Carers allowance and ESA

calcotti

KerryBemmy said:

ESA Support Group it's my boyfriend's claim,(I fill in all his ESA50 forms he can't read or write) I'm added on, they do pay me a partner allowance, although I have disabilities I only claim PIP. … He also gets PIP.

As you are both on PIP, if nobody else lives with the two of you or claims Carers Allowance for looking after either of you, does the ESA award include two Severe Disability Premiums?

[Deleted User]

Thanks all I genuinely thought I would have to claim CA. Helped me out.

Debbie1234

 My goodness! I can’t believe he has given me the wrong advice at the local council office. Thankfully the uc is covering all my rent it is just the council tax that is extortion.

I don’t know how I am on this conversation 🤣 but I hope all turns out well for you

much love 

Debbie1234

thank you Calcotti and Poppy 😊

Debbie1234

Hi Poppy 
this is what I have to pay 😒
I am just wondering if I would be exempt from paying council tax? I saw I am in receipt of enhanced daily living and enhanced mobility right as I have severe mental health issues and my husband takes care of me throughout the day and night.
When I was on employment support allowance support group my council tax had me down as a vulnerable adult. Do you think this is something I should ask about

Debbie1234

Sorry to keep asking you

poppy123456

There's SMI (Severely mentally Impaired) Which would entitle you to a discount because you're living with your partner. Details here. https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/severe-mental-impairment-dementia-council-tax-rebate/

• Get a claim form from your council. You'll need to contact your local authority for a claim form to register for a council tax discount (find contact details via the Government's 'Apply for Council Tax Reduction' service).
  
  
• Then, you'll need a doctor's diagnosis. A registered medical practitioner must have diagnosed you as severely mentally impaired. In some cases you'll need to attach a written diagnosis to your claim – in others you just give your doctor's details and they'll be contacted for confirmation. GPs are not allowed to charge you for this certification.

There's also a disabled band reduction.

You may be eligible for the scheme if you live in a larger property than you would need if you or another occupant were not disabled.

If you qualify, your bill will be reduced to the next lowest Council Tax band. For example, if your property is in Band D, you’ll pay the Band C rate. If your home is already in the lowest band (Band A), you’ll get a 17% discount on your Council Tax bill instead.

You’ll have to show that you have either:

• an extra bathroom, kitchen or other room that you need for the disabled person
• extra space inside the property for using a wheelchair

https://www.gov.uk/council-tax/discounts-for-disabled-people

Debbie1234

Oh Poppy thank you so very much. I do have an extra bedroom for myself due to my illness and universal credit kindly awarded the extra bedroom so I don’t have to pay bedroom tax. We live in a 3 bedroomed house, my son 16 year old in full time education, my husband in the other room and obviously myself. I suffer borderline personality disorder, cptsd, agoraphobia, panic attacks and severe depression and social phobia. I have recurring nightmares due to being attacked and kidnapped as a child to now etc…
I have a letter from my doctor I could upload too

thank you so much you are so knowledgeable and always helpful 

I hope you are having a nice day

poppy123456

You're are very welcome! For your council tax you will need to apply for both of the above with your local Authority and not through UC. I hope you have a lovely day too. Do come back and let me know how you get on with the council tax please.

Debbie1234

I will do 🥰

L_Volunteer

Good good @Debbie1234! How are you doing at the moment? 

Debbie1234

I’m not too good to be honest. I suffer daily with my mental health but since going onto universal credit I’ve gotten really down 😒
my first payment came through on 21/09/2022 and I didn’t get the LCWRA element and I phoned today and it seems I haven’t been awarded it even though I have moved from ESA support group. They have made me a telephone work focused interview on 1 November which I am really panicking about

poppy123456

You need to put a message on your journal under the payment section and tell them you didn’t receive the LCWRA element. Also tell them that you were claiming ESA in the Support Group and they need to send ESA the MPG1 form for ESA to send the information across.
You can also contact ESA and ask them to send it, if UC won’t. 

Debbie1234

Thank you so much Poppy 🥰

Debbie1234

Poppy I don’t believe it I have just been sent out a letter from personal independence payment I have to now fill out a big form which is called an award review how your disability affects you it Hass to be returned by 18 October this seems like a constant attack as I had only just received back payment for disability that I was owed and I was awarded open till at least May 2024 can anybody help me fill out this form do you think? I think it is because we have made a claim for universal credit this has made me so so down and depressed

calcotti

Debbie1234 said:

I think it is because we have made a claim for universal credit this has made me so so down and depressed

That will not be the reason,

Debbie1234

I am bewildered as I just won a mandatory reconsideration in November 2021 and got a back payment that I had to severely fight for regarding the points section on engaging face to face and the fight took nearly a year of appeals and form filling and sending evidence. In November 2021 they told me I was awarded 4 years and would maybe hear from them in May 2023
i am totally and utterly exhausted as I am now fighting for a new UC claim and I haven’t been awarded the LCWRA element even though I was on ESA support from 2008 until present. It just seems too much of a coincidence 

is there anyone that can possibly help me fill out these new forms please as I honestly don’t feel I can do it again 

poppy123456

Are you sure your current award ends in 2024? In a previous thread in 2020 where you won the MR decision, you said your award was until 2022. Was that award extended at all because of Covid? 

If so then they are correct in sending you the review forms now. 

I’m afraid I can actually help with filling out the forms because I don’t know anything about your conditions. I also don’t help people through private message because I just don’t have the time. 

You can see if there’s an advice agency near you for some help. Start here https://advicelocal.uk/
You can contact PIP for an extra 2 weeks to return the forms. 

Debbie1234

My award was from 03 June 2020 to 19 February 2024
enhanced for both elements. I just think it is a huge coincidence how I haven’t been given the LCW all right element for universal credit and all of a sudden I have to do my personal independent payment again. 

What sorry puppy I think you misunderstood I meant is there any sort of support worker that would help me with the forms this time around please?
back in June 2020 I got zero points for both elements. Then I did a reconsideration mandate and only got awarded daily living then I appealed and was willing to go to court then they gave me standard mobility then I had a letter stating the law had changed so I had to send more information off and then they said that initial assessment has been wrong so they awarded me enhanced for both November last year and I got a substantial amount of back pay. Now they want me to do review forms again. It doesn’t seem right

Debbie1234

Thank you I will take a look at that link now