Need help, not sure where to start

[antone]

IS doesn't pay for children any more, but it used to. That's why there's still a dependent child rate listed, but it's only paid to people whose claims have been running since before the change was made.

 

So you can claim CA if you earn less than £100 per week after tax, NI, and costs related to caring for your husband while you're at work. This will be deducted from your IS if you claim that, but you would get the Carer Premium added on.

 

It would work like this - you would get the couple rate of IS, plus the Carer Premium. Then your CA, your husband's ESA©, and your wages less £20 per week would be deducted and you would be paid whatever is left. Being on IS also entitles you to free NHS prescriptions and dental care. Any Child Tax Credit you receive for your daughters would be unaffected by an IS claim.

[sirbob10]

Hi

 

Thanks for that.

 

It's not really worth it then at my wages, husbands ESA and Carers would be more than IS.

[sirbob10]

Hi

 

My husband was seen by ATOS last March and was placed in the Support Group for 1 year.

 

I called in December to find out when we would receive the forms and was told Feb/March as his assessment was due April.

 

I've called again today as we have received no forms only to be told that my husband has been placed in the support group until April 2016 but we haven't received any forms and he's had no assessment.

 

Is this normal?

[CerberusSco]

Sounds like it could be because the DWP have halted the fit for work tests (WCA) as ATOS want out of their government contract.

 

-Edit-

 

Try the Daily Record which is what I originally wanted to avoid.

 

Link

 

Mike Penning, minister for disabled people, finally admitted in the WOW debate yesterday that the DWP have suspended the sending of employment and support allowance (ESA) claimants to Atos for repeat medical assessments, as Benefits and Work revealed on Monday. He also did not deny the two year length of the suspension for those affected, which we disclosed on Wednesday.

 

On Monday we broke the news that the DWP have told staff that due to a growing backlog at Atos all current ESA claimants who have not already been referred to Atos will be left on the benefit, without further medical checks, until another company can be found to do repeat work capability assessments (WCAs). On Wednesday, following contact from a DWP insider, we also revealed that claimants due to be referred to Atos were being given a two year repreive.

 

Until yesterday, however, neither the government nor the DWP would confirm this information. But in the WOW debate yesterday, Kate Green MP asked Penning point blank about the issue [column 472] :

 

“My point is on the WCA, and I hope that the Minister will address the question that I and my hon. Friend the Member for Edinburgh East (Sheila Gilmore) raised about the suspension of reassessment of ESA claimants for the next two years. Will he tell us why the Department appears to have decided not to inform claimants or Members of Parliament about that?”

 

Penning responded:

 

“If we were to inform claimants and Members of Parliament about the minutiae of every single change in policy, we would be here a lot longer. As most Members know, I am not hugely party political, but I must point out that the previous Administration did not offer that level of information either. That is not how Governments work. We are trying to deal with the delays, and to ensure that people get what they are entitled to as quickly as possible and that nobody will be worse off while we are doing that. We are, however, in the middle of a really difficult negotiation with Atos over the WCA.”

 

Penning’s response is a welcome, but grudgingly given, confirmation of the news broken on Monday by Benefits and Work. However, it also displays his extraordinary lack of understanding of what it is like to be a sick or disabled claimant dreading the post arriving every day, for fear it will include a summons to an Atos medical. To actually know when your medical is likely to happen is not ‘minutiae’, it is a matter of enormous importance.

 

The suspension of referrals does not, unfortunately, affect claimants who have already been referred to Atos by the DWP. As Atos made clear on their website yesterday, having been inundated with calls about this issue:

 

“Any WCA repeat referrals that we have already received from DWP will also continue through the WCA process as they would before.

 

“You can normally tell that this process has started because you receive a Limited Capability for Work questionnaire, or ESA50. You should still return forms, supply additional evidence or attend appointments for a face to face assessment as necessary.”

 

ATOS

[45002]

Sounds like it could be because the DWP have halted the fit for work tests (WCA) as ATOS want out of their government contract.

 

Link 1 B&W

 

Seems they have been suspended for 2 years Link 2B&W

 

Those links keep going to Micky Mouse "Honest"

 

Could a passing Orange person edited them for poster ...

[Nystagmite]

Sounds like it could be because the DWP have halted the fit for work tests (WCA) as ATOS want out of their government contract.

 

Link 1 B&W

 

Seems they have been suspended for 2 years Link 2B&W

 

Just to inform you, CAG appears to have changed your links to a different website, Disney.

[CerberusSco]

I have a feeling that's down to Benefits & Work website.

 

My apologies.

 

Should be sorted now. No need for an admin to change either as I can just as easily do it myself.

[citizenB]

We do not permit links to that particular website - I am pretty certain this has been mentioned previously. Any attempt at linking will be auto directed to the Disney site.

[45002]

Just to inform you, CAG appears to have changed your links to a different website, Disney.

 

Is this to do with that "paid for forum"

 

Sounds like it could be because the DWP have halted the fit for work tests (WCA) as ATOS want out of their government contract.

 

 

 

Try the Daily Record which is what I originally wanted to avoid.

