Could we be entitled to anything else?

[Toli]

Bit of a backstory here...

DH used to work full-time, I currently work part-time. DH gave up work because he physically can't do it anymore. He has an auto-immune disease and is in great pain every day, even with the medication/painkillers he takes. He went through the application for PIP and was successful to an extent. He qualifies for standard daily living. I really did think he'd get at least standard mobility too as that's one of the main problems for him working- currently, he can't walk for more than five minutes without being in a lot of pain and even then he has to hold onto the pram; you can physically see he walks strangely. He also needs help getting in and out of the bath etc.

Anyway, he qualified for standard PIP which is £58.70 a week. This obviously doesn't go very far. I only work part-time (three days) as he couldn't physically watch DC for five full days a week and atm, he can sometimes only do one or MIL (very kindly) offers to watch D.C. because she knows he physically can't always do it. He's sore and some of the medication he takes can wipe him out for days physically. I'm also about ready to pop with DC2 any day now so will be going on mat leave.

We do get UC but not a lot. With my wage/UC/PIP, we are really struggling. Not only that, we're soon going to lose my wage and I don't think I qualify for MAT pay even if I did, things are so tight just now that it'd still be really hard. Is there anything else that DH might be entitled to that he may be missing out on? TIA

I can't help with what your DH is entitled to. But could you contact your local council or CAB. I know our council has benefit advisors who help you find out what you are entitled too and fill in the forms.
Also if you aren't entitled to SMP would you be entitled to Maternity Allowance. It's not much but it may help. www.gov.uk/maternity-allowance

If he can walk more than 200m (which I find ridiculous) then no mobility award will be give, five minutes is probably well over that. If you earn under about £120 you could apply for carer's allowance.

Use turn2us or similar to get a benefits check. Does he not qualify for esa? Mobility element is hard to get, we only managed it on appeal

That sounds tough OP.

Off the top of my head:

Get in touch with the charity Maternity Action who are a great resource and offer advice on all benefits. They have an advice line.

Do you not receive working tax credits or is this linked in with your UC?

Could DH possibly retrain into a less physical role? There might be financial grants available to support this.

Often online forums linked to his specific condition can be a really good source of information.

Thank you so much for your replies, I thought I was going to get flamed 

I can contact my local CAB to see if they can help, I don't qualify for MA either @toriaplum - I really don't know what's going to happen in two weeks when I leave 

@Walnutwhipster I know, mobility isn't easy for him at all and whilst I appreciate that five minutes is over that, it's still a struggle but I know that it doesn't fit the exact criteria.

@slingthegin thank you for your reply
Because we get UC, that incorporates any tax credits I believe? Re DH- at the moment it's not possible. He's on new medication which will be reviewed after a while however he needs to be able to do very specific exercises/stretches (mainly lying down in some positions) a few times a day to try and help, and I don't think it'll be able to be accommodated in a job.

Can you get carers allowance? I don't know how it works for adults but assuming you look after him you could get it subject to how many hours you work. Might be worth a check.

Have you looked at attendance and carers allowance

Has your dh been assessed for work capability on UC - has he ever been for an assessment as if he was awarded the LCWRA element of Uc then that would be an extra £336.20 on your Uc each month. You could claim the carers element of UC even if your earnings are over the threshold as long as you care for him for 35 hours a week - if you don't get this element then declare yourself as a carer by making a change on your journal. This would give you an extra £160 on your UC monthly. You maybe should have asked for a mandatory reconsideration of the PIP decision at the time, you could report a change in circumstances if his condition has got worse but the whole award would be looked at so it is a risk.

Also if you did claim maternity allowance you need to be aware that it would just be deducted pound for pound from your Uc anyway so you may not be any better off financially.

You're entitled to carers allowance which could then add more money to UC claim.

You'll get more UC and extra CB when child arrives.

You could only claim carers allowance if your earnings were below £123 per week. You can claim carers element of Uc regardless of income.

I would appeal the PIP decision to try to get the mobility component. The appeals panels are generally much more sympathetic than the DWP assessors.

I earn over £123 a week- can I still claim carers allowance?

You can claim carers allowance and get an underlying entitlement to it but you won't get any money at more than £123

So would it be worth applying for carers?

Does your partner qualify for ESA?

DH is my carer for far more than 35 hours a week and only works part time now but he can't claim it because he earns over £123. I'm fortunate to get both at enhanced and have a trust. Please contact some specialist groups. Some of the info you're getting is wrong.

Off the top of my head - if you don't qualify for SMP you may get Maternity Allowance, this will be deducted £ for £ from UC (but some people likes that it pays more frequently than UC)

You could apply for Carers Allowance - same as MA it's deducted £ for £

You can report yourself as caring for your DH on your UC claim - this will add a Carers Element of £150ish a Month

Your DH should be submitting Fit Notes to UC and will eventually be asked to attend a Work Capability Assessment. If he is found to have Limited Capability for Work and work related activity you will get a £300-odd premium on your UC (just be aware you won't get both the LCWRA Element and Carers Element - it's one or the other unless you both have LCWRA and are both Carers). I would suggest asking the Assessor to consider the Severe Conditions criteria.

As he has a recently been employed he may be able to apply for new style ESA. Again, this is deducted £ for £ from UC but it can tend to work out slightly better if awarded LCWRA (called Support Group under ESA)

I would ask for a Mandatory Reconsideration of the PIP award. The Benefits and Work website can be helpful for this if you don't want to do it "alone" / can't get to CAB etc

Make sure you have Council Tax Reduction in place

Apply for Healthy Start vouchers if you are eligible (and if not at this very point in time, apply again when you go on Mat Leave)

Some Utility Companies offer discount / low income rates - check online for yours and see what they can offer.

What's your Housing situation at the moment?

Oh, and meant to say if he's already been assessed under UC and only been put in the Limited Capability for Work (LCW) group there is no longer any extra for this. You can of course ask for a Mandatory Reconsideration of this decision (next step, for all, is Appeal)