Benefit query - partner ill

confused83

I am totally out of my depth - I know nothing about benefits. Is it worth us trying to claim for something and if so who on earth do i go to?
I work full time and earn £20700 a year before deductions.

My husband was on £30500 but had to stop work a few months ago following years of poor health and being off sick.

We having savings of £11k and debts of £12k (all 0% and being overpaid) - I was rushing to pay everything off before he had to give up work so we could get some 'real savings' but sadly he got ill too fast. Keeping hold of the money to keep us afloat each month.

His GP keeps giving him a sick note every month 'to give to the government' - who on should we be giving these sick notes too?


I keep getting different answers on calculators. On some my wage is too high for any help, on others we are entitled to a tiny amount each month.



I am just about cover everything important on my salary but after the debt repayments and food everything else is coming out of savings.



I don't think he can claim PIP but will look into it. He just sleeps all the time. He is no where near ready to returning to the working world.



Who do I go to for advise about this?

poppy12345

Has he claimed SSP from his employer? This is payable for 28 weeks.



New style ESA is what he should look at claiming. This is based on his NI Contributions between April 2016 and March 2018 and isn't means tested. This pays £73.10 per week over 25 rate and is payable for 365 days unless placed into the Support Group and then it's paid for as long as he remains in that group. For notes will be needed and a claim can be backdated for 3 months.


https://www.gov.uk/how-to-claim-new-style-esa


https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/new-style-employment-and-support-allowance-esa-claim-form


Do look at starting a claim for PIP too but remember it's not about a diagnosis, it's how those conditions affect his ability to carry out daily activities based on the PIP descriptors. Evidence will be needed to support his claim.
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/before-claiming/how-much-you-get-and-how-long/


https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/Global/Migrated_Documents/adviceguide/pip-9-table-of-activities-descriptors-and-points.pdf



Lots of information here which is very long but i'd advise you or your husband to have a read because it will give you both some understanding of what PIP is all about.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/personal-independence-payment-assessment-guide-for-assessment-providers

Rubyroobs

Depending on your situation - whether you have kids, whether you rent etc you may also be entitled to Universal credit although with you having savings over 11k then that would reduce any entitlement slightly. if your husband claims new style ESA then that would be deducted from UC. if your husband was awarded PIP daily living then you could claim the carers element of UC if caring for him for 35 hours a week.

calcotti

poppy12345 wrote: »

New style ESA is what he should look at claiming. This is based on his NI Contributions between April 2016 and March 2018 and isn't means tested. This pays £73.10 per week over 25 rate and is payable for 365 days unless placed into the Support Group and then it's paid for as long as he remains in that group.

Just to add that if placed in the Support Group the amount paid would increase to £111.65/week after 13 weeks.

Lots of information on Universal Credit mentioned by Rubyroobs here https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/universal-credit/

If you want advice you can go to Citizens Advice if you have one available. They should be able to do a benefit check for yo7 - but the information on their website is very good.

There are online calculators available https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/benefits-introduction/what-benefits-can-i-get/