Where to turn

[scoobydoo]

my DIL has AS and claims PIP . She is self employed and working from home but at the moment because of the drugs she is on and the pain she is struggling to cope with the children and the job and her GP has said she should really give up working or get more help with the children . She can’t change her hours if she keeps the job and paying achildminder would cancel out what she earns .The benefits system still seems very complicated is there anywhere she could go to find out what she could be entitled to . They are in such a tight budget and she can’t really afford to give up work but it’s affecting her health and she needs to speak to someone really . Citizens advice any good ? I hear varying reports about them ?

[Setmefree3]

Hi Scoobydoo. Is DIL on high rate PIP care? If her doctors has suggested giving up work then she should also consider claiming ESA.

[scoobydoo]

I am not sure which rate I will check . Is this one of the benefits that might be replaced by universal credit ? She might be able to transfer her tax allowance which might help a bit as well . But also my two grandchildr n have medical problems so they need two cars so she can take them for appointments. She has fibromyalgia as well which makes things difficult. She has two GP telling her she needs to give up work but it’s hard to know how they will make ends meet.

[Setmefree3]

Income related ESA will go over to universal credit as far I I know. ESA is subject to a medical, a claim can be made over the phone. More details on the gov.uk website. There are two groups in ESA at the moment, one is work related and the other support group, so permitted work is allowed in some cases. If DIL has a care award with PIP then she can also look into carers allowance, and if partner is not working and children are under 5 possibly income support.

(entitled to) website can also be helpful.

[scoobydoo]

Thank you . That’s what she wants really she loves her work so if she could get help with child care that would help her a lot . Its the drugs she is on that make her so tired .

[Setmefree3]

Go onto the gov.uk and search free childcare.
30 hours free childcare

You may be able to get up to 30 hours free childcare (1,140 hours per year, which you can choose how you take).

If you’re eligible for the extra hours, you sign up online to get a code to give to your childcare provider to reserve your place. You’ll get the extra hours once the next term starts.

If you’ve already registered, you can sign in to your childcare account. Eligibility

You can usually get 30 hours free childcare if you (and your partner, if you have one) are:

• in work - or getting parental leave, sick leave or annual leave
• each earning at least the National Minimum Wage or Living Wage for 16 hours a week - this is £125.28 if you’re over 25

This earnings limit does not apply if you’re self-employed and started your business less than 12 months ago.

[scoobydoo]

She gets free pre school for the eldest unfortunately her work hours are after he returns so she has to try and work and look after them if her husband is not there .

[Setmefree3]

Look into the carer side of things, might help DIL in different ways. A carer can be a friend,family member etc. Hope this helps, good luck.
Eligibility

The person you care for

The person you care for must already get one of these benefits:

• Personal Independence Payment - daily living component
• Disability Living Allowance - the middle or highest care rate
• Attendance Allowance
• Constant Attendance Allowance at or above the normal maximum rate with an Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
• Constant Attendance Allowance at the basic (full day) rate with a War Disablement Pension
• Armed Forces Independence Payment

Your eligibility

You must earn no more than £120 a week after tax and expenses. Expenses can include some of your pension contributions - and some of the costs of caring for your children or the disabled person while you’re at work.

All of the following must also apply:

• you’re 16 or over
• you spend at least 35 hours a week caring for someone
• you’ve been in England, Scotland or Wales for at least 2 of the last 3 years (this doesn’t apply if you’re a refugee or have humanitarian protection status)
• you normally live in England, Scotland or Wales, or you live abroad as a member of the armed forces
• you’re not in full-time education
• you’re not studying for 21 hours a week or more
• you’re not subject to immigration control

[Setmefree3]

You may be awarded the Disability Element of Working Tax Credit if you or your partner (if you have one) has a disability and usually work 16 hours or more a week. There are 3 conditions you must meet to be awarded the disability element of Working Tax Credit

This element is an important one for disabled people as it provides extra income.

You can’t claim tax credits and Universal Credit at the same time. Working Tax Credit Rates from April 2017 - 2018.

	2017-18
	£ a year
Basic element	1,960.00
Couple and lone parent element	2,010.00
30 hour element	up to 810.00
Disabled worker element	up to 3000.00
Severe disability element (usually paid on top of the disability payment)	1,290.00
Childcare element
You pay for approved childcare
1 child	Up to 122.50 a week
2 or more children	Up to 210.00 a week

Condition 1

You usually work for 16 hours or more a week. Condition 2

You have a disability that puts you at a disadvantage in getting a job

Details of the disabilities which count to meet this condition are given below.

They relate to a wide range of things, for example
• physical disability
• visual impairment
• hearing impairment
• other disability
• illness or accident
Condition 3

You currently get, or have been getting, a qualifying sickness or disability benefit. You need to satisfy one of the qualifying benefit conditions below
.If you do not meet all 3 conditions you will not be entitled to the disability element of Working Tax Credit. Qualifying benefit conditions

You will meet this condition if you are getting, or have been getting, one of he following sickness or disability-related benefits at the specified rate and can satisfy the qualifying conditions. Council Tax Benefit or Council Tax Reduction Scheme

You get this benefit which includes a Disability Premium or Higher Pensioner Premium because of your own disability. To meet this condition you need to get
this benefit for at least 1 of the 182 days before you claimed the disability element of Working Tax Credit
Employment & Support Allowance (ESA)

You get contribution-based or income-based ESA. To meet this condition you needto either:• have been getting ESA or Statutory Sick Pay for at least 1 of the 182 days before you claimed the disability element and entitlement has existed for a period of 28 weeks immediately preceding that day (see Note 1 below)

