he was in employment, now that he is medically unemployed I think he has grounds to seek further compensation to cover the coming weeks/months/years of zero work. Do you have any suggestions other than the British Legion to support him with this?
He is a hardworking young lad and it is killing him and his ego not being able to continue with his work.

Note: All the people who jump to call disabled people scroungers are going to call me a huge scrounger for what I am about to say but I don't care.

I love my country and I also have MOD Veterans in my own family.

So anyway.

He won't be able to get ESA income related while being in a relationship with a Partner who has capital over £16,000. The best thing to do is put this money into a asset which isn't counted as income or capital.

Get his GF to put that money She has from her inheritance into a shared home ownership property.
This program is called HOLD. Home Ownership for People with a Long Term Disability.

Here is a link for you mate.

http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/Buying_and_selling/home_ownership_schemes/home_ownership_for_people_with_a_long-term_disability_hold

Have a look on this website to give your mates GF a idea of what Shared Ownership is.

http://www.waterloohomes.org.uk/shared-ownership/

Also go to YourAble.com
This is the best disability forum community to talk about these things.

The reasons for doing this are:

1. The money will increase in value as house prices grow.
2. If they buy a 25% share of a property then they get 25% off the rent. They can also buy additional shares as time goes on until they own the property out right.
3. Because your veteran friend is disabled he will get the full amount of housing benefit which can be paid on the other 75% of the property.
4. Him, his GF and the Baby have a secure home without a landlord demanding them to move. Evil Slumlord Landlords tend to kick disabled people out after they have received new renovations etc.
5. Disability adaptation can be made to the property more easily which enable your friend to get back some of the independence he has lost.
6. They could buy a Bungalow which makes things a lot easier for him.
7. Owning a home which you live in isn't counted as capital. This will enable both him and his Girlfriend to start saving again.
8. After 1 year he will need to transfer to ESA income related and he sounds like he will get in the support Group.

Also I would like to stress that your mate needs to sign up for the Warm Home Discount. This is £140 off his energy bills. He needs to do this before November.

I'd really like to hear from him. If he registers on YourAble.com put his username on here so we can chat. Alternatively I do have Skype if he fancies a chat.

BigAunty

Benno_0214 wrote: »

Plus, once private joint tenancy agreement expires in April next year he would go onto priority Local Housing list
.

What do you mean by this? Has the landlord made it clear that they are not renewing the tenancy agreement? Why doesn't he apply on the general social housing list now and then notify them of any changes in circumstances in the future that could change his entitlement?

Housing_Benefit_Officer

Wouldn't get Housing Benefit until savings below £16,000 - Council Tax help different rules with some Councils having a savings threshold of £6,000.

missbiggles1

controversy wrote: »

Note: All the people who jump to call disabled people scroungers are going to call me a huge scrounger for what I am about to say but I don't care.

I love my country and I also have MOD Veterans in my own family.

So anyway.

He won't be able to get ESA income related while being in a relationship with a Partner who has capital over £16,000. The best thing to do is put this money into a asset which isn't counted as income or capital.

Get his GF to put that money She has from her inheritance into a shared home ownership property.
This program is called HOLD. Home Ownership for People with a Long Term Disability.

Here is a link for you mate.

http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/Buying_and_selling/home_ownership_schemes/home_ownership_for_people_with_a_long-term_disability_hold

Have a look on this website to give your mates GF a idea of what Shared Ownership is.

http://www.waterloohomes.org.uk/shared-ownership/

Also go to YourAble.com
This is the best disability forum community to talk about these things.

The reasons for doing this are:

1. The money will increase in value as house prices grow.
2. If they buy a 25% share of a property then they get 25% off the rent. They can also buy additional shares as time goes on until they own the property out right.
3. Because your veteran friend is disabled he will get the full amount of housing benefit which can be paid on the other 75% of the property.
4. Him, his GF and the Baby have a secure home without a landlord demanding them to move. Evil Slumlord Landlords tend to kick disabled people out after they have received new renovations etc.
5. Disability adaptation can be made to the property more easily which enable your friend to get back some of the independence he has lost.
6. They could buy a Bungalow which makes things a lot easier for him.
7. Owning a home which you live in isn't counted as capital. This will enable both him and his Girlfriend to start saving again.
8. After 1 year he will need to transfer to ESA income related and he sounds like he will get in the support Group.

Also I would like to stress that your mate needs to sign up for the Warm Home Discount. This is £140 off his energy bills. He needs to do this before November.

I'd really like to hear from him. If he registers on YourAble.com put his username on here so we can chat. Alternatively I do have Skype if he fancies a chat.

On MSE Housing Boards, shared ownership properties are considered to be a really bad idea, somewhat akin to a con trick.

I'd read up on some of this before recommending it so readily.

rogerblack

missbiggles1 wrote: »

On MSE Housing Boards, shared ownership properties are considered to be a really bad idea, somewhat akin to a con trick.

I'd read up on some of this before recommending it so readily.

It's also a truly terrible idea, because most benefits will be wiped out if the girlfriend is earning, nomatter her capital.

Tax credits are being dramatically reduced.