Entitled to anything?

[Cheeseandwineandgin]

My husband has been unwell and out of work for 2 years but hasn't been claiming anything as I was earning a very good salary and we didn't need it. More recently I've changed jobs from self employed and earning very well to employed but still earning well just not as much. Our income now is £60000 per year. My husband is thinking about trying to get back to work, just part time to see how it goes and also to boost our income. My question is with my income being so high are we/is he entitled to anything like child benefit or working tax credit?

We are making steps to reduce our outgoings-one car is paid off next year and swapping the other for something cheaper.
I know I make much more than average and we are very lucky in that respect. Just wondered if there was anything else we could do to boost our income for a while.

With a salary of £60000 no, you are not entitled to anything. You will have to cut your outgoings.

No, your income is too high, but he may have been entitled to contribution based employment support allowance, but as this is based on previous years national insurance payments he may have left it too late. There is personal independence payments depending upon what his illness/disability is. You can find lots of info re these benefits on the CAB website or Disability Alliance website.

I suspected that would be the case. It is fair enough. We are luckier than most. Thanks for the information.

It's not true to say you wont be entitled to anything. if he has been working for many years and paid Ni contributions and then was too ill to work he could claim contributions based ESA or new style ESA if in a full service Universal credit area. However as it was a few years ago since he last worked and they look at NI contributions for the past two years ( so it would be 2017 & 2016). I'm not sure whether the time he didn't claim would now go against him. best to ask CAB or similar. Also if he has a long term disability he could look at the PIP criteria also. That is non means tested so your income would not prevent him claiming that.

Thanks for the advice. PIP might be applicable. Just worried about how stressful the process is.