Help required regarding change in circumstances

dawn_rose

Hiya I was wondering if anybody could help me as to whether we would be able to claim anything till we get back on our feet.

Dh collapsed at the weekend, after a stint in hospital he has been diagnosed with heart problems and can no longer drive for 12 months (incase of another blackout) he has lost his job as a result as he is a bus driver. I work but only part time as a dinner lady. We have three children 10 and under. I had a hobby type business that ceased trading without any debts last month and I had a small savings certificate. Dh has worked full time since being 18 as an employee. I'm currently looking for a new job with more hours but wondered about f there was any help we could get. Thanks for reading.

Darksparkle

How many hours do you work?

Will he be able to work in another job? Or is for unfit for work?

TELLIT01

Assuming he is unfit for work currently and therefore able to be a certificate from his doctor, he will be able to claim ESA. From what you say he will have entitlement to Contributions based ESA for up to 12 months irrespective of your earnings. About the only thing taken into account for Conts based ESA is pension income.
If you are working under 24 hours per week there is the potential to claim Income related benefit, although working over 16 hours per week on minimum wage would just about wipe out any income related entitlement.

dawn_rose

I only work 5hrs a week term time, oh has been given a doctors note for 4 weeks and will be looking to work when he's been told he can by the docs (just not a driving job).

xylophone

You say that has lost his job as a bus driver?

Was he in a pension scheme?

If so, is there eligibility for an immediate pension on grounds of ill health?

dawn_rose

We get tax credits and child benefit at present and have a mortgage will redundancy cover but not health cover.

dawn_rose

He has been in pension scheme but only for 2 years and he's only 35. Thanks

Darksparkle

He should look into ESA

xylophone

https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/employment-and-support-allowance/esa-glossary/1488-what-is-contribution-based-employment-and-support-allowance-esa

https://www.gov.uk/support-for-mortgage-interest/what-youll-get

TELLIT01

Darksparkle wrote: »

He should look into ESA

Absolutely. This link to the Gov.uk website provides more information.

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

missbiggles1

dawn_rose wrote: »

I only work 5hrs a week term time, oh has been given a doctors note for 4 weeks and will be looking to work when he's been told he can by the docs (just not a driving job).

If he's currently not feeling unwell, he could start looking for another job now because it may well take him longer than a month to get one, particularly if driving is what he usually does. Alternately, perhaps you could look for a full time job and let him take over the childcare until he's well enough to return to driving.

I hope he makes good progress.:)