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Which benefits do we apply for?

hetherdrinkstea
Posts: 13 Forumite
If anyone could point us in the right direction I would be very grateful.
My husband has, until recently been working full time but is now ill and receiving SSP. He will lose his job shortly. He has a life limiting condition and won't ever be able to work full time again but may be able to manage part time in the future. Because he is only receiving SSP from work our income has dropped substantially. We have four school age children, I don't work at the moment.
I have applied for housing benefit last week but I am confused as to what else I should apply for. Can I apply for other benefits whilst he is still employed even though his income is now a quarter of what it was? I am going to try the child tax credits helpline tomorrow but I always thought that they would n't do anything until he was actually out of work. Does anyone know if this is the case?
I also heard he could apply for ESA even though he is still technically employed.
I could apply for jobs myself but at the moment hubby is quite poorly and I do a lot of caring for him. We have applied for PIP around two weeks ago.
Thanks.
My husband has, until recently been working full time but is now ill and receiving SSP. He will lose his job shortly. He has a life limiting condition and won't ever be able to work full time again but may be able to manage part time in the future. Because he is only receiving SSP from work our income has dropped substantially. We have four school age children, I don't work at the moment.
I have applied for housing benefit last week but I am confused as to what else I should apply for. Can I apply for other benefits whilst he is still employed even though his income is now a quarter of what it was? I am going to try the child tax credits helpline tomorrow but I always thought that they would n't do anything until he was actually out of work. Does anyone know if this is the case?
I also heard he could apply for ESA even though he is still technically employed.
I could apply for jobs myself but at the moment hubby is quite poorly and I do a lot of caring for him. We have applied for PIP around two weeks ago.
Thanks.
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Comments
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hetherdrinkstea wrote: »If anyone could point us in the right direction I would be very grateful.
My husband has, until recently been working full time but is now ill and receiving SSP. He will lose his job shortly. He has a life limiting condition and won't ever be able to work full time again but may be able to manage part time in the future. Because he is only receiving SSP from work our income has dropped substantially. We have four school age children, I don't work at the moment.
I have applied for housing benefit last week but I am confused as to what else I should apply for. Can I apply for other benefits whilst he is still employed even though his income is now a quarter of what it was? I am going to try the child tax credits helpline tomorrow but I always thought that they would n't do anything until he was actually out of work. Does anyone know if this is the case?
I also heard he could apply for ESA even though he is still technically employed.
I could apply for jobs myself but at the moment hubby is quite poorly and I do a lot of caring for him. We have applied for PIP around two weeks ago.
Thanks.
Once he is no longer able to get SSP then he will be eligible for ESA. He should get an SSP1 form from his employer for this.Lost my soulmate so life is empty.
I can bear pain myself, he said softly, but I couldna bear yours. That would take more strength than I have -
Diana Gabaldon, Outlander0 -
Technically he can apply for Income Support (IS) while he is getting SSP. But there may be no Income Support payable, depends on how much his and your income (including SSP & WTC) is at the moment and both your savings. When does SSP finish? Try backdating the IS claim to the start of the SSP period.
He cannot claim ESA until SSP has stopped. And he would have to close IS to start claiming ESA.
When he claims ESA he should ask for ESA Income Related (assuming both your savings total under £16,000) and he should ask for Housing Benefit if you rent. and Council tax reduction if you have council tax. should ask for this as part of the ESA claim (they send it to the council).
You should check your postcode as well to see if you are in a Universal Credit Full Service Area (UCFSA) or not... if you are, then he will have to claim Universal Credit instead of the above IS / ESA income related/Housing Benefit/council tax reduction. But if he has to claim Universal Credit then he should also ask UC helpline for a claim to ESA Conts New Style in addition to his UC.
If you are not in a UCFSA then claim IS & ESA as advised. on 08000 556688
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/universal-credit-full-service-and-live-service
If he has less than 6 months to live he should ask his doctor for a DS1500 and send that to Income Support and ESA and UC respectively.
When his SSP stops, he should close any IS claim and claim ESA Income Related, he will be automatically assessed for ESA Contributory. ESA contributory is unaffected by ESP (employers sick pay) and WTC.
Be sure to phone WTC when his employment has stopped and ask WTC what date the run-on ends and to send him a letter of closure. Then phone ESA when his WTC has stopped. (i.e. not before).
As he has claimed PIP, you should phone Carer's Allowance 0345 608 4321 and ask if you can put in a claim for Carer's Allowance now, whilst waiting for the PIP decision.0 -
What was the household income last year and what would you expect it to be this year?0
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Technically he can apply for Income Support (IS) while he is getting SSP. But there may be no Income Support payable, depends on how much his and your income (including SSP & WTC) is at the moment and both your savings. When does SSP finish? Try backdating the IS claim to the start of the SSP period.
No harm in trying but it's highly unlikely that a backdating request will be accepted. The rules around backdating IS are very strict, and simply not knowing that there might be entitlement is not one of the qualifying criteria for backdating.0
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