esa supports group and lcwra

penpo

hi can anyone tell me how my partner being changed from esa support group to lcwra will affect us financially,  we are on universal credit claim as a couple, i am also on lcwra and get carers allowance for my partner (who is also on pip) please

poppy123456

As advised in your other thread here https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/93608/legacy-esa-and-new-style-esa#latest
you will only be entitled to one LCWRA element in your UC even though you both have been found to have it because only one per claim can receive it. 

Your partner should receive this element and you should claim carers element. 

The carers allowance will be deducted in full from your UC entitlement. As your partner is also claiming New Style ESA this will be deducted in full from any UC entitlement.

penpo

hi poppy thank you for that still not understanding i appreciate we both wont get lcwra it looks like they have transferred mine into his name by looking on the journal, so i am assuming he wont get the esa support payment now?, so does that mean i could get it instead of the lcwra i was receiving?  i know i sound a pain but i am losing the will to live trying to understand this benefit criteria thing and what we can or cannot get, i do appreciate your help.  : 

poppy123456

His ESA will continue as normal (£235.20/ week) but it will be deducted in full from your UC. 

The LCWRA in your UC should be for your partner and then the carers element is for you. This will maximise your UC entitlement. 

As you’re already claiming UC your statement should include 1 LCWRA and 1 carers element. 

calcotti

Only one of you can get the LCWRA element. One person cannot get the LCWRA element and the carer element. Because you want to claim the carer element for yourself you therefore want the LCWRA element to go to your partner. 

Have you declared to UC that you are a carer? Assuming you have done this, post a message as a payment query stating that because you are a carer you want to receive the carer element and therefore you want the LCWRA element to go to your partner.

You refer to the ESA Support payment - to clarify, is your partner claiming ESA as well as UC. If so the ESA will still be paid as before and will continue to be deducted from the UC.

penpo

hi yes uc knows i am his carer two years ago we requested they give him the lcwra instead of me but they said it was not possible, he had a meeting last work regarding his work capability where they decided he cannot work and should therefore go on lcwra then this month with no notification they have now started to pay the carers allowance to us which is great     the only worry i have is that will this now mean his esa (support group) will stop and if it does would that mean i can apply for esa as i am his full time carer and on antidepressants with sciatica and spondylosis of the spine?   really appreciate your help, i applied for pip which is now on a mandatory request for reconsideration as they gave me 0 points (long story).

calcotti

penpo said:

.. they have now started to pay the carers allowance to us which is great     the only worry i have is that will this now mean his esa (support group) will stop and if it does would that mean i can apply for esa as i am his full time carer and on antidepressants with sciatica and spondylosis of the spine?   .

If the care element is being paid for you as his carer, the LCWRA can be paid for him.

if he is being paid ESA Support Group that will continue (and will continue to be taken into account as income when calculating the UC payable).

if you were to apply for ESA and be paid it the ESA would be deducted from your UC so it would make no difference to your overall income.

poppy123456

His ESA support group will not stop, that will continue for as long as he remains entitled to it.

Financially, it will not make any difference if you claim New style ESA because it will just be deducted in full from the UC.

You need to make sure your UC includes one carers element as well as one LCWRA element.

penpo

thank you i was just concerned his esa would stop now so i really appreciate your knowledge i assume they will inform us if it is going to stop although they didnt advise the change of names for lcwra but hey not complaining as now am getting the carers element thank you so much

calcotti

penpo said:

thank you i was just concerned his esa would stop now so i really appreciate your knowledge i assume they will inform us if it is going to stop although they didnt advise the change of names for lcwra but hey not complaining as now am getting the carers element thank you so much

As I have advised in several replies, his ESA will not stop. It is a contribution based benefit to which he remains entitled.

penpo

thank you i am so unsure re benefits i just needed total reasssurance i really am grateful

Tori_Scope

I think many of us can relate to needing some reassurance when there's something we're worried about, so it's no problem @penpo How are you feeling today?