Stopping work 😞

eyepunky101
eyepunky101 Online Community Member Posts: 4 Listener
edited October 27 in Benefits and income

Hi all

I have a number of illnesses, MS, stenosis, stoma with a hernia and post thrombotic syndrome.

I work fulltime, customer service administrator. Work has made provisional for me to work 2 days a week in the office, 3 at home.

Whilst this is good, I can feel a massive decline in a number of months and feel I can not cope with work any longer. (Mobile worsening, dexterity in hands, extreme fatigue, brain fog, back back i crease when sat, can not stand for more than a few minutes and many more)

I claim PIP at the moment.

My wife works part time 22 hours mim wage.

If I did need to quit work, do you know if I could claim any benifit to help.

UC and lcwra? could I also claim ESA?

I've always worked and feel so bad about it, but I feel it is the right thing to do for my health.

Thank you 😊

Comments

  • Kimi87
    Kimi87 Online Community Member Posts: 7,444 Championing
    edited October 26

    To claim Universal Credit, you and your wife would both need to open claims and join them together.

    Your payment would then be based on your joint circumstances.

    https://www.gov.uk/benefits-calculators

    If your wife cares for you 35+ hours a week, she can claim Carers Element of UC (£201.68 a month). This would also mean she has no work commitments, so UC wouldn't push her to work more hours than 22.

    Initially you won't be entitled for anything illness related, you'll have to go through the Work Capability Assessment process and if you are found to have LCWRA (Limited Capability for Work Related Activity) then that would increase your UC award by £423.27 before deductions.

    https://www.gov.uk/health-conditions-disability-universal-credit

    You would then have a work allowance for the claim, this is an amount of money your wife can earn before UC make their standard deduction of 0.55p for every pound earned.

    It is £411 if you get Housing Element for rent, £684 if not.

    If you have a dependent child then the work allowance would apply straight away.

    You can claim New Style ESA, but this will be deducted in full from your UC award.

    https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-style-employment-and-support-allowance

    UC is means tested, NS ESA is not.

  • eyepunky101
    eyepunky101 Online Community Member Posts: 4 Listener

    Thank you, alot to think about. I'm going to discuss with my doctor and employer.