Remaining politically neutral during General Election 2024


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Hi, my name is ang260!

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ang260
ang260 Community member Posts: 5 Listener
edited May 2021 in Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
Hi my husband and I receive Esa as my husband is disabled he has just received a letter saying he has to apply for his pension now which I have done but not sure what else we can claim take it esa will stop, I’m only 54 so a while before I’m at pension age 
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  • Ross_Alumni
    Ross_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 7,652 Disability Gamechanger
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    Hello @ann260 and welcome to the community, how are you? 

    I just wanted to let you know that I've moved your discussion to our ESA category, which you might like to browse for similar situations. 

    Do you and your husband receive any other benefits aside from ESA?

    I hope you find navigating the community okay, let us know if you have any questions.
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  • calcotti
    calcotti Community member Posts: 10,010 Disability Gamechanger
    edited May 2021
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    When will he reach pension age?

    You will be a 'mixed age couple'. Depending on your joint finances you may be able to claim Universal Credit. You both have to claim but the claim process links your claims so that entitlement is calculated based on joint circumstances.

    If that will be the case you need to claim before he reaches pension age. If you claim before pension age then his ESA Support Group status will transfer across to UC from the start of the claim. If UC is claimed after pension age it will not.

    As Ross says - what other benefits are you both receiving? Do you know how much his state pension will be?
    Information I post is for England unless otherwise stated. Rules may be different in other parts of UK.
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  • ang260
    ang260 Community member Posts: 5 Listener
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    Hi no I don’t know what his state benefit will be for sure done a foresight said £181 per week but said it’s not a def amount, I receive carers allowance and my husband gets dla 
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  • ang260
    ang260 Community member Posts: 5 Listener
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    He will be pension age on 1st sept and I am only 54 this year 
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  • calcotti
    calcotti Community member Posts: 10,010 Disability Gamechanger
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    As you haven't mentioned Housing Benefit i assume you are not renting.

    If that is your only income and there is nobody else living with you.
    UC entitlement (at today's rates) standard allowance £596.58 plus LCWRA element £343.63 plus carer element £163.73 = £1103.94.
    State Pension @ £181/week = £784.33/month
    Carer's Allowance @ £67.60/week = £292.93/month
    UC payable is £1,103.94 - £784.33 - £292.93 = £26.68/month (so not much). However UC is currently set to reduce by about £88/month from October in which case nothing will be payable.

    CA and DLA continue unchanged, although at some point your husband will be told his DLA is going to end and will be invited to apply for PIP.

    At £181/week the pension is going to be more than his current ESA award (which I infer is £151.50/week) so you will be better off even if no UC is payable.

    Your Council Tax bill may change because your Council Tax Reduction (assuming you are claiming it) will have to be recalculated.


    Information I post is for England unless otherwise stated. Rules may be different in other parts of UK.
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  • ang260
    ang260 Community member Posts: 5 Listener
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    Thanks it’s all so complicated, we do actually rent and at the moment we get housing benefit and discretionary housing benefit as well 
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  • calcotti
    calcotti Community member Posts: 10,010 Disability Gamechanger
    edited May 2021
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    Your Housing benefit will end when he reaches pension age so if you want help with rent you will need to claim Universal Credit. The maximum UC amount i quoted earlier will be increased by the help with rent amount. You should think about applying for UC in August before he reaches pension age (although you can apply sooner if you wish)

    DHPs are usually only awarded for limited periods. Whether or not the council will award you further DHP is, as the name says, at their discretion.
    Information I post is for England unless otherwise stated. Rules may be different in other parts of UK.
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  • ang260
    ang260 Community member Posts: 5 Listener
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    Ok Thankyou very much for the help much appreciated 
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