"an amount the government feels is enough for you to live on" ???

[Watchoutdailyfail]

Trying to work out if it is worth applying for ESA. We should be getting full HB and CTB (as I have just found out, ages after we could have applied), but it says income related ESA is given if we have less than the money the government expects us to live on.

Any idea what this would be for a couple with one working adult on a low income, one disabled adult who can't work and two very young children?

Have you run your family details through this Benefits Checker as a first step? It's a good place to start and should point you in the direction of what is technically available.

Yes, but it doesn't include ESA income based, only contributions based. I tried it without DH and everything...

Yep, I do.

So, does that £200 include housing benefit, DLA, Tax credits etc? Or just income from wages?

(we are well below that - DH has to be availiable to care for me, so he can only work part time)

I get middle rate care and lower mobility, if that is relevant...

I got DLA renewed and increased with no fuss, I think the odd sectioning does that for you.

I have a specialist in my condition who doesn't think I should work, and that it would actively make me worse, if that would help?

Last time I got esa, I just had a doctors note. Although I was heavily pregnant at the time, and my MP gave them a bit of a bollocking for dragging thier feet.

Ah, god knows. Worth a try though, eh? Would be lovely to be able to go to the support groups etc that I need without worrying if I can afford the bus fare and 50p for coffee.

Thats something I suppose. Meh. It is crazy to have to try and explain years of complex illness in half an hour to a stranger.