Support Group Ending ESA claim and moving forward...

Caspa82

Hi

I hope someone could offer me some advise? I currently claim Income related ESA and I am placed in suport group. this was awarded back in 2018.

I still live at home with parents and my Mother is serverly poorly and bed riden with nerve damage and claims PIP my dad looks after her and currently me.

My situation has changed at home leaving more pressure on my father who is struggling to cope, I am wondereing if the DWP would understand my situation at home and  I could end my claim?

I need to force myself to provide more care to Mum and I know it will be a strugle but obviously this would conflict my claim for ESA, I was wondering there would be any repercussions of just ending my claim?

I am stressing what to do for money and how I will cope for money after I do close it and may end up having to claim carers allowence or do somthing at home alongside looking after mum to cover living costs.

Could anyone offer any advise on whats the best course of action?

Thank you

poppy123456

You don't need to stop claiming your ESA. Many people  care for others while claiming ESA. I care for my daughter as well as continue with my ESA. 

Regarding carers allowance, does your dad claim this for looking after your mum? If he does then you won't be able to claim it as well as him. 

Your mum can refer herself (or your dad can do it) for a needs assessment from her local Authority, it can be done here. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/social-care-and-support-guide/help-from-social-services-and-charities/getting-a-needs-assessment/
An Occupational Therapist will come to your home to assess her care needs and see if there's any support they can give her. 

Albus_Scope

Hey there @Caspa82 and welcome to the community!

I can see Poppy is already helping you, but I just wanted to stop in and say hi and I hope the advice she gives will help your family. 

Caspa82

poppy123456 said:

You don't need to stop claiming your ESA. Many people  care for others while claiming ESA. I care for my daughter as well as continue with my ESA. 

Regarding carers allowance, does your dad claim this for looking after your mum? If he does then you won't be able to claim it as well as him. 

Your mum can refer herself (or your dad can do it) for a needs assessment from her local Authority, it can be done here. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/social-care-and-support-guide/help-from-social-services-and-charities/getting-a-needs-assessment/
An Occupational Therapist will come to your home to assess her care needs and see if there's any support they can give her. 

Hi

Thank you poppy, no my dad is not in receipt of care allowance, and to be honest I was only looking into it later on should I struggle financially.

I would ideally just like to stop my claim, this would give me freedom to look after mum and do work also. 

I don’t want to keep claiming as things need to change as my parents are getting older and I need to try and work also as I’m not young! 

It’s a frightening prospect getting back into the community again but I need to try.

would the DWP need reasons if I just say I don’t want to receive it anymore? I feel I need to try and care and support my family by trying to sort myself out.

thank you. .

poppy123456

You don't need to give any reasons. Please think very carefully before ringing them to cancel your claim. If you want to try working then you can do permitted work. You must make sure it's less than 16 hours per week and your earnings are no more than £167/week. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/employment-and-support-allowance-permitted-work-form/permitted-work-factsheet

For carers allowance, which ESA are you claiming, is it Income Related or contributions based/New style? 

If you claim carers allowance there's a maximum earnings limit of £139/week after deductions. 

Caspa82

poppy123456 said:

You don't need to give any reasons. Please think very carefully before ringing them to cancel your claim. If you want to try working then you can do permitted work. You must make sure it's less than 16 hours per week and your earnings are no more than £167/week. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/employment-and-support-allowance-permitted-work-form/permitted-work-factsheet

For carers allowance, which ESA are you claiming, is it Income Related or contributions based/New style? 

If you claim carers allowance there's a maximum earnings limit of £139/week after deductions. 

Hi

Thank you once again, I had a look at the ESA claim form out of interest. 

It’s saying have you done 26 weeks of care before before the date I want to claim. I presume that 6 months is the minimum amount of time I would need to care for my mother before claiming that benefit? Otherwise it would not be eligible or conflict the time I was on ESA? 

Thank you 

Caspa82

Can’t edit previous post! I meant I have looked at carers allowance claim form…not ESA sorry for confusion poppy! 

poppy123456

There's no minimum amount of time you need to be caring for someone to be entitled to carers allowance. It can be backdated for a maximum of 3 months. However, if any part of your ESA is contributions based then this is classed as an overlapping benefit with carers allowance and you can't receive both benefits at the same time. 

If your ESA is Income Related then you can claim both carers allowance and ESA. Although you will only be better off per week by £42.75, which is the carers premium amount.

I still think that stopping your ESA is the wrong decision but of course that's your choice.