incapacity benefit

[hayley_maree2007]

hi im currently on incapacity and have been for years. my partner lives with me and he has worked full time untill now.due to my partner loseing his job and waiting around to claim jsa what now takes upto a month, we have hardly any money to eat or pay our bills as we usually pay our rent and council tax in full we are now unable. so i phoned up something called benefit checker, they said i can claim dla ontop of my incapacity, he then went on to say that as from april 2012 they are stopping incapacity all together but i can then claim esa if my partner doesnt work. my partner wants to work and i also want him to go back to work but if i just recieved dla of £160 how will we ever survive. i helped pay half of the bills and we were still struggling on his wages, almost lost our 1 bedroom flat a few times. please help. need advice

[vallaw]

What is the nature of incapacity?

[Keleez]

I think you need to go to Citizens Advice, as the benefits agency constantly change the rules to suit themselves, i have a major heart problem and cannot work, they made me jump through many hoops before allowing me to claim Incapacity Benefit, their own doctors have told them to stop sending me to them as their report never changes, i will never work again, im repeatedly being told by the benefits agency im entitled to Disability Benefit, but everytime i apply they turn me down, recently an employee of the benefits agency told me, that the benefits agency will never tell you exactly what you are entitled to, so up to 60% of people claiming benefits are not receiving their full entitlement, and we dont know this so assume what they are giving to us is correct, also you should be entitled to help paying some if not all of your rent/morgage, contact your nearest housing office or again ask citizens advice, when it comes to claiming what you are entitled to, the only person who can help you is you, do not listen to the benefits service until you have had the information checked out by and independant expert like the CA..good luck

[chelle7272]

I agree with keleez, you should seek some advice. To start with though, have you tried this website? It's usually a pretty good guide. Check if you are entitled to other benefits such as housing, council tax etc.
http://www.direct.gov...therSupport/index.htm

[hayley_maree2007]

i have googled every search engine, hasnt helped. even contacted cab but they told me i must phone tomorrow for an avaliable slot.

[hayley_maree2007]

thats £160 a month dla

[Postdog]

You've been given this advice in an earlier post, and I'm just basically stressing that you follow it. Seek independant help from the CAB or other local centre for benefit advice, as it is a minefield and they will screw you over if they can. I have just been rejected for ESA after my assessment period because I do not meet their criteria - more to the point I was told by my benefits advisor I wouldn't and it would be futile. This is despite having a brain tumour which needs further investigation and treatment and which causes headaches, dizzyness and extreme fatigue after the least effort.

Had I gone to the law centre to start with, I probably would have got extra advice that would hav gained me some of the points needed, though fortunately I was given some advice concerning benefits my partner is entitled to, which should help a bit.

[cyberdynee101]

Incapacity Benefit And Income Support Are To Be Scrapped Over The Next Year!

[cyberdynee101]

ESA. There are 2 different kinds!
Were you rejected for both?
Whatever, you Must Appeal and Appeal Again To A Tribunal!
Good Luck!

[factor-fiction]

Why, cyberdynee101? Do you take the view that all these benefits are an entitlement and must be fought for and fought for so that claimants can continue on benefits? Whilst we need to help those unfortunate to be out of work we should encourage people to look for work not give up, to make financial savings not expect the state to pay for everything, and save money in good times so that money can be found for food when times are harder.

[lcg]

i work full time and mr kicker gets dla and esa...neither are means tested. dla is concerned with the level of care you need and mobility issues and esa is paid if you are unable to work. as you say you have claimed ib for some time, it is likely you will qualify for esa, although the tests are harder. i would seek professional advice (either cab, mind or other organisations depending on your disability) for advice and support in filling claim forms out. you do have to put things in a certain way to pass the 'points test' when applying. good luck x

[hayley_maree2007]

i would love to go back to work but my illness stops me. even if my illness allowed me to work, there are very few jobs out there and too many people looking fo one. my husband was laid off 2 weeks ago, he is a qualified plumber and has sent his cv off to company we can think of he even went to the army careers centre. he has applied for shop work and even tesco. thats how bad everything is right now. when he does ventually get a job and i have lost ib he will then have to pay for everything, we were struggling as it was , we never were able to go out. we hardly have any food in our 1 bedroom council flat. he was unable to pay to fix his car as cam belt is going and brakes are rusting, wont pass mot next month. if the goverment trying to crack down on benfits why make it hard for the people that do work. by the seems of things my husband and i would be better off if he stayed on jsa as i would the be intitled to esa, housing and council tax benefit.

[Keleez]

I would do anything to go back to work but like you, this is impossible for me, so people just dont understand what its like to have an illness that basically wrecks your life and rules every move you make, dont let thtose people get to you, just ignore them, as for your husband, maybe he should start up a business as a plumber on his own, there are so many companies right now who want to train people to be plumbers that the jobs are out there...but other plumbers are not hiring, and its not because of lack of work, i know 8 plumbers who are so booked up they ignore their phones when they ring, they dont want to employ anyone else as they want the money for themselves incase anything happens to them or their families, unfortunately this is the way of the world at the moment, most people just think of themselves, tell your husband to advertise his services in the local newsagents window...it doesnt cost much, and if he keeps his rates down the work will start to come in slowly but surely...also he is entitled to a social fund loan until he gets his JSA...he needs to ring the local income support number as soon as they open in a morning and explain why he needs a loan and how much for...if they agree to give him the loan he will get it the same day, i know this because i know someone that works for the benefits agency. If he doesnt want to telephone, tell him to go to his local job centre and tell them he needs a social fund loan for emergencies and explain why and they will tell him what to do. Unfortunately what you say is very true, sometimes it is better if he stays on jsa, but if he can get off it i suggest that he does...make your appointment with the CAB and also get in touch with your local Law centre as Postdog suggested for extra advice, there are thousands of forums on the web full of people screwed over my the benefits agency, but some of them also have helpful advice it just takes a lot of trawling through.