Esa and moving in with my partner

Billybobby

I would be very grateful for any advice on my situation I am currently receiving ESA and was receiving Incapacity benefit before that since around 2003, so I guess that’s long term. I am in the support group, and have been since being transferred from ICB to ESA some time ago.


Under the current rules as I read it, you lose ESA if your partner works more than 24 hours; my partner works full time 37/1/2 hours per week, although not in a high wage occupation. To make matters more complicated the area I will be moving too is supposed to become another UC roll out area in February 2018 and I am moving in at the end of march 2018, even more confusion is the “New style ESA” which doesn’t seem to be affected by your partners earnings. Can someone please give me an idea on where we would stand, (Would I lose my ESA?) and some idea on what I/we might receive? or point me in the right direction, Thank you.

Income break down

My income at the moment, where I live

ESA paid fortnightly £251.10p

Housing Benefit, Paid Monthly £341.52p

No savings.

My partner (She currently recives no benefits at all)

Income per annum gross @ 37, 1/2 hours per week as per April 5th 2017 £15,500

Rent (social housing, Bungalow 2 bed) per month £327.59p

Council tax per month (Band A) with 25% single supplement

As I am not moving there till March £78.00p

Savings of £1000

I am aged 56

Partner 57

Alice_Holt

You will be assessed as a couple.

Use one of the online benefit calculators to get a view of your income as a couple.
https://www.entitledto.co.uk/benefit-calculations/
https://benefits-calculator.turn2us.org.uk/AboutYou

Is your ESA income-based or contribution-based?

If income-based you are correct in thinking that it will end.

KxMx

There will be no entitlement to the Council Tax single supplement once you move in.

Council Tax Relief isn't calculated nationally but locally. The relevant council website should have a guide/calculator to see if your new household would qualify for any Council Tax Relief.

Billybobby

Thanks for your reply. Yes, my ESA is income based, but I am confused about UC, and new style ESA etc, I would have thought with such a low income (My partners) and my ill health we would be intitled to something! don't forget I did put her gross salary not net. I know I would be allowed NI contributions if nothing else.

Billybobby

Thanks for your reply. Yes I am aware of losing the single person council tax relief, I was trying to find out if I would still be allowed some benefit UC ESA new ESA etc, if all fails I will have to apply for PIP, as my health is not getting better, a fact recognised by the fact I have not had a exam via DWP since around 2012.

Alice_Holt

New style ESA is a contribution-based benefit, depending on NI contributions paid in the previous 2 tax years. So I'm afraid you wouldn't qualify for that.
Unless your current ESA is contribution-based, you will not be eligible for any payments but can continue it as a credits only claim.

For UC - run your joint income through a benefit checker. You and your partner may possibly have some eligibility for the UC equivalent of Tax Credits.

PIP would certainty be worth considering:
https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/personal-independence-payment-pip/pip-self-test

Billybobby

Thanks for that, yes I have been considering PIP might be my long term best bet, more so with my health record, it also seems we would be above the U/C level by some margin, I am going to get an appointment with CA as well, trying to think/work ahead so I don't just crash into a wall.

TELLIT01

If the OP was on IB he was in receipt of Conts based benefit, and that shouldn't be any different after moving to ESA Support Group. There may have been an Income Related element, and that will be lost when a partner who is working full time joins the household and the ESA claim.

Alice_Holt

TELLIT01 wrote: »

If the OP was on IB he was in receipt of Conts based benefit, and that shouldn't be any different after moving to ESA Support Group. There may have been an Income Related element, and that will be lost when a partner who is working full time joins the household and the ESA claim.

Yes - I wondered if part of it was CB. The OP seems to think it is IB (post 4).
When the OP visits his CAB I think it worthwhile to take some ESA entitlement letters with him. They can check, or the OP could ring the ESA line to check if he has a CB element.

epitome

How much is the ESA you are getting now?

If you had IB and it was paid IB, then that is a conts based benefit, as long as there has been no break in your claim, you will still have a conts based benefit or a partially conts based.
i.e. you could have had IB = £95 and a top up of Income Support. £20


If you had IB = £0.00 and Income Support = £95 or whatever...
then you have no conts based benefit

Have you been in the support group all along since 2003?
Have you had Income related Support Group all along since 2003?

If you have a conts based entitlement you will continue to receive £109.65 after you have moved. (weekly)

Billybobby

I don't think there was a support group in 2003, it was Just Incapacity beneift as far as I know, but yes it's income based and as I have no income or savings I currently receive as shown above of ESA paid fortnightly £251.10p, and I am in the support group not WRAG, but there is the 24 hour rule with ESA "If you claim ESA your partner can work up to 24 hours doing any type of paid work but their earnings could affect the amount you are entitled to". She works 37 and a half hours per week, and that being the case wipes out my current entitlement.