ESA help

charlies_tribe

I did post in the working section a few weeks ago but think this section may be better for my new questions.

2 weeks or so ago i got the letter from work to say I wouldn't get SSP as I earn below the amount (I knew this was the case, all info in the post on working board if I can find it) and that I may want to claim other help.

I think that would be esa. Can esa be claimed if I am getting carers allowance for my son?

They have also given me the option of 9 months career break instead of being off 'sick' keeping my job there if I'm well enough to go back. Would being on a career break instead of being on long term sick stop the esa claim?

I've been putting it off for the last couple of weeks as even getting dressed takes too much thinking about but as I'm not going to get any wages at the end of this month I really need to look at it.
Thank you for any replies and help x

poppy12345

New style ESA is the only ESA that's possible to claim now, unless you're claiming a severe disability premium in another benefit.

As you're claiming Carers allowance you can't claim New style ESA at the same time because they are both classed as overlapping benefits.

You can look at claiming Universal Credit BUT if you're claiming tax credits, this will end if you claim UC. As it's a means tested benefit if you haven savings/capital of £16,000 and over then you'll be excluded from claiming. If you live with a partner then you'll claim as a couple. Use a benefits calculator to check entitlement. https://www.entitledto.co.uk/

Your carers allowance will be deducted in full from any UC entitlement and they will add a careres element.

As you're a carer then you won't be expected to look for work. You can send in fit notes from your GP to start the work capability assessment off and if you're eventually given LCWRA then you'll recieve extra money from the 4th month of your claim. Do be aware though that the LCWRA and carers element can't be paid together to the same person.

https://www.entitledto.co.uk/help/Universal_Credit_Work_Capability_Assessment

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-if-you-have-a-disability-or-health-condition-quick-guide/universal-credit-if-you-have-a-disability-or-health-condition

charlies_tribe

Thank you so much for your reply. We are currently getting child tax credits. 
I did fill the form out this morning and it didn't ask about carers, I'm hoping i don't end up in trouble and that they can see it on the system.
I was hoping it would be pretty straightforward.
The thought of filling it in made me feel sick and shake so got it done so I didn't have to think about it again for a little bit.

poppy12345

Do you mean you applied for New style ESA or UC? if it was New style ESA then won't be able to claim this because of your carers allowancwe claim.

charlies_tribe

It was the esa I had filled in before your first reply. I knew i should have waited. It never asked on there about the carers. Do I need to contact them or will they just reject the claim.
The benefits calculator says we would be about £10 a week better off on universal credit but I've heard so many horror stories the thought of switching scares me.

calcotti

poppy12345 said:

As you're claiming Carers allowance you can't claim New style ESA at the same time because they are both classed as overlapping benefits.

I don't think that is quite correct. You can claim both but you cannot be paid both. If you claim new style ESA and it is awarded you will stop being paid Carer's Allowance because the ESA is worth more. You will retain an underlying entitlement to Carer's Allowance.

poppy12345

charlies_tribe said:

The benefits calculator says we would be about £10 a week better off on universal credit but I've heard so many horror stories the thought of switching scares me.

You will always hear the horror stories more than you will the good stories naturally. There are people that are better off claiming UC than they were/are claiming the legacy benefits. Although do be aware that the standard allowance for UC has been increased by about £80 per month due to Covid19 (same as working tax credits) this increase is in place until April 2021. After this it will return to the normal amount.

charlies_tribe

Thank you for your replies. Hopefully everything works out OK.
Starting to think I should have taken the career break,  less hassle and stress.

charlies_tribe

just thought I'd update for anyone in a similar situation. I received the esa form not long after applying and then about £20 'backdated to cover the difference between esa and carers. I got a letter at the same time as the esa letter to say I would no longer get carers, I didn't have to ring them. My esa form was due back on the 20th july and i put it off until last minute as the thought of doing it made me feel sick.  Finally did it the weekend before and posted with a few days to go. It was actually like therapy, I cried my eyes out filling it in and sent 4 a4 sheets of writing with it.
Last week i received a letter to say i had a phone assessment this coming Thursday. 
Don't know if that's a good or bad thing but things do now seem to be moving a lot quicker than I thought after lockdown.

calcotti

charlies_tribe said: Last week i received a letter to say i had a phone assessment this coming Thursday. 

Don't know if that's a good or bad thing ..

Neither - it's just part of the process.

charlies_tribe

I had my assessment on the 6th. It has drove me insane. I've gone over every question a million times. Ive spent hours every day, sometimes till early hours of the morning,  googling the whole process and trying to find out how long a decision takes, probably read every thread on here, ive checked the bank every hour... knowing full well that none of it would help or give me an exact answer. 

I've got my second formal meeting on Monday, i feel so sick at the thought, it took me a week after the last one to stop the headache, tight chest, feeling sick, i completely lost it with family that may never speak to me again. 

I got a letter in the post this morning and I was actually to scared to open it. Ive finally done it and ive been put in the support group! I actually cried! I thought id be so excited to be able to think i could hand my notice in but im actually really confused, not the reaction I was expecting. I had so been expecting FFW and its kind of strange to know that someone listened and didn't just say get on with it, you'll be fine.

Sorry for the waffle, DH is in bed after a night shift and I had no one else to tell so thought id do an update here.

Thank you to everyone that has replied.