Severaly Sight Impaired

pmlindyloo

In that case you need to inform tax credits of the change of circumstances - the fact that she is no longer working and has put in a claim for contribution based ESA. You do not need to do it right now but when you have a decision on the ESA.

How many hours a week do you work in your self employment? Do you have children?

Tedison

I am 60 and my wife is 51. We have no dependant children. I usually work 35+hrs. The worry is that because of change of circumstances we will automatically be changed over to U Credit. This is where the problems begin. When checking on Entitled2, it seems we will loose all our current benefits!

calcotti

Tedison wrote: »

I am 60 and my wife is 51. We have no dependant children. I usually work 35+hrs. The worry is that because of change of circumstances we will automatically be changed over to U Credit. This is where the problems begin. When checking on Entitled2, it seems we will loose all our current benefits!

Claiming PIP and new style ESA will not affect your Tax Credits. They are both non means tested benefits which are separate from UC.

GlasweJen

The important questions are:
- realistically can your wife return to work?
- will she need support to return to work?

- does she want to return to work?

If she is capable and wants to return to work then once she's out of surgery she can contact access to work and ask them to assess her for adaptions to help her keep working. They can support her with help travelling etc. But that's only important if she wants to keep going.

If she want to go onto ESA then get her to CAB for the right advice first time.

PIP can be claimed either way.

Blue badge can be claimed now, as can a bus pass (in most areas).

Nannytone

calcotti wrote: »

Claiming PIP and new style ESA will not affect your Tax Credits. They are both non means tested benefits which are separate from UC.

New style ESA will affect tax credits as it is a taxable benefit and classed as income.

Tedison

GlasweJen wrote: »

The important questions are:
- realistically can your wife return to work?
- will she need support to return to work?

- does she want to return to work?

If she is capable and wants to return to work then once she's out of surgery she can contact access to work and ask them to assess her for adaptions to help her keep working. They can support her with help travelling etc. But that's only important if she wants to keep going.

If she want to go onto ESA then get her to CAB for the right advice first time.

PIP can be claimed either way.

Blue badge can be claimed now, as can a bus pass (in most areas).

Yes returning to work is all she talks about. But being realistic, with her level of sight loss she is a danger to herself and others.
I know some totally blind people, who are capable of the most extraordinary tasks, but I think these people have had time or youth to adjust. My wife has always been a manual worker and never afraid of hard work. But I am at a loss of what work she could do.

calcotti

Nannytone wrote: »

New style ESA will affect tax credits as it is a taxable benefit and classed as income.

Thanks for spotting that, I was focused on eligibility. You are of course right that it will reduce the tax credits payable.