Apply for State Pension and query about mixed age couple

Spicedpumpkin

poppy12345 said:

No, problem, happy I could help. Yes, there's a huge difference between them. It will be because of the double SDP and the carers premium. 

I SO appreciate your help especially as Age Uk were not as helpful as I thought they maybe

Massive difference......shocking really !

My partner sends his thanks too

Have a great weekend x 

Spicedpumpkin

poppy12345 said:

No, problem, happy I could help. Yes, there's a huge difference between them. It will be because of the double SDP and the carers premium. 

Sorry about more questions by the way 

Before I start the whole process of the above

Do you think there is a sweet spot as such as to when I should start it as such, or do you think I'm best to just get it done now as it will take a while to sort out? 

I've looked at when he gets Income Support next payment is on 6th Feb

My ESA CB is due on 9th Feb

The private rent is due on 12th Feb HOWEVER I do not know exactly when the HB benefit is paid at all.

My partner's Stage Pension Age will be mid April

ALSO another thing, I know as soon as we stop the IS the HB dept will be writing to say about this. 

Should I write a letter in advance to the HB to say what we will be doing so there's a chance they will not close the claim as such

A while back they sent a letter stating to claim UC as a mixed age couple etc, I was thinking of quoting the references made on that to say we will be having IR ESA and remaining on working age income related legacy benefits

Our Council HB is not the best at all so I am trying to pre-empt problems and rent not being paid etc especially its a lot of money

Any insight would be helpful

Thanks

poppy12345

I don't think you should wait too long before you start the process because you need the IR ESA to start before he reaches state pension age. 

No need to contact your local authority at this stage. 

Spicedpumpkin

poppy12345 said:

I don't think you should wait too long before you start the process because you need the IR ESA to start before he reaches state pension age. 

No need to contact your local authority at this stage. 

Thanks again.....

Probably overthinking, just our local council which deal with HB are naff, and I always have to follow up multiple times regarding the rental increases to make sure they are done.

I will bite the bullet soon and let you know how it goes, also if it helps anyone else in the future

Much appreciated

Spicedpumpkin

Well, we have made a start now.....phoned up Income Support and cancelled/closed claim for my partner. Quite a few questions before we did and they were basically saying are you sure you want to do that etc.......that it would naturally end at SP age. I explained our plans as such.

Then I  phoned up ESA and said that I wanted my old style CB ESA to be assessed with income based top up as well.
I said what form (esa3)  I thought I needed as they seemed a bit clueless.
They said it would be I think 6 or 10 working days to come through.

I am assuming I will be able to date it from when we closed the IS claim as that is the date I phoned up for the ESA3 form ?

Bit nervous about it all but I know I need to do it long term for us......especially if it works out to plan.

Rubyroobs

Spicedpumpkin said:

Newcad said:

Yes it is very frustrating for everyone.

The MAC rules have to be the most confusing I have seen in 'standard'/'everyday' benefits.

I have to say that you have had a good try and people have tried to help, work things out.

But we are all up against incomprehensible rules and so at the moment it's a case of seeming like potluck when to claim UC to give the best result.

When you consider it every couple will probably at sometime become a MAC. So the rules about just what happens then need to be simplified from the mess that they are currently.

"May you live in interesting times" just about sums things up.

Sorry, but I'm at a loss for any advice to give that might help you decide what to do for the best

Its been driving me mad, I've done nearly a whole days reading loads yesterday......before that getting more info from various sources over the weeks and compiling it. 

Then the phone call with Age UK didn't go as well as I had hoped. All day today trying to find more info out. I think its one of those things I want someone to say do it this way. (obviously everyone has different figures to input in general) ...but it needs to be the best financially.

Its been said since last year to me... that you are worse off as a mixed couple on UC and possibly do it another way.....do not apply for UC yet until you have proper advice etc...BUT the problem is accessing the proper information/advice.

I will try phoning CAB possibly and anyone else I can think of see if they can shed some light on anything, Especially since the HB is in my older partners name.

I agree everyone will probably have to go through the MAC unless they have the same birthday ! LOL

I appreciate all comments and any information given. It has not gone unnoticed.

