Benefits after redundancy

[Ihaveausername]

Name changed for this as it contains personal information not widely known by friends and extended family. My dh (64) is about to be made redundant with last date of employment being this Friday. He will receive a payout. 2 weeks ago he suffered a stroke and is unable to work just now. When originally informed about the redundancy he was hoping to get a part time job to make this redundancy payment last until able to draw state pension (66). However that is not possible at the moment, although in time he may be able to do some kind of work when he has improved (walking and speech affected). If he was able to work I know at some point he would be able to claim Job Seekers. We have both worked most if not all of our adult lives so have no idea how to navigate benefits. I am not sure Universal credit is an option due to redundancy payment but may be in the future when this has all been spent.
Can anyone help with any advice or suggestions, most gratefully appreciated.

Would he be eligible for PIP? It’s worth applying.
He may be able to get Employment support allowance.
https://www.gov.uk/employment-support-allowance/eligibility

Can he take his work pension?

@Ihaveausername i am out of date but there are definitely contributory benefits and ill health is one reason why you may be eligible. I suggest you try CAB or even the local JobCentre/DWP.

He'll definitely be eligible for either new job seekers allowance)contributory) or esa (contributory) depending on whether it's assessed if he can work or not. Jsa lasts for 6 months, esa I think is longer. It's not a lot but it adds to the household kitty.

If the stroke team are involved they may be able to sign post you for advice, some teams have a social worker who helps in this area.
Could also try a benefits calculator.
Esa and pip may be available.
Blue badge, disabled bus pass may be suitable.
Has he got a pension could he claim on ill health grounds early retirement (may need to check its financially worth it?

As others have said contributions based ESA ( now called new style ESA) would be the benefit to claim. It can be claimed easily on the Gov.uk site, he will need a sick note.

He needs to claim PIP & ESA, if he gets awarded PIP, he won't have to go through the full assessment again due to his age. He needs to get his claim done before he is state pension age as after his 67th birthday, he will only be able to claim Attendance Allowance, which doesn't have a mobility element. Claiming these will passport him to things like a free boiler & home insulation, social tariff broadband & some cost of living payments. PIP alone is worth up to £172.75 per week. Look out copies of all hospital letters, prescription printouts etc, does he have a physiotherapist or occupational therapist supporting his recovery? They may be able to help support his application, or you could speak to the Stroke Association.

How much is the redundancy payment?

Do you have, between you and excluding your home if you own it, capital of more than £16,000?

Thank you all so much for help with this, we will look into everything suggested. @Bromptotoo savings and payment will take us over £16000.

Pip and contribution based esa don’t have a capital limit stopping you claim. Pip ignores all your savings ESA will take into account other income but only that of the claimant

As above, PIP and ESA claim are the way to go, job seekers isn't an option if he isn't able to seek work due to illness.

Savings need to be below 16k, so if you need to make any home improvements, new car, etc, might be worth paying for those things now to bring you below 16k.

Oh apparently the new style ESA doesn't take savings in to account, so no need to spend down the savings!

Contribution based ESA never did take savings into account.

Please don't delay claiming anything contribution based. The contribution they're talking about is national insurance contribution. As soon as he ceases work he stops paying NI from his wages. Rules used to say (my knowledge is out of date) that you had to have a full 52 week period of NI contributions prior to the claim. So people who dallied claiming JSA or ESA found they were entitled to zero because there was a gap in their contributions immediately prior to the claim. Then it comes down to whether the household income/savings disqualified them from income based benefits or not, which if their DP worked or they had a redundancy payment it often did. Put your claim in starting from his first day of unemployment (including weekend days regardless of whether he worked weekends or not), claims can't be backdated so don't add it to the to-do list and get round to it next week, do it right away.

PIP is not means tested. So household income and savings are irrelevant for that. It's based on how his medical condition affects his daily life and has nothing to do with his ability to work. It's possible for someone to be too sick to work but not sick enough to qualify as officially disabled and entitled to PIP. Look into how to fill in the form before you do so and be prepared to appeal if necessary.

@Ihaveausername @FairyDustAndUnicorns is right do not delay in making claims.