NHS money halfing after six months off sick do I claim ESA?

angelin

It will happen in Junes pay. I rent in London. I have cancer and I am hopefully responding well but still have a long way to go. MacMillan have been fantastic. I am week 23 and Im clueless. I am already registered with UC and receive the payment for work capability assessment through that and about £40 from UC. I have had a letter advising me to claim ESA. I cannot afford to drop fill in the difference while it is sorted out as it pays two weekly. If I stay exactly where I am with UC will I get paid from them automatically when my salary drops? Do I inform them its dropping or just hope that it kicks in? Ive paid NI for 25 years and really do want to go back to the job albeit, a different role to start with. I will have to pay an extra £250 towards housing.

thank you so much for your advice.

tacpot12

You need to tell them via your journal that your salary has dropped. They will see the drop during assessment period that June's pay lands in, and should calculate your new UC rate using the lower income automatically, but it's important to tell them.

I don't think being on UC will result in you receiving less money than if you were on ESA, unless you have savings, or a partner. It doesn't sound like you have any savings. 

Why are you having to pay an extra £250 towards housing?

angelin

Because Im in London and i pay £1250 a month I think their monthly cut off is£950. I do have a spare double room so my rent is very fair. I have thought about getting a lodger and at least charging them money for the horrific bills we are all paying. However I have friends and family who are happy to stay and give me a hand as I dont know if I will end up with surgery. I cant really charge them to help me amd my cats out. Do I tell them in my journal after this pay day tomorrow? 

angelin

Is my incapacity to look for work included in my universal credit or is it an extra thing? I have applied for PIP but I dont hold much hope ofit and I am hoping by the time it gets sorted I will be on my way to recovery.

poppy12345

You will not be any financially better off if you claim New style ESA because it's just deducted in full from any UC entitlement. Although it will be worth claiming it if you're entitled to it because it's not means tested like UC is.

Does your UC include the LCWRA element? Are you privately renting your home or living in social housing?

If privately renting the bedroom tax for a spare bedroom will not apply and you'll be entitled to the 1 bedroom rate of LHA. You can check the rates for your area here https://lha-direct.voa.gov.uk/Secure/Search.aspx

angelin

I think its included as its basically what I get through the DWP plus about another £200. If it makes no difference I wont swap over. Ive paid all my NI for over 25 years.

worse case scenerio I cash in my NHS pension but we are nowhere near there yet.

poppy12345

You can check your statements on your journal (if you have accesss to one) and it will tell you what elements are included.

As advsed, although you won't financially be better off it is worth while claiming it because you can't predict what will happen in the future and it's not means tested like UC is.

If you cash in your pension and take a weekly/monthly income from it then this will reduce your UC £1 for £1. A lump sum will be treated as capital. For every £250 or part there of over £6,000 your UC will reduce by £4.35/month. Savings of more than £16,000 will end any entitlement to UC.

TimeLord1

You can speak to Macmillan welfare rights advisers by calling our support line on (0808 808 00 00) They are trained to help you get any benefits and help you may be entitled to. 

https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/impacts-of-cancer/benefits-and-financial-support/benefits-and-your-rights#:~:text=You can speak to Macmillan,you may be entitled to.

angelin

No Im sticking with the NHS as long as I can as thishas made me realise it os one of the benefits of working for them. Im not be8ng pensioned off a5 55 in London, I would soon get through my lump sum. The incapacity to work. ’ looks like its extra. Doing my own calculations I will beable to get about £900 UC. Im a private renter with a spare bedroom that they e never asked about so I dont know if I need to mention it. Its been very useful to host family. So, £900 plus half my salary will be about £400 short from my monthly wage which is doable. I keep telling myself Ill be back by the time six months isup🤞

calcotti

tacpot12 said:

You need to tell them via your journal that your salary has dropped. They will see the drop during assessment period that June's pay lands in, and should calculate your new UC rate using the lower income automatically, but it's important to tell them.

Because earnings are reported through Real Time Information I don't think it is necessary to report a change in earnings.

poppy12345

angelin said:

 Im a private renter with a spare bedroom that they e never asked about so I dont know if I need to mention it.

As advised because you're privately renting the bedroom tax doesn't apply.