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Original poster

what can my brother claim in benefits?

13 replies

adviceplease4567 · 20/02/2019 17:17

Hi all, posting for traffic on behalf of my brother, I am really worried about him.

He left home at 17, he's always been easily influenced, getting himself in trouble (not legally) and just was a bit of a tw*t. He is now 34. I am his much younger sister.
We are polar opposites.

My parents are both unwell, they wouldn't let him move in with them as his lifestyle doesn't work for them with their illness.

My brother has never claimed benefits, he's done ad hoc work to survive in graphics but he is a manic depressive. At the moment he is very suicidal. We each had a small amount of money passed to us when my grandparents died, he has now spent all this to pay rent/top up income.

He's getting worse and desperate and I want to help. He has no credit score, never had a credit card. Mostly always dealt in cash. Is very financially uneducated.

So I have no doubts he will be written off work/declared unfit by the doctor as he just is in such a bad depression. I think he may be bipolar but of course, not a doctor, can't diagnose.

If he were to be declared unfit for work by a doctor what happens next? Can he claim any benefit?

We've never had to claim and I'm financially independent but just currently don't have the money to help.

OP posts:
PARunnerGirl · 20/02/2019 17:22

Hi- this will depend very much on his situation, but ESA, PIP and universal credit may be options. The best thing for him to do will be to drop into a Citizens Advice office. You can google your nearest one. Perhaps you could help him/ go with him. They will get him on the right path.

hazell42 · 20/02/2019 17:24

I would suggest he goes to see a welfare rights advisor, or if he wont go you might be able to talk to them on his behalf

I would say he would be able to claim universal credit, possibly pip and maybe even carers allowance if he helps to look after his parents and housing benefit if he rents. But everyone's circumstances are different so no one can tell you for definite.

Original poster
adviceplease4567 · 20/02/2019 17:26

I'm just panicking a bit, I don't live close enough to go with him and he's a little bit useless. I am starting by filling out all the forms for him. He just won't go into CA and I know he won't, he's like a child sometimes. I can go back to not caring about his annoyingness once I ensure he has enough to live on! :(

OP posts:
unweavedrainbow · 20/02/2019 17:27

It sounds like he needs to be in the MH system. Bipolar has to be diagnosed by a psychiatrist. If you make him/get him to make a GP appointment will he go along and tell the truth? The GP should refer him to him local MH team who will assess him, urgently if he's an acute risk to himself. Where's he living right now?

Original poster
adviceplease4567 · 20/02/2019 17:29

@unweaved he lives in rented private accommodation and I think he is going to struggle to meet this month's rent. But he has never missed rent before.

OP posts:
Sicario · 20/02/2019 17:36

I really feel for you. I've had a lot of issues with my brother, invested years of time, legal fees and more than a few tears, but the end result taught me that there is no helping someone who refuses to help themselves. I hope he will engage.

leigh39 · 20/02/2019 17:39

There are both income related benefits and contribution based benefits .. if he had worked and paid enough NI contributions in the last two tax years he can claim new style esa which is a sickness benefit paid on contributions... .. if this ain't the case he can claim universal credit which is the new benefit that replaced most income related legacy benefits and as part of that he can't claim the sickness part ( he will need a sick note and will be assessed and will receive a basic rate until he has an assessment .. Universal credit also covers housings cost so if he has his own place he can get help towards the rent ( amount is established on age and other factors )
If the area is a full service area ( unsure where you live ) he has to claim online and then attend the job centre with ID to complete his claim .. I've can ask at that appointment for an advance payment of UC ...

If he has mental health issues and other illness's or disabilities either physical or mental health that affect him daily he can claim personal independence payment .. you phone up and get the PIP2 form sent out and get a local advice agency or CAB to assist with this ... he will have to clam council tax reduction separately as this does not come under UC ..

I know this because o do this for a living so anymore advice please ask ;)

Original poster
adviceplease4567 · 20/02/2019 17:49

@leigh39 thank you so much!

Regarding council tax, he hasn't been getting the single person's deduction so I will apply for him to get a refund for that separately.

OK, so far what I've done since writing this post:

  1. done the entitledto forms to find out he should get around £150 a week
  2. he will have to claim UC
  3. told him to go to docs for sicknote
  4. set him up a new email for this kind of thing/financial things.

Once he has been set up on everything and I know he will get some money in, I will then give him the lecture he deserves :)

OP posts:
Original poster
adviceplease4567 · 20/02/2019 17:59

@leigh39 it asks on the UC form for his landlords address, I'm now worried if he claims that the landlord would quick him out for not accepting people on benefits?

OP posts:
leigh39 · 20/02/2019 18:08

Well done you .. he should be ok with a bit of support there are also services out there to assist with stuff like this and debt issues etc such as CAB or MIND which is a mental health organsation .. the £150 per week will probably included is rent as standard UC basic rate is usually 316 per month .. just to be aware that he is responsible for paying his own rent to his landlord unless it's deemed he is not capable to do so then UC will pay diirectly to landlord

Gingerkittykat · 20/02/2019 18:14

Make sure he gets a sick note, UC are brutal about making people jobsearch 35 hours a week and a sicknote would turn that off.

He should get an advance on UC which would be a months worth of his allowances.

leigh39 · 20/02/2019 18:21

Yes you must put the info re the landlord your brother can get the Rent payments paid to him it will come on one lump monthly amount .. of they don't give him enough to cover his rent as it's a set amount depending on age circumstances he will have to pay the shortfall , however you can apply for a DHP ( discretionary housing payment if he has good reason and that could meet the rest ... all go much info o guess ... but like I said if you want any advice I am here to help x

leigh39 · 20/02/2019 18:24

I wouldn't worry about the landlord yet at the end of the day he was paying rent , his circumstances have changed now ... the landlord if he did want him out would have to serve him a notice ... as long as the rent is getting paid he shouldn't have a problem really...

But check out Shelter website for advice on housing evictions and processes :)

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