New ESA Claim

[pcombo]

Hi,

 

Looking for some advice.

 

My mum currently gets carers allowance and income support for my little brother who gets DLA and ESA.

 

She is currently suffering from severe depression and and a problem with lungs due to smoking along with other issues,

 

She wants to claim ESA, But what is the process to claim ESA while claiming carers and income support, She is worried she will be without money, Which can't happen.

 

Thanks

[Nystagmite]

She can claim IS and carers up to the day her ESA begins. She needs to get a sick note (fit note) from her GP to claim ESA.

[pcombo]

SO she can call ESA today and start the claim and get a sick note from GP and her IS and carers won't be effected.

 

Will DWP automatically close her carers and IS, Or does she need to do this before.

[reallymadwoman]

I'd tread very carefully here. Before even considering claiming ESA and jumping through all of the hoops involved in assessments and work related activity, make sure your Mum will be enough better off to make it worthwhile.

[fletch70]

I agree with RMW

I do not know if the situation has changed but it used to be that if no one claimed carers for you then you got it added to your benefit therefore you brother may get it

Does your brother live with your mum?

 

I would really get some good advice . Once her application starts for ESA then the IS will stop , my suspicion is that she will be worse off

 

ESA really is a pain in the backside and remember weeks of assessment rate which is lower than the full rate with no guarantee you will pass the WCA

[pcombo]

She stays with him in the same house, She takes care of all his claims etc due to autism.

 

She is seeing Councillors and GP's and has been on a number of medications for years.... We just don't know if we call ESA start the application send the sick note wait for the claim to be processed then close income support and carers allowance.

 

How much is reduced from an income support claim if someone is claiming carers allowance.

[Nystagmite]

The full amount of carers allowance is taken from income support. About £60 a week. Your mum then gets the remainder of income support plus a carers premium of roughly £30 a week.

[reallymadwoman]

I would strongly recommend using one of the online benefits checkers to make sure she will be better off before claiming ESA, or speak to an experienced benefits advisor.

 

I can pretty much predict that just claiming ESA and hoping for the best will be disastrous. The chances are she'll be paid the basic assessment rate for months and months before being awarded 0 points at the assessment and having to go to appeal. Even if the WCA hurdle is beaten, she'll probably be put in WRAG and expected to go on the work programme. I can't imagine how anyone would ever be better off on ESA than getting Carer's allowance and income support.

[Nystagmite]

If your mum can still give 35 hours of care per week, I'd personally stay on carers allowance.

[GavF]

It usually works out that (if possible) IS is more than ESA when carers allowance is involved.

 

Also ESA..is not a good idea really. Your mum will have to go to fit for work tests and such which do not have a great track record of being honest..

 

I would advise not to switch to ESA, or at least speak to the CAB about the options.

[fletch70]

I must agree with RMW and others

 

Do not do ANYTHING without getting proper advice

 

I know from experience how , what should be a simple process will be a nightmare

 

Another point is, if she is caring for your brother 35 hours a week , those not so lovely people at the DWP will say that she can do a job. Mad, bad, crazy and wrong I know BUT that is how it is .

[antone]

The full amount of carers allowance is taken from income support. About £60 a week. Your mum then gets the remainder of income support plus a carers premium of roughly £30 a week.

 

This is correct. And it's the same with ESA - Carers Allowance is deducted in full and then a Carer Premium of about £30 per week is added.

 

I'm with those who advise caution about this. Entitlement to IS for a carer is pretty stable, whereas ESA requires med certs and WCA exams, not to mention in some cases being harassed into doing Work Focused Interviews and (shudder) the Work Programme. I do realise that a full WRAG or SG award of ESA will amount to more money per week, so I'm not saying she shouldn't consider the possibility, but the extra money may not be worth the hassle.

[pcombo]

Thanks for all the replies, I will look over each reply in full and come to a conclusion of what she is best to do.