Income related ESA Support group: Relationship Breakdown

Rose82

Hey so i was hoping to get some advice regarding where i will stand finacially,

so up until a few years ago i was living alone in my council rented property in receipt of housing benefit and council tax benefit, in receipt of Income Related ESA in the Support Group receving a severe disability premium along side the standard esa disability premium too, while also being in receipt of PIP at both Enhanced rates, so in total my fornightly amount was around £397 every 2 weeks for ESA 

a few years ago i got into a relationship and my partner subseqently moved in shortly after, my partner isn't disabled but was added onto my ESA claim so i lost my severe disability premium so i reported the changes to ESA and also had to report the change across the housing benefit and council tax to which both ESA and Housing benefit sent out a change of circumstances form which were filled in which then lead to,
my current finacial situation,

 living with partner in receipt of Income Related ESA support group claiming housing benefit and council tax benefit (partners name jointly appearing on council tax bill) but not on housing benefit one? in receipt of PIP at both enhanced rates, and partner claims Carers allowance for me as my full time carer - he is not in employment, 

current ESA entitlement is around £312 every 2 weeks, along with carers weekly

Unfortunately my relationship is severely suffering and isn't working out due to finacial struggles amongst many other reasons and is making me very depressed,
and i'm seriously considering ending things my only fears are what will happen to me on a finacial scale if i do, so hypothetically speaking

upon informing ESA that i've had a relationship breakdown and i now live alone again and i've stopped my then ex partner from claiming carers allowance for me 

and also informing housing benefit and council tax benefit that i now live alone again 

what would happen, would i be able to remain on my Income Related ESA support group and be able to essentially reclaim my Severe disability premium that i lost when he moved in? meaning i'd be on the same rate i used to be of around £397 every 2 weeks?

and with informing housing benefit & council tax will they be able to put things back to how they used to be? 

or would this be such a change that would initiate the requirement to be switched over to Universal Credit? i'm just hoping i can get things changed back to how they used to be prior to having a partner, as i fear a swith over to universal credit will really put me into a bad finacial situation itself,

any advice and support is greatly appreciated thank you in advanced.

poppy123456

This is not classed as a change of circumstances that will prompt a move to UC. Your ESA would go back to the way it was before your partner moved in. Your partner will need to report the changes to Carers allowance to tell then they are no longer caring for you. Once the carers allowance stops you can then reclaim the Severe disability premium. Your ESA fortnightly amount will be £409.50.

Your housing benefit will remain the same because you'll still be entitled to the 1 bedroom rate, if privately renting.

For council tax you'll be entitled to the single person discount.

Rose82

that is brilliant thank you so much for the advice and quick response you've truly helped put my mind much more at ease during a really difficult time, can i just ask if upon ending things my then ex becomes very difficult ie: with sorting carers out etc as i know we most likely wont be on speaking terms after a breakup will i be able to ring carers to generally report that he no longer lives with me or carers for me? also am i best sorting carers out straight away prior to calling esa so long as it's no more then a couple of days from when he moves out?  

kind regards

Rose82

i sincerely apologise but one final question will i be required to fill out another ESA3 form like i was when he moved in? 

poppy123456

Yes, you will be able to ring carers allowance and tell them that he no longers cares for you. You won't be entitled to the SDP until the carers allowance stops, so you should do that first.

I don't think you'll need to fill out another ESA3 form but i'm not 100% sure on that.

Rose82

ok thank you very much Poppy your help and advice has been truly invaluable x

calcotti

poppy123456 said:

Yes, you will be able to ring carers allowance and tell them that he no longers cares for you. 

But they are likely to require him to withdraw the claim.

poppy123456

Thanks Calcotti, that’s good to know.