Help & advice needed !

annie157

Hi there from a confused New benefit claimer ! So my husband has been on ESA since June 2024 But has now been awarded Lcwra. I’m now his carer due to his health - i only work part time . When he received the LCWRA does that mean the ESA stops ?

Morgan_Alumni

Hello @annie157

LCWRA is only on Universal Credit and New Style ESA has Support Group or WRAG, do you also claim Universal Credit alongside your husband's ESA?

WhatThe

Morgan, LCWRA is the Support Group in ESA. These terms began with the introduction of ESA in 2008.

OverlyAnxious

Something doesn't seem right here.

If he applied for ESA in 2024 then it must be New Style ESA - which would be either Support Group or WRAG outcome after a WCA.

If he's now got LCWRA then he must be on Universal Credit. Which presumably means he doesn't have enough income or savings to need to continue with NS ESA? But that would be claimed as a couple if you both live together and your income would also be taken into account.

annie157

my husband was awarded ESA as he was signed off as unfit for work . We do claim universal credit but our payments have been 0.00 due to deductions my 0.55 in the £1 deducted on my wages plus carers allowance .

It means as we are a couple have no dependants we are not entitled to a universal credit payment at the moment . However he had an assessment for LCWRA and has been awarded this . So his ESA ( new style ) which I’m assuming from reply it must be is paid fortnightly does this continue ? When the element of LCWRA is added on universal credit ?

Kimi87

I think I can advise you correctly, but need a few of my suspicions confirmed:

What was your husband's ESA status when you first applied for UC?

How much ESA does he recieve?

annie157

he was signed off from his GP as unfit for work in June .

His ESA payment is paid fortnightly £90.50 per week .

We filled in the UC 50 form he has since been assessed and awarded LCWRA .

poppy123456

New style ESA continues but payments will increase to £138.20/week from the 14th week of his claim.

Your UC will also include the LCWRA element from the 4th month after he provided his first fit note.

The deduction from UC for ESA will increase to £586.98/month.

You will also have the work allowance. This means that some of the earnings you receive will be ignored before deductions apply.

If you claim for help with the rent the work allowance will be £404/month, if you don’t it will be £673/month. For every £1 of earnings over those amounts your UC will reduce by 55p. The work allowance will apply from the assessment period in which he provided his first fit note.

Does your husband claim a disability benefit such as PIP/ADP daily living? If so does your UC include carers element?

annie157

thank you so so much poppy - yes he claims PIP also .

Plus the carers element was added to universal credit also from our first claim . But we haven’t been eligible for any UC payment as yet due to deductions .

poppy123456

There maybe some entitlement now due to the work allowance and the LCWRA element.

annie157

thank you Poppy for all your help .

poppy123456

You're welcome.