Additional Benefits

Lanson66

I am in process of a MR for a negative pip decision and anticipate having to go to tribunal. I am currently claiming UC and LCWRA. Can anyone advise me if my PIP is unsuccessful, is there any alternative benefits which I should be applying for. I have worked from the age of 16 until I was 50, 6 years ago and I have claimed UC for 5 years and LCWRA for the last two and a half years. Not knowing the benefit system and as is often the case, the job Center and work coach (previously) have not advised me if there is any additional support which I am missing out on. Any advice or pointers would be greatly appreciated.

OverlyAnxious

There are no other benefits. Universal Credit has actually made the system easier by covering all of the previous 'legacy' benefits in one.

Depending on your circumstances, you may be able to claim council tax reduction from your local authority.

Jimm_Alumni

Hi @Lanson66, firstly I hope your PIP appeal is successful, even if it requires going to tribunal!

As OverlyAnxious says, many benefits were rolled into Universal Credit, but have you ever contacted your Local Authority to see if they have any support available? Some Local Authorities have funds for those with conditions. If you need home adaptations you can also ask for an assessment of your home to see if the council can help make your life easier within your home.

Incase there is anything missed you could try a benefits calculator like the one at Turn2Us: https://benefits-calculator.turn2us.org.uk/

Lanson66

thank you both for your advice. I was told by someone about ESA but as you say it looks like this is rolled in with UC but some people seem to have several benefits coming in additional to their pip and UC, such as this ESA !!

poppy123456

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/874086#Comment_874086

New style ESA can be claimed along side UC BUT it is deducted in full from any UC entitlement so there's no financial gain to claiming it.

To be entitled you need to have the correct NI contributions in the previous 2 tax years so you need to have worked at some point during that time.

The are some advantages to claiming New style ESA as well, such as you will receive class 1 NI credits but for UC it's class 3. The ESA is also not means tested like UC is so could be useful in the future because capital/savings and pensions up to £85/week do not affect the amount you're entitled to.

As for other people claiming several other benefits as well as UC that simply isn't correct because it's not possible. UC has replaced all other legacy benefits such as Tax credits, Income Related ESA/JSA, Income Support and housing benefit. For housing benefit, it is possible to claim this as well as UC if you live in either supported or temporary housing an then rent will be paid through this and not through UC.

If you are liable for council tax then council tax reduction can be claimed from your local Authority, as advised by overlyanxious.