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Hi, my name is davegrass66!

davegrass66

i have had an accident at work in 2009 and broke my back, I ended up with cauda equina syndrome. I thank god I still can use my legs but they are numb. I have no control over the bladder or bowels dept and use a catheter to wee, I only poo one day a week which is a pain in the bum sorry lol I no longer work due to the loss of faculties. I find the benefits system a nightmare as on old style benefits and don't claim universal credit, can someone explain to me if I get contribution esa and income-related esa should I get housing benefits?

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Comments

poppy123456

If you rent your home and you're not living with parents then you can claim for help with the rent. However, unless you're living in either supported or temporary housing then you can no longer claim housing benefit.

If you need help with the rent then you'll need to claim Universal Credit. This will then end any Income Related ESA after 2 weeks.

Hannah_Alumni

@davegrass66 Welcome to the community!

I see Poppy has answered your query. The benefits system is a nightmare! Thank gosh we have amazing members here in the community. I hope the community can continue to be a great support for you

davegrass66

I live in private rental since 2017 and never knew I got income related esa as well

poppy123456

Even when claiming contributions based it would have been possible to claim for help with your rent at that time. You will need to claim UC now for help with that.

Do you have any other income other than your ESA?

davegrass66

Yes dla Ind accidents

davegrass66

What about cost of living payments if I was getting income ESA I got nothing?

poppy123456

davegrass66 said:

Yes dla Ind accidents

Do you mean Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit? (IIDB) as well as DLA?

davegrass66 said:

What about cost of living payments if I was getting income ESA I got nothing?

That may mean that your ESA is all contributions based. If you're in the Support Group then contributions based is £129.50/week. Is that how much you receive? If part of it was Income Related then you would be receiving more than that.

davegrass66

No it says on my award from DWP that it’s both I get £250.00 every two weeks

poppy123456

That doesn’t suggest it’s mixture of both contributions based and Income Related. However, that’s below the rate for contributions based unless you’re receiving a pension of more than £85/week.

You didn’t answer this question when I asked what you meant by this?

davegrass66 said:

Yes dla Ind accidents

Do you mean you’re claiming Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit as well as DLA?

davegrass66

Yes sorry £124.50 a week and dla care low and mobility high rate

poppy123456

Then your IIDB of £124.50/week will be classed as income for any income related ESA and reduce it £1 for £1. This will mean you have no entitlement to any Income Related ESA. Which is why you haven’t received any cost of living payments because your ESA is contributions based only.

For help with any rent you will need to claim Universal Credit. However whether there’s any entitlement will depend on your circumstances. Your ESA and IIDB will be deducted in full from any UC entitlement.

You can use a benefits calculator to check to see if there’s any entitlement. https://www.entitledto.co.uk/benefits-calculator