 

Going back to OP post

 

It's because ATOS don't want to do medicals any more and DWP was placed review's on hold for the time beaning ....

[CerberusSco]

We do not permit links to that particular website - I am pretty certain this has been mentioned previously. Any attempt at linking will be auto directed to the Disney site.

 

My apologies, I wasn't aware of this.

[antone]

Is this to do with that "paid for forum"

 

 

 

 

Yes - links to commercial advice sites are not permitted.

 

As to the original topic, I think the posters have it right. While Atos will continue to do new referrals, complete those already in progress and take new referrals where there has been a change in the claimant's condition, they won't be doing routine renewals.

 

Of course, that might change in the future, so I'd suggest OP's husband should simply not panic and see what happens.

[antone]

My apologies, I wasn't aware of this.

 

No biggie.

[45002]

Yes - links to commercial advice sites are not permitted.

 

As to the original topic, I think the posters have it right. While Atos will continue to do new referrals, complete those already in progress and take new referrals where there has been a change in the claimant's condition, they won't be doing routine renewals.

 

Of course, that might change in the future, so I'd suggest OP's husband should simply not panic and see what happens.

 

Who needs paid advice anyway, when we got you antone

[CerberusSco]

I despise B&W for that reason. I didn't want to link to the press for obvious reasons. I managed to find the ATOS blog about it in the end though.

 

Made me chuckle how the B&W link went to Disney's site though, quite apt really.

[sirbob10]

Hi

 

I'm looking for some advice.

 

I work part time earning £10000 per year. My husband is on ESA SG and received DLA MR care and LR mobility. We also have 3 daughters under 16.

 

We pay a mortgage on our home but due to not having much money we can't afford to do any work to it so we were thinking of handing the keys back to the mortgage company and private renting.

 

What I'd like to know Is would I be entitled to housing benefit. I went online and it says yes but what's would be the position if I've handed the keys back and asked for it to be repossessed.

 

Many thanks

[BankFodder]

I don't know what the answer is on the benefits - but I hope that you realise that the house will be sold at an undervalue and the lender will come after you for the outstanding balance.

[sirbob10]

Yes I understand that but it has to be better than how we are living at the moment.

 

We have debts that we know we can never pay in full.

 

We have a mortgage, secured loan, charging order and numerous other debts and when interest rates start rising we are going to struggle more than we do now.

[antone]

From a benefit point of view yes, you could claim Housing Benefit at the appropriate LHA rate for your area. The fact that you have handed back the keys on your existing house will not disqualify you.

 

It sounds like your husband's ESA is contribution based, is that correct?

[sirbob10]

Hi

 

Yes it is CB. He's been on ESA since Sept 2012.

 

We already get council tax benefit but as we have a mortgage we don't get help with paying it.

[BankFodder]

Well if it really is that bad and you are going to give up your house then you should consider bankruptcy - which would put an end to all the misery and the sacrifice and you can start again with a clean slate.

[antone]

Well if it really is that bad and you are going to give up your house then you should consider bankruptcy - which would put an end to all the misery and the sacrifice and you can start again with a clean slate.

 

Yes, and for reference, bankruptcy would not affect any benefit entitlement.

[antone]

Hi

 

Yes it is CB. He's been on ESA since Sept 2012.

 

We already get council tax benefit but as we have a mortgage we don't get help with paying it.

 

Right, so if it's only ESA© then you can't get mortgage help under most circumstances. The exception would be if his ESA(IR) and ESA© amounts are the same and he gets C because that takes precedence. But since you work, I'm guessing that's not the case.

[sirbob10]

Hi

 

I'm not really asking a question but was wondering if anyone else is in the same boat.

 

I'm married with 3 daughters under 16. My husband has been ill for some time and received ESA (SG), DLA Middle Rate Care and Low Rate Mobility. We live in our own home which we pay the mortgage. I work 24 hours per week.

 

I've just been told that due to receiving £3 per week WTC I've lost my entitlement for free school meals worth £30 per week to me. As I own my home I'm not entitled to help with my mortgage payments but if I were to live in a rented home I'd receive housing benefit.

 

I'm starting to wonder what's the point in working as I'm worse off. Even the lady at our council asked why I bother working.

[bcham]

for you with 3 kids theres no point ,unless you can get a job for say £15 an hour.

[citizenB]

It does seem very unfair, sadly it is people like the young mother in the article below that makes it bad for people like yourself who are not trying to buck the system and struggling to survive

 

 

 

 

'It's my money and I can do what I want!' Meet the shameless single mother who says she lives a 'blessed life' on benefits and will only get a job if it pays £5,000 a MONTH

 

Steph Cocker, 24, from Sheffield is unemployed and on benefits

She lives with her two young sons and gets paid £330 a week

 

Says she would only get a job if it paid £5,000 a month - £60,000 a year

Boyfriend Nathan, who is also unemployed, lives next door

Arrangement allows Steph to claim extra cash for being a single parent

 

 

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2672120/Its-money-I-I-want-Meet-tattooed-single-mother-says-lives-blessed-life-benefits-job-pays-5-000-MONTH.html#ixzz36EFcWsTo