Work related esa and careers allowance

guesty62
guesty62 Community member Posts: 5 Listener
in Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
After winning my case and now recieving wr esa , I am concerned about my wife's benefits,  I get careers allowance as my wife has severe MS And I am a full time carer, I suffer with depression and anxiety which affects my mood which has affected my employment. 
Will it affect the careers allowance payments if I get the wr esa ! Also will it affect the wr esa payments if I tell them I am a full time carer for my wife. 
I'm dreading the upcoming interview at the dwp .

Comments

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community member Posts: 59,054 Championing
    More information is needed to be able to advise you.

    Which ESA are you claiming, Income Related or New style/contributions based?

    When you say you won your case, was this a Tribunal decision? Which group were you placed into, WRAG/LCW or Support Group/LCWRA?
  • guesty62
    guesty62 Community member Posts: 5 Listener
     its new style contributions based.
    They put me in the WRAG group..

  • guesty62
    guesty62 Community member Posts: 5 Listener
    Yes it was a tribunal decision 
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community member Posts: 59,054 Championing
    edited April 3
    Thanks. You can't receive both Carers allowance and the ESA at the same time because they are classed as overlapping benefits. You will receive the highest benefit, which will be New style ESA. Please also be aware that the ESA is only paid for 1 year when in the WRAG. After this time payments will stop but your NI credits will continue. 

    For payments to continue past the 1 year you need to be placed into the Support Group. 

    What benefits does your wife claim exactly? 
  • guesty62
    guesty62 Community member Posts: 5 Listener
    Hi , my wife is on pip
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community member Posts: 59,054 Championing
    Her PIP will not be affected. Have you used a benefits calculator to check entitlement to Universal Credit? You will both need to claim as a couple because it's a means tested benefit. If you have savings/capital of more than £16,000 you're excluded from claiming.https://www.entitledto.co.uk/benefits-calculator

    If it shows entitlement then your wife will need to report her health condition and provide a fit note. She will then be referred for a work capability assessment. 

    You will be entitled to the carers element from the start of your claim but your carers allowance and ESA will be deducted in full from any UC entitlement. 

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