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Hi Oni

I'm sorry, but your question is outside the scope of this forum, and it would be wise for your brother to speak to a specialist welfare advisor to see what he is entitled to and when. I have included a link to see what services are in the area he resides. advicelocal.uk/ He should also see whether his daughter would be eligible for Disability Living Allowance in her own right and enquire how to apply for carers allowance.

BIS

Hello,
Would really appreciate some benefit advice involving a family member.
My brother returned from New Zealand a little over a year ago to be closer to family after living and working there for 15 years.
He has suffered from an inner ear condition for many years, and it has deteriorated in the year he has been back.
He is now on a waiting list for an operation and hearing aid after being diagnosed with a hearing impairment “False Fundus.” Symptoms include - being hard of hearing (hearing loss greater than 35 decibels dB.), difficulty concentrating, extreme vertigo, nausea and frequent migraines.
He is a Joiner by trade - currently not able to work because of his health condition - and is trying to make a claim for ESA or universal credit.
He has to attend the job centre each week to do job searches even though he has a sick note each month from his GP to say he can't work. He explains this with each appointment, but still sees a work coach. He says he has not received any money after an initial phone call and job centre appointments over the past month, and does not seem sure if he will.
He has been back in the country for 14 months, so what is he entitled to?
Also, he and his partner have a 13 year old daughter diagnosed with autism who needs a lot of day-to-day support. Would they be entitled to Carer's Allowance or a child care payment?
Any advice appreciated.

Is this 4 weeks total for that year? Or 4 weeks consecutive? I have family living abroad and my mum is ill right now.

Hi,

If I may......

This Gov.UK site covers this question: Personal Independence Payment (PIP) www.gov.uk/pip/eligibility

Scroll down to the section headed "If you’ve recently returned from living abroad"

Regards,

Andy

Hi Callista

Welcome to the forum.

You might want to have a look at the following FAQ which explains where everything is; www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/guides-for-claimants/faq/forum

Your partner cannot claim Carers Allowance if you only get ESA even in the support group, you can only claim CA if :

All of the following must apply:

* you’re 16 or over
* you spend at least 35 hours a week caring for someone
* you’ve been in England, Scotland or Wales for at least 2 of the last 3 years (this does not apply if you’re a refugee or have humanitarian protection status)
* you normally live in England, Scotland or Wales, or you live abroad as a member of the armed forces (you might still be eligible if you’re moving to or already living in an EEA country or Switzerland)
* you’re not in full-time education
* you’re not studying for 21 hours a week or more
* you’re not subject to immigration control
* your earnings are £139 or less a week after tax, National Insurance and expenses

www.gov.uk/carers-allowance

Gary

Thank you Gordon, I'll see what the international pensions contact has to say, A

Audi

You may be able to export your ESA but is not as easy as it used to be post-Brexit and it wasn't easy then.

See

www.gov.uk/claim-benefits-abroad

Gordon

I am in the ESA support group and moving to bulgari to live there with my Bulgarian wife and family.
At the moment we claim UC and my ESA support.
Can my ESA be paid when I leave the UK
Many thanks for looking Audi

My son who is 19 receives PIP (higher rate living, lower rate mobility), his conditions are speech and language impairment, autism and dyspraxia. He is 19, claimed PIP at 16 after DLA and I am his appointee. His award is until Oct 2024. For mobility, at the time, he was awarded it because couldn't ask for directions when out walking, couldn't use public transport without assistance, but no physical impairment. In the last year his confidence has grown and he is now using public transport with only prompting rather than assistance and is becoming more adventurous and going further afield. On the other hand he is still not at the level of a typical 19 year old who might be going on holiday abroad without adult help and is finding learning to drive very difficult compared to an average teenager, so there is still need. He has just completed his first year at university with a LOT of support from family, DSA and the uni services so I consider his living needs unchanged, it is just the mobility.

So my question is should I report this change, is it likely to mean a complete reassessment, or is it safe to leave it till his review next year on the basis that between ages 16 and 20 a lot can change for people with his conditions and would be expected? If we leave it to the review are they going to ask when the changes occurred and make him pay it back? Hard because they are gradual. We really, really do not want to get into trouble for overclaiming but on the other hand a complete reassessment is a daunting prospect. If we were found to have overclaimed would it just be a repayment plan or fines etc.

Hi Paul

Carers Allowance is not means tested;

All of the following must apply:

* you’re 16 or over
* you spend at least 35 hours a week caring for someone
* you’ve been in England, Scotland or Wales for at least 2 of the last 3 years (this does not apply if you’re a refugee or have humanitarian protection status)
* you normally live in England, Scotland or Wales, or you live abroad as a member of the armed forces (you might still be eligible if you’re moving to or already living in an EEA country or Switzerland)
* you’re not in full-time education
* you’re not studying for 21 hours a week or more
* you’re not subject to immigration control
* your earnings are £139 or less a week after tax, National Insurance and expenses

www.gov.uk/carers-allowance

Gary