Working & Benefits Help Please

Not_Me

Hi there, can anyone advise me. I was not sure whether to put this here or in the benefits section.

I was awarded PIP on the medium care rate? Then weeks after they stopped my ESA which is currently going to appeal. Just had the letter with my court date.

Initially claimed JSA, but that turned out messy and now currently claiming income support in my partners name. Story here-- https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/72260929#Comment_72260929


Myself with health issues, my partner who claimed care allowance for me and a grown up child at home.

Child is working full time (mostly, although a zero hour contract) She gets 30+ hours a week and mostly 37 to 40 hours.

Because of my PIP award we didnt have to pay rent or council tax even though she is working. All declared fully so nothing underhand. I was surprised that she wouldnt have to contribute something.

My partner may have a chance of getting a job locally so she is only a short walk away if I need her.

Does anyone know how this will affect us?

Is there a limit on the number of hours she can work and claim the carers part. Or does that stop or reduce no matter how many hours?
Will we need to pay the rent and council tax or is that still paid whilst the PIP is in effect?

So many questions, can anyone advise me? Thanks you.

jobbingmusician

Well, I do reckon the folk on the benefits board are likely to know more than folk on here. But I'll leave this here for a day or so to test whether I'm right or not

Not_Me

Thanks. I wont start another thread, if nobody replies here I will ask for it to be moved if you miss it.

jobbingmusician

I'm frequently amazed by the level of knowledge on here, so fingers crossed that someone will pick this up and run with it.

Torry_Quine

To claim carer's allowance they must earn less then £115 per week. there are some things that can be deducted but I'm not sure of that.

Savvy_Sue

Not_Me wrote: »

My partner may have a chance of getting a job locally so she is only a short walk away if I need her.

Does anyone know how this will affect us?

I can't help with the benefit side of things, but just to say that from an employment point of view, it would be a very special job where your partner could be available if you needed her - generally, employers want their employees in work to do a job at fairly set hours.

I may be reacting to something you didn't intend, because obviously I don't know what your needs are, or how urgently or frequently you might 'need' your partner. If it's just a case that your partner could pop home at lunchtime, great, but if it's likely you'll need to phone up and ask her to drop everything to come home for you, not so great ...

And I would encourage you to think of contingency plans too: if ever your partner could NOT get away from work without jeopardising the job, for example.

Not_Me

Thanks, for the input. Its close and the sort of job where she would be able to drop things. But I do get the point that it could be an issue if I needed to call her out too often. They may just say its too much.

Losing the carers allowance if she earns over £115 (which she would) is that a case of earning £116 and its wiped out or a sliding scale?

Another issue is the rent and council tax. If we will have to pay that in full then we will be much worse off than we are now.

All input gratefully received. Thanks.

NeilCr

Information on Carer's Allowance here

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/carers-allowance/

No sliding scale I am afraid

It's worth putting your numbers (partners salary etc) into a benefits calculator like Entitled to or Turn2us to give you some idea of whether or not you will get any income related benefits. Or go to your local CAB/advice centre for advice and a benefit check