Please looking for advice

Poppyangel2004

I have had the dreaded managed migration notice. I need to move by August. My circumstances are complicated and not sure whats going to happen to me when I move and it's making me more ill.

I have been self employed for years due to my ill health and my sons care needs, I currently get disabled working tax credit PIP enchanced on both, my son gets high care DLA and low mobility. I get carers allowance for him. Advice sites have said I will be worse off but transitional protection should cover this, this is a main worry. Also have been advised to get fit notes in when I claim to claim for LCWRA, my physical and mental health I would never be able to cope in a job, I struggle to do what I do self employed. Am I right work commitments will be turned off due to being my sons carer? Then if I get LCWRA, they remain turned off? Self employment wise, I have a lot of competition locally who are able bodied and I can't keep up, however if I wanted to still do bits as and when and declare this to UC can I still do this and not be penalised and if the time came and I decided to stop self employment because I can't cope would I be penalised and lose any money doing this? Fit note wise how many months does my GP need to supply them? I am in such a distressed state at the moment it's made my already bad mental health decline and the stress and worry is making my physical health awful I am not coping very well at all. I Am hoping I can get some friendly advice on here ❤️ thank you for listening and apologies if half of what I have written makes no sense xx

poppy123456

When you claim UC you will need to report being self employed. You will need to attend a gateway appointment with a work coach to talk about your self employed work. If found to be gainfully self employed you will have a 12 month start up period. (which is irrelevant anyway) You will need to report your earnings and expenses on your journal on the last day of each assessment period.

You will also need to make sure you report being a carer and your UC will include the carers element. As a carer you will have no work commitments so even after 1 year the minimum income floor will not apply to you. If further forward, you decide you can no longer work then it will make no difference and you won't be penalised because you're a carer with no work commitments.

Your carers allowance will be deducted in full from any UC entitlement. Carers allowance will continue to be paid to you as normal.

It may not be worth you going through the work capability assessment but you should get some expert advice on that. If you do go through it and you're found to have LCWRA then you may not be any better off because if your UC includes Transitional Protection then this will erode by the same amount. Also the same person can't receive both carers element and LCWRA element at the same time and in this case you would only receive the higher element. (LCWRA) Whether it's worth going through the stress of a work capability assessment will depend on the figures.

Albus_Scope

Hey there @Poppyangel2004 and welcome to the community.

I can see Poppy has already jumped to your aid, but I just wanted to pop in and say a quick hi. :)

Poppyangel2004

Hi poppy thanks so much could you clarify as I have been advised by a Benefit adviser that I cannot be found gainfully self employed as I am registered as a carer because apparently you can't be a carer and gainfully self employed with the hours etc I have read on advice pages etc that this means I wouldn't need to attend a gateway appointment due to caring responsibilities? The whole thing is a minefield in my head at the moment and just extremely anxious, thank you so much for helping and advising me and help me muddle through all of this xx

Poppyangel2004

Hi albus thank you for reaching out and messaging x x

poppy123456

You can still be found to be gainfully self employed but you are exempt from the minimum income floor as a carer. Your gateway appointment would be shorter than it would be if you weren’t a carer but the appointment is still needed.

Poppyangel2004

Thank you ❤️

poppy123456

You’re welcome. I hope I’ve been able to put your mind at rest a little.