Refused esa , desperate.

karpoole

Hi all, My husband has been off work for 10 weeks with severe rheumatoid arthritis. He is self employed, I work 39 hours, but my wages pay mortgage and council tax only. He has been refused esa because he doesn't have enough ni contributions. We have been told that as I work we can claim nothing at all. I was going to apply for reduced council tax, but believe that even though we have no money coming, unless we are on a benefit, we wont be eligible. How are people supposed to live , does anyone know if we could claim anything. thanks in anticipation

nannytone_2

if your income is under 18k then you can apply for working tax credit, but his income for this year will be considered as well.
council tax support depends on income and not on benefits received so it may well be appropriate to claim.
if he has care or mobility needs then he can put a claim in for PIP ( if he has had the needs for 3 months and expects to have them for at least another 9 months)

Alice_Holt

PIP info:
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/before-claiming/check-you-are-eligible/

http://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/personal-independence-payment-pip/pip-points-system

epitome

Has he earned circa £5900 for tax years 13/14 & 14/15?
Has he paid all his contributions up to date? If he pays them up to date, and then asks ESA to look at them again. If he then qualifies he will be given a 60 day period of no benefits from the date he paid the contributions, after that, he will receive ESA Conts payments, but only for 305 days.

I have to confess I don't fully understand the Self Employed category of contributory conditions.