Help With Benefit

[Giggsie]

Not sure where I was meant to post this but here goes. Can anyone point us in any direction regarding help about this situation. My brother who has worked for 45years since he left school has now been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis which they cannot get a stable medication for him. He had a bad reaction to sulphasalazine and ended up in hospital twice. He has now been off work for a year (never in all his working years had he been off) he receives £71 of a benefit out of which he pays his rent he is left with only £6 odds to live on surely this can't be right. Does any body know of any other benefit or help he can get. thanks

[mrs_overall]

What about Disability Living Allowance?

[Buenchico]

£71 per week is the amount paid as Jobseeker's Allowance or (more likely) Employment Support Allowance. However your post makes no reference to Local Housing Allowance (a.k.a. the old name of 'Housing Benefit').

Start by using the LHA bedroom calculator:
https://lha-direct.voa.gov.uk/bedroomcalculator.aspx

That data can then be entered in the LHA calculator:
https://lha-direct.voa.gov.uk/search.aspx

With that information to hand, start here to find ALL benefits that your brother might qualify for:
https://www.gov.uk/benefits-adviser

Chris

[Noth43]

Shouldn't he qualify for Employment Support Allowance? I think that currently stands at about £98 a week. If you get ESA you qualify for housing and council tax benefit as well.

[Giggsie]

thanks for replies. yes it is ESA he is on now as his sick pay stopped at 28weeks. Also that is housing benefit but the difference he has to pay he only has £6 left. Cannot seem to get anything else as still classed as employed. Will have a look at these links thanks

[furrypusscat]

Get in touch with CAB or Welfare Rights office in the area and ask for their advice. Disability Living Allowance may be a possibility if he needs help with personal care or getting around. They would help in filling out necessary forms.

[lcg]

you can get housing benefit and council tax benefit if you are employed but on a low income. he needs to apply now and backdate the claim as far as possible. good luck x

[Giggsie]

thanks all for help will try tomorrow and see if can get help at cab just so feel for him when he has worked hard all his life.As he says what he did have saved is going down by having to use it for past year hence now looking for other means.