My brother is self-employed, low wage, needs an operation. What's he entitled to?

[HeavenForfend]

My brother, a self-employed gardener, has terribly arthritic hips and has been booked in for a hip replacement early next month.

He earns little more than 10K a year, rents a room in a shared house and runs a van.

We have been told by the CAB that he will not be entitled to any benefits for the 3 months he will have to take off work. Is this true?

If he has no income and savings of under £16000 then he would be entitled to Housing benefit, council tax benefit and depending on his national insurance contributions, Statutory Sick Pay or Employment Support Allowance.

If he is older than the retirement age for a woman then he could apply for pension credit.

If he is under 65, has had mobility difficulties for 3 months and it is expected that they will continue for at least 6 months then he could get the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance.

Thanks, Lorn, have been looking at various websites and they all back up what you're saying.

I was when my mum came back from the CAB saying he was entitled to nothing. I think a spot of training might be in order.