Esa. How much a week would I be entitled for the support group ESA

hello666

Hi everyone, hope you're well.
I am on work related ESA ,I receive pip also. I claim for my husband and child. I had an assessment with a doctor today by phone,I have applied for the support group ESA ,I have had major surgeries, which has had an impact on me emotionally and physically. How long will it take to make a decision? If I was successful, how much a week would I be entitled for the support group ESA. Thank you  in advance ☺️ 😘 

calcotti

When you say you have applied for the Support Group do you mean that you have reported a deterioration in you health supported by a Fit Note? If that's where you are the next thing is taht you will be sent an ESA50 health form to complete and return with copies of any relevant evidence. You are then likely to need an assessment, the assessor will send a report to DWP and only then will DWP make a decision. 

Support Group is currently an extra £40.60/week. It should be backdated to when you reported the change.

I mention that you are claiming ESA for your husband and child. A child makes no difference to an ESA claim - are you claiming Child Tax Credits?

Does your husband claim any benefits himself? 

hello666

Thank you, Yes there is a change in my health. I have already done the forms and been assessed today. I do receive child tax credits. My husband doesn't claim anything. Thank you for your reply. 

calcotti

hello666 said:

Thank you, Yes there is a change in my health. I have already done the forms and been assessed today. I do receive child tax credits. My husband doesn't claim anything. Thank you for your reply. 

Does he work?

If your PIP includes the Daily Living part he could claim Carers Allowance if he looks after you for 35 hours per week for looking after you (unless he earns more than £132/week from work). The CA would be deducted from your ESA but the ESA would have a carer premium added to it. This would increase your joint income by £38.85/week.

If he claims CA he will get Class 1 NI credits towards his State Pension. As your husband on your ESA claim he doesn’t get any NI credits from that.

He will already be getting NI credits (Class 3) if he is the Child Benefit claimant and your child is below 12 years old.

poppy123456

hello666 said:

I do receive child tax credits. My husband doesn't claim anything. 

for the avoidance of doubt, your husband will be claiming tax credits with you as a couple. 

hello666

Yes we do claim child tax credits together, totally forgot about that .

hello666

My husband doesn't work . I am on the lower rate of pip for both. I don't think you can get carer's allowance for lower rate,I'm not sure. My Son is 14 . Thank you 😊 

poppy123456

hello666 said:

 I am on the lower rate of pip for both. I don't think you can get carer's allowance for lower rate,I'm not sure.

There's only 2 ratesfor PIP, standard and Enhanced. There's no such thing as lower rate. For your partner to claim carers allowance you need any rate of daily living PIP, as advised here .

calcotti said:

If your PIP includes the Daily Living part he could claim Carers Allowance if he looks after you for 35 hours per week for looking after you

hello666

I meant the standard rates. Thank you 😊 

calcotti

He should definitely be claiming CA for looking after you if he provides 35 hours/week of care. He will then get NI credits towards his future pension. He can backdate a CA claim but 3 months (assuming you were getting PIP at that time) or, if you award was only made in the last three months but backdated to earlier he can get CA backdated to the date your PIP was awarded from.
https://www.gov.uk/carers-allowance

Overall you would be better off by £38.85/week as per my previous reply.

CA is taxable income and must be included when you do your Tax Credits renewal.

hello666

Thanks Calcotti for your advice, I will look into Carer's allowance for my husband. Been great advice, thank you again. 

calcotti

hello666 said:

Thanks Calcotti for your advice, I will look into Carer's allowance for my husband. Been great advice, thank you again. 

Run some numbers through a benefits calculator first to see how it all fits together
https://benefits-calculator.turn2us.org.uk

hello666

I will do thank you 😊 

L_Volunteer

Have you been able to run the calculator yet @hello666 and, if so, how has it gone for you? We are all here for you and listening to you if you would like to share more with us 

hello666

I have run through the calculations, and works out I'd be better of if applying for Carer's allowance. Thank you so much 💓 

poppy123456

Claiming carers allowance would mean you'll be £38.85/week better off because the carers allowance will be deducted in full from your ESA. Carers allowance then pay your partner separately. It could take around 12 weeks, sometimes longer for a carers allowance decision.

hello666

Thank you poppy 💓