What benefit -graduate and now 4 weeks in hopsital with no view to be able work for 6-12 months?

ditty1234

I am asking on behalf of my son, who recently graduated from uni. In the meantime, he has become seriously ill and after 4 weeks in hospital, he might soon move to a neuro-rehab facility. While he currently doesn't have any outgoings as he technically is homeless, he will need at least pocket money for basics soon. As he was not employed in the weeks before he fell ill, but was due to start a temp job he does not seem to be eligible for statutory sick pay, he might qualify for ESA while he is in rehab, but we have no idea how well he will recover. Any ideas, we have had no help from the hospital or charities to work this out so far, snd since he is partially incoherent, I feel responsible to take the initiative to start the process (with him).
Any ideas would be much appreciated. 

bargainbetty

Have you tried calling Citizens Advice regarding PIP for him, and potentially carer's allowance for you until he is recovered sufficiently to undertake work. 

The PALS service at the hospital may also be able to give you information, or call the DWP about making a claim on his behalf. 

I hope he recovers soon and well. 

tacpot12

I would suggest you contact your local Citizens Advice for a benefits check for him. His situation is complicated and will change over time depending on what recovery he can make. 

You probably should be asking the DWP to make you an appointee for your son so that you can apply for benefits on his behalf. In the longer term, you might want to look into Powers of Attorney. If your son has capacity he can make these with your help. If he lacks capacity, you may need to apply to the Court of Protection for a Deputyship.

elsien

If he’s not well enough to claim for himself, you may need to consider applying to be his appointee. That presupposes that he lacks capacity around finances at the moment - is that likely to be the case? It also means you can have the money paid to your account rather than directly to him if you think he’s going to struggle to access it. 

The appointee can be removed in future if he is well enough. 

It is too early for him to claim PIP at the moment but he may be able to do so in future, depending on the setting that he goes to for rehab. You can’t claim it if fully health funded. 

https://www.gov.uk/pip/eligibility

Have you looked into universal credit? That can be paid while he is in hospital. It’s primarily an online system, so again may be better for you to support with at first. 

Have a look at the benefits calculators on turn2us or entitledto.  But where he goes after hospital will affect what he gets, and what he can keep/may be assessed towards his care. 

All the best - hospitals tend to be a bit clueless when it comes to that side of things. 

poppy12345

bargainbetty said:

Have you tried calling Citizens Advice regarding PIP for him, and potentially carer's allowance for you until he is recovered sufficiently to undertake work. 

For PIP you need to have had the condition for at least 3 months and expect it to last at least a further 9 months. Even after this time an award can't be given while someone is in hospital for longer than 28 days.

Rubyroobs

I'm pretty sure he can claim Universal credit even though he is in hospital. The problem may be setting up a claim but there should be ways around this if he cannot do this himself.

calcotti

ditty1234 said:..he might qualify for ESA while he is in rehab, 

ESA is a contribution based benefit so he will not be eligiblee unless he has a full NI record for 2018-19 and 2019-20 which as he has just graduated seems unlikely.
As others have said Universal Credit is the applicable benefit (assuming he does not have savings over £16,000). A claim can be made while in hospital.

ditty1234

Thanks everybody, I am now getting connected with a local social worker through a carers charity so I will hope to get everything set up over the next week or so, as he is also being moved to a rehab which probably has better occ health than the hospital as well. 
Thanks