• have been getting ESA for a period of 140 qualifying days, with the last day of receipt falling within the 56 days before you claimed the disability element (see Note 1 on below)


– where your disability is likely to last for at least 6 months or the rest of your life

– where your gross earnings are at least 20% less than they were before the disability began, with a minimum reduction of £15 (gross) a week

You get contributory ESA. To meet this condition, you need to have been training for work for at least 1 day in the 56 days before you claimed the disability element of Working Tax Credit. It also needs to be within 56 days before the first day of that period of training for work where you got contributory ESA for a period of 28 weeks
Housing Benefit

You get Housing Benefit which includes a Disability Premium or Higher Pensioner Premium because of your own disability. To meet this condition you need to receive this benefit for at least 1 of the 182 days before you claimed the disability element of Working Tax Credit (see Note 1 below). Incapacity Benefit

You get Incapacity Benefit at the lower rate short-term. You meet this condition if all the following apply

.• You have been getting this benefit for 140 days or more, with the last day of receipt falling within the 56 days before you claimed the disability element of
Working Tax Credit (see Note 2 below).

• Your disability is likely to last for at least 6 months or the rest of your life

• Your gross earnings are at least 20% less than they were before the disabilitybegan, with a minimum reduction of £15 (gross) a weekYou get Incapacity Benefit at the higher rate short-term or long-term rate. To meet
this condition you need to

:• have been getting this benefit for at least 1 of the 182 days before you claimedthe disability element of Working Tax Credit

• have been training for work for at least 1 day in the 56 days before you claimed the disability element of Working Tax and within 56 days before the first day of that period of training for work, you got this benefit Income Support

You get Income Support which includes a Disability Premium or Higher PensionerPremium because of your own disability. To meet this condition you need to have
been getting this benefit for at least 1 of the 182 days before you claimed the disability element of Working Tax Credit.You get Income Support on account of incapacity for work. You meet this condition if
all the following apply.

• You have been getting Income Support for a period of 140 qualifying days and wherethe last of those fell within 56 days before you claimed the disability element of Working Tax Credit (see Note 2 below)

• Your disability is likely to last for at least 6 months or the rest of your life• Your gross earnings are at least 20% less than they were before the disability began,with a minimum reduction of £15 (gross) a week Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance

You get income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance which includes a Disability Premium or Higher Pensioner Premium. To meet this condition you need to get this benefit for at least 1 of the preceding 182 days. National Insurance Credits

You get these credits on account of having a limited capability for work or on account of incapacity for work. You meet this condition if all the following apply

.• You have been getting these credits for a period of 20 weeks, and where the last of those fell within the 56 days before you claimed the disability element of
Working Tax Credit (see Note 2 below).

• Your disability is likely to last for at least 6 months or the rest of your life

• Your gross earnings are at least 20% less than they were before the disability began, with a minimum reduction of £15 (gross) a week

You get these credits because you have a limited capability for work credit awarded, as your 12 month entitlement to contribution-based Employment and
Support Allowance has run out. To meet this condition you need to either:

• have been getting these credits for at least 1 of the 182 days before you claimed the disability element of Working Tax Credit• have been training for work for at least 1 day in the 56 days before you claimedthe disability element of Working Tax Credit and within 56 days before the first day of that period of training for work, you got these credits Occupational Sick Pay (OSP)

You get Occupational Sick Pay. You meet this condition if all the following apply.

• You have been getting this benefit for 140 days or more, with the last day ofreceipt falling within the 56 days before you claimed the disability element of
Working Tax Credit (see Note 2 below)

• Your disability is likely to last for at least 6 months or the rest of your life • Your gross earnings are at least 20% less than they were before the disability began, with a minimum reduction of £15 (gross) a week Severe Disablement Allowance

You get Severe Disablement Allowance. To meet this condition you need to either

:• have been getting this benefit for at least 1 of the 182 days before you claimed the disability element of Working Tax Credit

• have been training for work for at least 1 day in the 56 days before you claimed the disability element of Working Tax Credit and within 56 days before the first day of that period of training for work, you got Severe Disablement Allowance Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)

You get Statutory Sick Pay. To meet this condition you need to either

:• have been getting this benefit for 140 days or more, with the last day of receiptfalling within the 56 days before you claimed the disability element of
Working Tax Credit (see Note 2 below)

– your disability is likely to last for at least 6 months or the rest of your life

– your gross earnings are at least 20% less than they were before the disability began, with a minimum reduction of £15 (gross) a week

• have been getting SSP followed by contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance for a combined period of 28 weeks or more and have been training for work for at least 1 day in the 56 days before you claimed the disability element Working Tax Credit

You get Working Tax Credit which includes a Disability element. You qualify if you have been entitled to the disability element of Working Tax Credit in the 56 days before your claim for the disability element by satisfying the qualifying conditions under one of the sickness or disability-related benefits, or by getting Disabled Person’s Tax Credit, at some earlier time*.

.* The period ‘some earlier time’ can allow continuing entitlement to the disability element long after the qualifying sickness or disability-related benefit stopped
being paid.Other benefits Other benefits

You meet the qualifying condition if you are currently getting 1 of the
following benefits

• Attendance Allowance

• Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payment or Armed Forces
Independence Payment

• Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit with a mobility supplement
or a constant attendance allowance

• War pension with a mobility supplement or a constant attendance allowance

• Invalid carriage scheme and you have an invalid carriage or other vehicle provided under the Invalid Vehicle Scheme