ESA OR INCOME SUPPORT

Hi
i`m new to this so I`m hoping someone will be able to keep me right. I am about to claim ESA.
I am in receipt of Disability living allowance and my wife is my carer. A friend has advised me that my wife as my carer should claim income support . I thought income support was being done away with so not sure how to proceed.
Also do i need a fitness certificate from my GP as i haven`t worked for for a few years before claiming ESA
Thanks

buzz wrote: Hi
i`m new to this so I`m hoping someone will be able to keep me right. I am about to claim ESA.
I am in receipt of Disability living allowance and my wife is my carer. A friend has advised me that my wife as my carer should claim income support . I thought income support was being done away with so not sure how to proceed.
Also do i need a fitness certificate from my GP as i haven`t worked for for a few years before claiming ESA
Thanks

Hi b,

Welcome to Benefits and Work

Before we go any further, can you confirm that presently your only Household Income is DLA for you (If so which Components, e.g. Mobility and/or Care, and at what rates, e.g. Lower, Middle or Higher ?) and Carers Allowance for your wife.

If so, have you been in receipt of any other benefits in recent years ?

bro58

Hi b,

Can't really offer much advice with the very little information that you have provided.

Yes, it is possible for someone receiving : Carers Allowance (CA) to claim Income Support, (IS) although IS is one of the benefits that will eventually come under Universal Credit.

It is also possible that you could make a claim for : ESA.

If you had the necessary NI Contributions from employment , which from your brief comments does not seem likely, you would be paid Contribution Based (CB) ESA, although that being the case it would be offset £ for £ against any IS that your wife may be claiming.

If you don't have the requisite number of NI Contribution for CB ESA, you may be entitled to Income Related (IR) ESA.

This being the case, you would have to claim IR ESA as a couple, your wife's CA would be offset against your IR ESA entitlement £ for £, and she would not be able to claim IS, although you may be entitled to The Carer Premium (CP) paid as an IR ESA top-up for her providing care for you.

Yes, you would need a fit note from your G.P. to make an ESA claim.

As you can see, it is not at all a straightforward issue, and you really need a full "Benefits Check" with The CAB, DIAL, Age UK or the like to see which options are best for you :

Where to get advice

Using these : Benefits Calculators. may give you a better idea.

More information on ESA can be found in our : ESA Claims Guides

And our : ESA FAQ’s

Regarding your DLA, are you aware of : THIS ?

See also : PIP Self Test

&

PIP Claims Guide. (2nd Link on page)

bro58

HI,
I am on DLA , my wife is my carer, and gets carers allowance. I have done a couple of online benefit checks. One recommends I apply for Income Support and the other ESA . I have read that my wife as my carer can apply for Income Support. Based on the results theres little between the two but the Income Support route seems more straightforward. Is there anything I am missing? Does this make sense?
Thanks

Hi b,

I have merged your post with your previous topic for continuity.

As previously advised ideally you need face to face advice where they will have access to all your personal and financial details in front of them.

It is not possible for us to advise you what may be best for you as we cannot possibly have access to the above on a publicly viewed forum.

bro58