Benefit help needed..ill health

Legacy_user

Hello everyone,

I have just joined this site and hoping some people maybe able to offer me some advice about which benefit i can claim due to ill health? My condition is now affecting my everday life and making life harder for me. I had no idea i maybe able to claim, would it be pip, esa or universal credit?? Its all so confusing.

We are a family of 4 (2 adults & 2 children under 16)
My husband works full-time, 40hrs per week, 26k per year.
Im a stay at home mum, currently claiming tax credits and child benefit but not under universal credit.

Thankyou for taking the time to read my post.

McKneff

You need to elaborate as to your ill health condition.

Are you unable to work, evwn part time

calcotti

In respect of your health PIP is a non means tested benefit for people whose ability to do various activities is limited by their health. Lots of information here https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/. An award of PIP would not affect your existing benefits.

If your health limits your ability to work and you paid NI and/or were credited with NI between April 2016 and march 2018 you may be able to claim new style ESA which is a non means tested benefit. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-style-employment-and-support-allowance. However I note you describe yourself as a stay at home mum so this is probably not applicable.

Universal Credit is a means tested benefit. If you were found to not be able to work or carry out work related activity the amount you might get on UC would be higher. However claiming UC would end your Tax Credits award so you really need to know whether you are better off on UC or Tax Credits. If you have access to an advice agency such as Citizens Advice it may be worthwhile trying to get a full benefits check done to take account of your circumstances.

System

Thanks for the links calcotti,

I have managed to book an apoointment at my local branch to get some advice and they will do a benefits check for me too.

Many thanks for your help

calcotti

Mummymoustache wrote: »

Thanks for the links calcotti,

I have managed to book an apoointment at my local branch to get some advice and they will do a benefits check for me too.

Many thanks for your help

If the benefits check indicates that you might be better off on UC bear in mind that claiming UC will require a joint claim and involve you in more work than your ongoing Tax Credit award. If the difference is marginal you may prefer to leave things as they are. However at the moment, unless either of your children are under 12, you are not getting any NI credits towards your future State Pension whereas on UC you would.

The big unknown will be whether the way your health impacts you would be enough for you to get an LCWRA element in your UC.

Bear in mind that if you do claim UC you cannot go back to Tax Credits.