ESA report change ie caring for someone?

blackstar

Hi all,

Quick question. It says on the ESA what to report ie change of circumstances. One if then if you change your GP?

On the last WCA it asked for the name of my GP and I put down the last GP I saw at the surgery I am registered at. 

This GP has now left the surgery but I am still registered with the same surgery.

Do I need to inform ESA that the Dr I put down on my last WCA under who is your GP has left the surgery but I am still with the same surgery?

I also noticed that it says to tell then if you care for someone and my daughter is disabled and I share care responsibilities with my wife and when I read this I thought maybe I should tell ESA this? It does say on the UC statement you said you care for someone. 
I also don't understand the statement where it says 
"Starts or stops caring for someone else"
Does that just mean say if you have a child and they become disabled and you keep caring for them, you are now classed as a carer?

What are others advice on this? And if I should inform them then how best should I do this ie phone or post? 

Thanks all

elsien

You are registered with the practice, not the individual doctor so you don’t need to tell them about any changes there. 

No idea about the other part of your question.

Rubyroobs

If you are in the support group of ESA  then you should be getting the LCWRA element of UC and your wife the carers element. Are either of you claiming carers allowance ( which is different to UC carers element) ? I suspect you are not claiming carers allowance as that is an overlapping benefit with ESA. I assume you are getting contributions based ESA alongside UC ? it's hard to advise really without knowing exactly what you are both claiming. When DWP talk about someone being a carer, they generally mean that you are claiming a benefit for caring for someone so would need to advice them if this stops or you stop meeting the requirements which is caring for them for 35 hours a week. 

blackstar

Thanks 

No we don't claim carers allowance but think my wife gets the carers element but I get the LCWRA.

I just started to stress when I just read this leaflet that said " inform ESA if you have a baby, start to live with someone, get married or start to care for someone" I've been on ESA CB for 12 years and our children were born 9 years and 10 years ago, we got married 9 years ago and moved in together 10 years ago and ofcourse my wife and I started started to care for the children when they were born and when they were disagonosed with certain conditions and got DLA even a higher level of care but my wife is the main carer for them....so stressed out as don't remember as so long ago if I told ESA all these things. Maybe I did or didn't....

So trying hard to remember....

blackstar

 I overly worry on things. This leaflet also says that to inform them of a change of household income or savings etc...I never thought I needed too as am on Contribution Based ESA?

Rubyroobs

blackstar said:

 I overly worry on things. This leaflet also says that to inform them of a change of household income or savings etc...I never thought I needed too as am on Contribution Based ESA?

Universal credit is a means tested benefit so any savings over 6k will reduce your monthly Uc amount. For each £250 above 6k they will reduce your UC by £4.35 each month. You only need to let them know if savings/ capital are above 6k. It sounds as though your wife is the main carer for your disabled child, so I wouldn't worry too much about letting ESA know that you help to care.