Immigration status changed

Hi @pinemartine

I'm presuming your status is now 'settlement' or 'Indefinite Leave to Remain' and that there is therefore no further restrictions.

Working on this basis (and please do let us know if my assumption above is not correct), then to be added to the ESA claim, you will simply need to declare the change - to do this you can call the DWP and request an ESA3 form and complete it, and send a cover letter with a copy of your visa explaining what the change is - the DWP will probably still want to see the original at the Jobcentre, and you can make an evidence appointment for this in due course, but I wouldn't recommend posting the original as they have been known to lose them!

As regards Carer's Allowance, you can claim online or request a paper form from the DWP https://www.gov.uk/carers-allowance/how-to-claim again, they will probably send out a request for you to prove your immigration status and you will need to comply with this, but the claim should be fairly straightforward.

In terms of benefit payments once the claims are sorted, assuming that as a household your income and capital does not reduce your entitlement to income based benefits, your partner's 'personal allowance' will be increased to couple rate (from 73.10 to 114.85/week), and a Carer's Premium of 34.95 will be added to the claim. This means an overall increase in ESA of 76.70. A deduction will then be made from the ESA of 62.70 for the Carer's Allowance, and you will be paid this separately. The weekly gain for the household will therefore be 76.70.

If you receive Housing/Council Tax benefit you should also notify them, just because of your duty to notify. If you do not receive full Housing Benefit, your entitlement to this will also increase with the addition of the Carer's Premium.

Hope this helps!

Kind regards,

Mar