Insist Dwp pay him assessment rate while appealing and make sure your doctor knows he can write 'fit' notes for him due to the appeal.

I have heard some doctors refusing to give sick/fit notes on advice from dWP you need to tell your GP they can still provide one while you are appealing. You may also need to 'tell/ask/ Dwp to pay you assessment rate & hardship payments or other things may be available.

Just to let you know job points are being phased out in the next few months and being replaced with shiny new computers...(told this at jobcentre).

So sorry to hear of all the stress your father is going through, I hope everything can get sorted out. Here are some links you might find helpful http://dwpexamination.org/ http://thefullfacts.com/esa/forum/viewforum.php?f=1&sid=964321fa441f1747ebac09aaddd2447c http://forum.chronicfatiguesyndrome.me.uk/index.php?action=printpage;topic=14795.0 Keep going, he is lucky to have you supporting him.

http://www.cpag.org.uk/sites/default/files/CPAG_factsheet_UC_April%202013.pdf

You didn't mention either how everything is supposed to be administered on line & with 'real time' technology - and initial trials were scaled back,and even being doing manually. Fun times! (not!)

http://www.taxpayersagainstpoverty.org.uk/the-government-is-creating-unmanageable-debt-and-hunger/(discretionary payments) and http://www.taxpayersagainstpoverty.org.uk/what-councils-dont-tell-you-about-the-enforcement-of-council-tax/ Councils will not tell you; 1. That they have the discretion to write off the tax for vulnerable and impoverished people under clause 10 (1) 13A (1) of the Local Government Finance Act 2012. It is necessary for the council tax benefit claimant to write a letter to the council setting out their financial circumstances, all debts, and all relevant information such as health/disability. Payment of the bedroom tax, rent due to the overall benefit tax and the rent due to the housing benefit tax would be relevant. 2. That the bottom line is the income left after rent and council tax needed for food, fuel, clothes, transport and other necessities; that has to be a reasonable amount if councils (and jobcentres) abide by the Wednesbury Principles as required by law and endorsed by coalition ministers. 3.That page 9 of the National Standards for Enforcement Agents, published by the Ministry of Justice in 2012, sets out a procedure for bailiffs to return vulnerable cases from the door step to all creditors, including councils for council tax and courts for fines. A change of circumstances since the debt, fine or council tax arrears were incurred is another reason for applying page 9 procedure. 4. That Ministers from the DWP, the DCLG and the MOJ all stated during the passage of the Acts of Parliament, which are creating such misery, how concerned they were for vulnerable people; see their statements as recorded in Hansard in the attached file. Councils and Jobcentres should be reminded that is the coalitions policy; even though crocodile’s tears come to mind. The details are on the TAP website on this PDF ENFORCEMENT OF ARREARS, OVERPAYMENTS AND FINES IN THE WAKE OF WELFARE REFORM AND IN THE CONTEXT OF AUSTERITY. (1)

You used to only be expected to take a job if you were going to be better off doing it too, I'm not sure if that still applies?

Is the estate now settled probate wise? Money transferred to your own account? I would have thought the money would need to be in your own name for the DWP to reassess your benefits, as before hand it was your dad's, not your own, and you were acting on his behalf, and until probate is properly sorted, debts/expenses paid & any money due to your dad also been claimed, it was not your money. As you say the DWP have said they do not have any claim on your dad's estate which is good.

You are still a carer, pastanutty, so same rules apply to you as before

hi pastanutty, i wouldn't worry too much about the partner bit, that will just be a standard letter..I hope you've got copies of everything to save time whenever the review comes up, it seems like the maximum you can get in support group is 3 years, but some people get given as little as 3 months. But it's great that you've got there and got the backdated money = no more Seetec!

Good news Pastanutty! Have they given you an idea of when the eSA is likely to be reviewed?

One thing that is possibly unfair is that 2 people are expected to live on less than 2x the rate for a single person eg on jsa, which is low enough anyway. Apparently this doesn't happen in other countries. And the amounts generally considered to be ok to live on are very low.

Income Support can come through quite quickly I understand although you would have to close your ESA claim down I think. If you're going to be assessed for income based esa the amount you would get would be the same under either, it's just the claimant will be your husband and not you. Get in touch with the council too, to explain what is happening. Have a look at this http://kickingtoryassonwelfare.wordpress.com/2013/03/ quite frankly I am at the moment tempted once my Incap ben stops to just claim carer's allowance, just to have less hassle.

I've just seen your other thread now, what a mess. The people taking ESA queries are only trained to follow a script and do not have all the information available to them. I'm just wondering if they are treating you almost as a new claim, would it make a difference if you could send in a 'fit' note from the GP? I really don't understand why they are not giving you any money at all.