Can me and my partner claim IB and CB ESA?

Mae85

Hi all, I am new to this but I often come to this website for advice so I figured I should join!

So basically I have been on income based ESA WRAG for about 8+ years now. I receive £204 a fortnight.
I've been in a relationship with a guy for almost 2 years now, when we met he was working but since then he had to leave his job due to very ill health. He now claims contribution based ESA and gets £73.10 a week.
He has been homeless for 18 months and living with his sister but he's on the housing register and has been offered a place which we have decided we would like to move in together. So now I know we will have to make a claim as a couple for ESA when we do eventually live together.

What I want to know is how much difference will the money be for us as a couple? And I have also read that even though we will be claiming IB ESA as a couple he is still entitled to his CB ESA also- is this right?

Also which one of us should apply for housing benefit? I am guessing him been as it will be his flat?
Any help would be grateful!
Mae

nannytone_2

it would be a joint ESA claim.
he would claim contributions based, and would get an income related top up for you.

how much you would get would depend on circumstances.
any savings?
claiming DLA/PIP?
pensions?

if he is the tenant, then he would need to claim the housing benefit

Mae85

No we don't claim anything else. He has a pension with his old work but I don't know what has happened to that, I guess the DWP are still paying into it for him?

epitome

If you move in together you would BOTH KEEP your ESA claims OPEN. No one has to close their ESA claim and Neither one of you should close their ESA claim.

You already have ESA IR so your claim, will naturally be the one for "both of you".
His claim will remain open as ESA C = £73.10 per week
Your claim will be
114.85
29.05
- 73.10
= £70.80

If he is receiving an income from his works pension, then all of it (averaged out to a weekly amount) will be taken out of your £70.80 per week

Alice_Holt

The couple rate for ESA is £115pw, plus £29pw when in the WRAG.
His CB ESA will continue to be paid (but if in the WRAG it is limited to 365 days).
However the IB ESA will be reduced by this CB payment.

You could try one of the benefit calculators - http://www.entitledto.co.uk/benefits-calculator/entitlementcalculator.aspx

Mae85

So we would have less money then what we have now? It's all so confusing I just don't know where to start! He doesn't get any payments or anything from his old work or his pension, he just gets the ESA he is on now.
So you're saying that my esa would go from £102 a week to £70 a week because of his CB claim?

Alice_Holt

Yes.

Have you considered if you (or him) may have an eligibility for PIP?
https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/personal-independence-payment-pip/pip-self-test
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/before-claiming/check-you-are-eligible/

Mae85

We did get the forms for it but didn't send it off as my sister is severely ill to the point she can't get out of bed some days she's that ill and they told her she wasn't eligible so we thought we wouldn't stand a chance been as both of our reasons for being unable to work is mental health related. And we all know the stigma attached to that! May be worth a try though! I've just never known if there is any other benefit I could claim.

Mae85

So can I just ask... with my £70 a week I would get added with his £73 a week he would get does that mean we would joint get £283 a fortnight ?

Alice_Holt

Yes. c.£143 each week jointly.

Re PIP: Get some help with the forms from your local CAB / advice centre.

Mental health is covered, but sometimes the awards on the basis of MH can be inconsistent.
At my local CAB, we regularly achieve successful appeals for clients who started with 0 points.
Do you suffer from Depression? Would you need "prompting" i.e encouragement to do some of the activities reliably?
Have a careful look at the activities / descriptors to see which applies.
You may need help with social engagement and managing a household budget, for instance.
You need 8 points for a Daily Living award.

It might be worth a go, as there is little to lose.
Have a chat with your local CAB or MIND perhaps.

https://rethink.org/living-with-mental-illness/money-issues-benefits-employment/personal-independence-payment

Mae85

Thank you for your help! Yes we both suffer with depression. I'm not on any meds as always refused but my partner is on lots of meds for his MH. Plus he has respiratory problems too which is one of the reasons he had to quit his job (he's a welder) he suffers terrible with MH and his physical health. I suffer with crippling anxiety too so I don't go out at all unless I am with someone.
I will visit my CAB for advice!