Old style of ESA carers and pip advice needed please

ttsumcorn

Hi,

I'm on old style ESA in the support group as a couple.

My partner claims carers allowance and i lose £81 odd each week from the ESA payment.

I have enhanced pip for daily living and mobility

She has standard daily living she's only just been awarded it last week.

No mobility

Am I right in thinking she should cancel her carers allowance claim so our ESA would be substantially higher with the couple severe disability rate of £160+ a week on ESA ?

We have no severe disability premium currently, I receive £345 a fortnight from ESA that's after deductions for social fund loan repayments.

How much could I expect the ESA to go up if I am right and we should claim for the severe disability premium couple.

I did call ESA and she offered to apply for the severe disability premium but said she'd need to cancel carers first.

Also if she doesn't cancel carers and we decide to stay as it is would we get the single severe disability premium instead of couples ?

How long would it take for my ESA to go up after she's cancelled her carers allowance claim and I've applied for the severe disability premium?

Sorry for any confusion I desperately need advice

Thank you very much in advance 🙏🙏

poppy12345

Yes carers allowance is deducted in full from your ESA. However, they also include the carers premium, which is £45.60/week. Therefore, you're £45.60/week better off by your partner claiming CA. 

If you are the main claimant of the ESA claim then only you would receive NI credits towards your State Pension. As your partner is claiming Carers Allowance they would also be receiving NI credits for their self. If they cancel the carers allowance they will not receive any NI credits. 

You can claim single person SDP which is £81.50/week extra in your ESA, providing there are no other adults living with you. If there is, they must also be claiming a qualifying disability benefit or be registered blind.

I don't know how long it will take for Carers allowance to stop but I do know they don't always stop it straight away f you cancel the claim. 

ttsumcorn

I believe we'd be better off on couple SDP with zero carers allowance ?

ttsumcorn

poppy12345 said:

Yes carers allowance is deducted in full from your ESA. However, they also include the carers premium, which is £45.60/week. Therefore, you're £45.60/week better off by your partner claiming CA. 

If you are the main claimant of the ESA claim then only you would receive NI credits towards your State Pension. As your partner is claiming Carers Allowance they would also be receiving NI credits for their self. If they cancel the carers allowance they will not receive any NI credits. 

You can claim single person SDP which is £81.50/week extra in your ESA, providing there are no other adults living with you. If there is, they must also be claiming a qualifying disability benefit or be registered blind.

I don't know how long it will take for Carers allowance to stop but I do know they don't always stop it straight away f you cancel the claim. 

I believe we'd be better off with the £160+ couple severe SDP ?

poppy12345

Of course you would be but as I advised, your partner will then not receive any NI credits towards their state pension. 

born_again

poppy12345 said:

Of course you would be but as I advised, your partner will then not receive any NI credits towards their state pension. 

Op would be well advised to check here

https://www.gov.uk/check-state-pension