ESA Joint Claim

tazwhoever

I used to work full time before claiming ESA early this year. I am in the SG and my partner is added on, therefore its Income Related. If it was just for me, I realise it would have been Contributions Based.

Now my partner may start a job for few hours per week in Jan, and this would come off the ESA I receive for myself and partner.

Is it possible for me in Jan to ask them to remove my partner from my claim and change my ESA IR to CB? How do I go about doing this in Jan?

Thanks

nannytone_2

if your claim is contributions based, you will only be receiving an income related top up for your partner..... so you are actually on contributions based ESA now.

you will only need to phone and remove him from your claim

tazwhoever

NT thanks. The letter I got stated I am on ESA IR for joint claim but I worked full time and paid tax and NI. There is no mention of CB.

TELLIT01

Why do you want to remove your partner from the claim? As long as his income is declared there is no problem. That income will be taken into account against the Income Related element of your payment. If you remove him from the claim and the job ends you will have the hassle of getting him put back on again.

tazwhoever

I get about £50 add on, which partner can earn from job starting in Jan.

I guess my claim would change from IR to CB because of the work I use to do?

TELLIT01

As a couple with the Support Group element you will be receiving about £145. Income of £50 will reduce it to about £90, which is still more than the £73 you will get for a Conts based claim.
Just inform ESA when your partner starts work and provide the payslips. They will do the rest. As said earlier, there is no need for you to remove your partner from the claim, and it can be detrimental in the long term.

tazwhoever

I thought I will get £109 per week on CB, once I remove my partner?

TELLIT01

tazwhoever wrote: »

I thought I will get £109 per week on CB, once I remove my partner?

Sorry, you are correct. I added the SG premium to the couple rate but not to the single person. Duh:o
That doesn't change the basic advice that it will be more straightforward for you just to let ESA know when he starts work and let them make any necessary adjustments.