ESA Contribution based and Income based

campervan33

Hi All
I have posted before asking for help/advice about losing my job and benefits.
I now know that i have a wage until May. So I have been trying to find out what if any benefits im entitled to, currently i care for my husband who has alzhiemers and acute asphasia.
i called the dwp to ask for advice and was told that my husband gets contribution based and income based esa, all letters from dwp just said contribution based, when i asked them so can i claim anything the guy said ' well its complicated' he said send in your last payslip or p45 to jobcentre plus with a letter explaining that i am no longer in work, i dont know that dosnt sound right to me, does anyone here know what i should be doing.
i know i can claim carers allowance, husband gets esa - support group. we get 25% discount on council tax and he gets enhanced PIP daily living and mobility. we no longer have any savings.
Thank you in advance for any suggestions

xylophone

You might wish to book an appointment with a benefits adviser at CAB.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?p=70452841#post70452841

Did you take the pension?


https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/417473/pension-flexibilities-dwp-benefits.pdf

http://www.justadviser.com/documents/means-tested-benefits-and-pension-flexibility-1312231.pdf

campervan33

Hi Xylophone
Yes im going to acab walk in tommorow hopefully.
i took the pension last yr, and used money for my husband to complete a bucket list of things that he really wanted to do. made him very happy and got loads of photos and videos for his memory book. ( quite a useful aid for people with az)

IAmWales

How much ESA does he receive? That should indicate if he is in receipt of an income based top up.

campervan33

Hi IAMWALES

The letter says
including earnings of your partner - weekly £117.60
the first £20.00 not included
savings and investments - now spent
This is £1 per week for every 250.00 over 6000

your total income

your income related amount is 174 25 less 145.60 so you would have been entitled to 28.65
However because you are entitled to contribution based esa we will pay you £109.65

and thats it. so can you tell from that iamwales

thanks in advance

campervan33

forgot to say my earnings will stop in the middle of may as i will no longer have a job

thanks