Benefits for father and mother

Billy995

Good evening,
I'll keep this as brief as I possibly can. I've already used multiple calculators however I just want some input/advice from the community.

• My mother is 48 and started claiming PIP. She gets £58.70 weekly for the living component, not entitled to mobility.
• My father is 53. He was working full-time however recently had to quit to look after my mother. He currently has no income (no private pension, savings, investments, etc...). He is also blind in one eye after suffering a stroke two years ago and was planning of quitting work anyway due to his health problems
• I'm 24 and work full-time, yearly salary of around £24,000.
• My brother is 30 and works part time and gets around £800 a month.

Now, my question is as my father had to quit to look after my mum, and he would have quit for his health anyway, what is he entitled to? I'm aware he can apply for Carer's Allowance for looking after my mum, but is he entitled to benefits such as ESA/PIP? Or would it make more sense to apply for UC? To sum it up, with the above information should be father be applying to UC or ESA/PIP/other benefits?

I appreciate all the help, I've done a few hours of research however due it is quite hard to understand.

I hope you're all staying safe and enjoying isolation!

calcotti

He could be eligible for PIP. If he is he should claim. If awarded it is extra money regardless of what other benefits or income he has.

He could claim CA for looking after mum. He may be able to claim new style ESA because of his health. It pays more than CA. ESA and CA cannot be paid at the same time so if he might be eligible for ESA it is better to claim ESA.

However both CA or ESA would be deducted in full from any UC if they were to claim UC. They cannot claim UC if they have more than £16,000 of savings/capital. If they are able to claim UC they could both provide Fit Notes and have Work Capability Assessments in which case bothmight be found to have LCWRA. In the meant e dad would be entitled to the carer element because he looks after mum.

Do they rent their home or are they buying it or own it? If renting, to get help with rent they would have to claim UC, if eligible.

You don’t say whether you and your brother live with mum and dad but even if you do it does not affect their benefit entitlement.

Billy995

calcotti said:

He could be eligible for PIP. If he is he should claim. If awarded it is extra money regardless of what other benefits or income he has.

He could claim CA for looking after mum. He may be able to claim new style ESA because of his health. It pays more than CA. ESA and CA cannot be paid at the same time so if he might be eligible for ESA it is better to claim ESA.

However both CA or ESA would be deducted in full from any UC if they were to claim UC. They cannot claim UC if they have more than £16,000 of savings/capital. If they are able to claim UC they could both provide Fit Notes and have Work Capability Assessments in which case bothmight be found to have LCWRA. In the meant e dad would be entitled to the carer element because he looks after mum.

Do they rent their home or are they buying it or own it? If renting, to get help with rent they would have to claim UC, if eligible.

You don’t say whether you and your brother live with mum and dad but even if you do it does not affect their benefit entitlement.

Thanks for the reply, appreciate it.
- Can my mum carry on with her PIP payment while my dad applies for UC, and if he does claim UC does this include the ESA/PIP element or is that a separate claim?
- Can't my dad just claim CA and PIP/ESA?

Both my brother and I live with my parents and we all share the rent. I am moving out soon though (partner).

Thanks again.

poppy12345

Please take another look at calcotti's reply. He can't claim CA and ESA together, as calcotti has already advised.

Your mum's PIP will continue as normal, regardless of what benefits are claimed.

calcotti

As I previously explained PIP is always extra to any other benefits received or other income.
it is based purely on health impacts and is not means tested.
Also as previously advised dad can apply for PIP and either CA or ESA if he wishes.
However, if not excluded by savings, UC may produce higher income than ESA or CA.

Billy995

poppy12345 said:

Please take another look at calcotti's reply. He can't claim CA and ESA together, as calcotti has already advised.

Your mum's PIP will continue as normal, regardless of what benefits are claimed.

calcotti said:

As I previously explained PIP is always extra to any other benefits received or other income.
it is based purely on health impacts and is not means tested.
Also as previously advised dad can apply for PIP and either CA or ESA if he wishes.
However, if not excluded by savings, UC may produce higher income than ESA or CA.

Thanks both of you. Last enquiry, I understand UC is means-tested but does it only include my parents income or is it calculated on the whole house, meaning my brother and my earnings?

Cheers

calcotti

Billy995 said: I understand UC is means-tested but does it only include my parents income or is it calculated on the whole house, meaning my brother and my earnings?

As already advised in my first reply, you and your brother have no impact on your parents’ entitlement to UC even if you are living with them.

calcotti

Was your mum previously working? If so when did she last work and how much work was she doing?

Billy995

calcotti said:

Billy995 said: I understand UC is means-tested but does it only include my parents income or is it calculated on the whole house, meaning my brother and my earnings?

As already advised in my first reply, you and your brother have no impact on your parents’ entitlement to UC even if you are living with them.

calcotti said:

Was your mum previously working? If so when did she last work and how much work was she doing?

I am clearly having issues reading tonight
My mum hasn't worked for about 20 years due to her health issues now. How does this effect anything?

Thanks again.

calcotti

Billy995 said:

My mum hasn't worked for about 20 years due to her health issues now. How does this effect anything?

It just occurred to me that had she been working up until April last year she might have been eligible for new style ESA herself, but as she wasn't she isn’t and it affects nothing.

As your parents pay rent UC is almost certain to provide the most income. Your dad should look at PIP also. He can apply for ESA or CA but neither would increase the overall income if UC is being claimed because the UC would simply reduce by the same amount.

When you said you all share the rent I assume the tenancy itself is only in your parents’ names. If you or your brother are named on the tenancy that would make a difference.

Billy995

calcotti said:

Billy995 said:

My mum hasn't worked for about 20 years due to her health issues now. How does this effect anything?

It just occurred to me that had she been working up until April last year she might have been eligible for new style ESA herself, but as she wasn't she isn’t and it affects nothing.

As your parents pay rent UC is almost certain to provide the most income. Your dad should look at PIP also. He can apply for ESA or CA but neither would increase the overall income if UC is being claimed because the UC would simply reduce by the same amount.

When you said you all share the rent I assume the tenancy itself is only in your parents’ names. If you or your brother are named on the tenancy that would make a difference.

Well, I forgot to mention it's a council house so obviously they're aware we live here and so on. Does that make a difference?

Honestly, thanks very much for the help.