ESA Benefits Help, Please

[bunnybarmy]

My husband was in receipt of Incapacity Benefit until August 2011, when it was changed to ESA, contribution based. We currently live in a bungalow as my husband is disabled and cannot manage stairs. The bungalow is privately rented and this payment helps to pay the remainder of the rent after Housing Benefit.

 

We are a bit confused as to when this ESA benefit will stop...will we lose this in August as we will have been claiming if for 1 year? My husband has had support interviews cancelled as he cannot travel, so we cannot understand what this benefit is, why it is going to stop, or what, if anything, we can claim instead.

 

If our benefits stop or go down, we will not be able to afford to live where we are, but we won't be able to afford to move either! We have 2 children at home, with school and collage nearby, so if we do manage to move, they will likely have to change these, too.

 

It's all a bit of a nightmare, and we're at our wits end, thinking we are going to lose our income and our home, and end up on the streets or something!

[Nystagmite]

What group is he in?

[Slatted]

Have you tried to apply for Income Based ESA instead? You dont have to wait until the other stops and it, currently, doesnt have a time limit as far as I know but is means tested....

[bunnybarmy]

Thanks for your replies. I've just found a site that explains a little bit about the 2 kinds, and it appears as though it would only be half the amount. I'm a full time carer for my husband, so I can't go out to work, either.

[Tiger Lily]

Are you in receipt of Carers Allowance for your husband, if so there is always Income Support, with its premiums you may be entitled to more benefit

[bunnybarmy]

Oh, I didn't know that. Yes, I receive carers allowance and had no idea we could claim IS, thanks for that.

[Tiger Lily]

Off you go and apply then when the ESA runs out.

You will get a figure out of here.

Just put your details in as if you are making a new claim..

http://turn2us.entitledto.co.uk/Default.aspx?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1

[Nystagmite]

You can either claim the ESA income based as a couple or IS.

[bunnybarmy]

That is a load off my mind! What is the difference in benefit between ESA Income Based and IS, please?

[Nystagmite]

With IS, you receive a disability premium if you either receive DLA (including those whose DLA goes to motability for a car) or are registered blind. You don't receive this on ESA. Instead, you'll receive either the work related or support component, depending on what group you're in.

[bunnybarmy]

Thanks so much for all the info, I'll definitely look into this.

[MIKEY DABODEE]

also on I.S and ESA income based you will get the carers premium because of the CA

Carers Allowance will be deducted..

Maybe seek advice from CAB they will help you with calcs

[Nystagmite]

There is something about how if you were on IS due to disability / IB and go on to ESA, you won't lose money.

[MIKEY DABODEE]

thats correct protected rights, If you are on IS/ IB conts and go to ESA and pass your medical for ESA you will get the same rate of benefit paid.

but ESA to IS no protection.