Thanks 

Maybe speaking to the UC help to claim team at CAB may be useful. I'm sure they would have detailed knowledge of whether you would be better off on UC or whether there's another way around it ?

poppy12345

Rubyroobs said:

Spicedpumpkin said:

Newcad said:

Yes it is very frustrating for everyone.

The MAC rules have to be the most confusing I have seen in 'standard'/'everyday' benefits.

I have to say that you have had a good try and people have tried to help, work things out.

But we are all up against incomprehensible rules and so at the moment it's a case of seeming like potluck when to claim UC to give the best result.

When you consider it every couple will probably at sometime become a MAC. So the rules about just what happens then need to be simplified from the mess that they are currently.

"May you live in interesting times" just about sums things up.

Sorry, but I'm at a loss for any advice to give that might help you decide what to do for the best

Its been driving me mad, I've done nearly a whole days reading loads yesterday......before that getting more info from various sources over the weeks and compiling it. 

Then the phone call with Age UK didn't go as well as I had hoped. All day today trying to find more info out. I think its one of those things I want someone to say do it this way. (obviously everyone has different figures to input in general) ...but it needs to be the best financially.

Its been said since last year to me... that you are worse off as a mixed couple on UC and possibly do it another way.....do not apply for UC yet until you have proper advice etc...BUT the problem is accessing the proper information/advice.

I will try phoning CAB possibly and anyone else I can think of see if they can shed some light on anything, Especially since the HB is in my older partners name.

I agree everyone will probably have to go through the MAC unless they have the same birthday ! LOL

I appreciate all comments and any information given. It has not gone unnoticed.

Thanks 

Maybe speaking to the UC help to claim team at CAB may be useful. I'm sure they would have detailed knowledge of whether you would be better off on UC or whether there's another way around it ?

I already did a full calculation of both ESA and UC back on page 4 of the thread. They are far batter off being assessed for the IR ESA top up with pensioners premium. 

Spicedpumpkin

Rubyroobs said:

Spicedpumpkin said:

Newcad said:

Yes it is very frustrating for everyone.

The MAC rules have to be the most confusing I have seen in 'standard'/'everyday' benefits.

I have to say that you have had a good try and people have tried to help, work things out.

But we are all up against incomprehensible rules and so at the moment it's a case of seeming like potluck when to claim UC to give the best result.

When you consider it every couple will probably at sometime become a MAC. So the rules about just what happens then need to be simplified from the mess that they are currently.

"May you live in interesting times" just about sums things up.

Sorry, but I'm at a loss for any advice to give that might help you decide what to do for the best

Its been driving me mad, I've done nearly a whole days reading loads yesterday......before that getting more info from various sources over the weeks and compiling it. 

Then the phone call with Age UK didn't go as well as I had hoped. All day today trying to find more info out. I think its one of those things I want someone to say do it this way. (obviously everyone has different figures to input in general) ...but it needs to be the best financially.

Its been said since last year to me... that you are worse off as a mixed couple on UC and possibly do it another way.....do not apply for UC yet until you have proper advice etc...BUT the problem is accessing the proper information/advice.

I will try phoning CAB possibly and anyone else I can think of see if they can shed some light on anything, Especially since the HB is in my older partners name.

I agree everyone will probably have to go through the MAC unless they have the same birthday ! LOL

I appreciate all comments and any information given. It has not gone unnoticed.

Thanks 

Maybe speaking to the UC help to claim team at CAB may be useful. I'm sure they would have detailed knowledge of whether you would be better off on UC or whether there's another way around it ?

Hello, thanks for the comment but poppy12345 did a large calculation for me and it works out about 800 pounds a month better off on IR ESA and HB

Spicedpumpkin

I already did a full calculation of both ESA and UC back on page 4 of the thread. They are far batter off being assessed for the IR ESA top up with pensioners premium @poppy12345 Do you think since I phoned for the form today from the ESA they will be able to take the changeover from today, even if I get the form later as such......I mean can it be backdated to todays date? Thanks

8dayweek

From memory, the ESA3 form has a box right near the beginning for “date of change” so you should be fine on that front. Plus I’d add it explicitly in the extra information / additional notes box at the end for good measure.