I need to claim ESA due to disability, please can someone advise on husband earnings as I don't understand

[Helpneededplease9283]

Looking for advice. Is there anywhere that can advise me in real life? Citizens advice possibly?
I currently work part time, I have a degenerative back problem that I have just been awarded enhanced pip for. It effects my life every day and I am not exaggerating it in any way, I really cannot work anymore. I am in extreme amounts of pain when I'm there and I am off sick a lot. I need to finish and I believe I can claim ESA as I have national insurance contributions.
I have never claimed benefits before so don't know anything about them.
My husband is also off work on long term/permanent sick from a senior management level career. He gets enhanced pip aswell and also his company had payment protection insurance for him so he is being paid 50% of his total wage each month until retirement.
I don't know how this effects any claim I would make? Is his income classed as the 50% as that's what he actually gets? He is still classed as employed i believe but we don't really know anything about it.
Does his earnings effects what ESA I can claim? I would hope to get into the not looking for work category.
I presume I need to finish work first, then put a claim in, and go from there? What do i do for money in the meantime?
Sorry for so many questions but I am clueless and i don't want to give up my job if I may not qualify

Its 10 years ago since I went through this process (so not sure of how it is now) but dont resign from your job (and get advice before you do anything).
I was dismissed on ill health grounds, by the time of dismissal I was on basic sick pay and was able to apply for esa while going through the process. I then got a payout when I left. This was all supported by my union (who also recommended me for a hardship grant to help pay bills). The being dismissed meant I had proof of ill health to support my case but also could support my application for ill health retirement. Its all about doing it in the right order (I was so grateful for my union).
I'm not sure about your husbands money as im a single parent, however mine is means tested and did reduce because I also get uc however even if you get nothing it means you get ni credits plus your not pushed to get work.
I had my first contact in 10 years from the job centre yesterday asking me if I feel well enough to attend training (and look for work) I wish i could, she asked 3 times even after I said i have an ill health pension because 3 doctors decided I'd never work again. But I think they are really pushing people so id imagine things have changed since I applied so definitely get advice.

I want to finish now so wouldn't be able to wait to be dismissed- I don't really want to do that.
I want to finish now and then claim as unemployed.

Yes you can finish now but dont resign go on sick leave. I then claimed esa while on sick leave so never went without some money but you dont want to claim as unemployed because they will push you to get a job (hence why I said take advice about your circumstances/current esa application process/right routes).

Yes, go on sick leave now if you are too ill to work.
Go to the GP and get a sick note (needed for work and preferred for ESA).
Gather all of your medical records/ appointments/ medications.

Have you looked at this page:
www.gov.uk/employment-support-allowance

PIP is totally seperate and not means tested so I don't think your husband's receipt of that would affect your claim.
The new style ESA is also not means tested apparently. So you could have millions of pounds and still claim both that and PIP.
You may be eligible for UC as well?

I'm not sure why but I get ESA, and UC now. They changed it so that half they money comes from one and the other half the other. So same money but two different streams? It's a bit pointless in my view but I can't complain.

If you claim what's now New Style ESA based on your NICs then it's your claim and only Pension in your name would affect it. Income Related ESA is closed to new claims as it's replaced by Universal Credit.

Link above is to .gov. CA have a page on it to:

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/employment-and-support-allowance/

When i filled in the entitled to questionnaire it wanted to know everything about partner and our savings so it threw me abit
I am conscious of applying for esa whilst on sick leave as then that shows them that I still have a job when I want to be put in the not expected to look for work group . Bit scared on what to do.
I work in a school, when I was off last time for 3 weeks the head rang me every other day wanting to know when I was going back and hounding me

I've just looked again but it says you have to work under 16 hours a week to claim esa alongside and earn under 192 a week. I work 25 hours and earn more than that

Resign or go sick is employment advice and outwith my experience.

If you are on sick leave ESA cannot be paid while you receive SSP but you can start an ESA claim during the second half of the citca 6 months SSP runs for.

Citizens advice can usually help with this. My dh claimed ESA 2 years ago as he had 2 strokes and unable to work. He was about to be made redundant but was paid until then as he was officially on sick pay. The ESA kicked in after that. His was the contributory version as he had paid sufficient NI. That meant that savings etc were disregarded. My income was also disregarded. He got that up until his retirement date (66 birthday) and he now gets his state pension.

I get new-style ESA which is based on my NI contributions and doesn't take most income or savings into account. DH is a high earner and his salary is irrelevant. I get PIP too which is also not means-tested.

If you are in a union you need support about your HT ringing you every day ... that is harassment.

Look at the entitled to website as you may qualify for other benefits or discounts that might be helpful. For example, you maybe entitled to a band down in council tax if you meet the criteria for disability concession. Contributions based ESA is not affected by savings or household income, and you can appeal if you think you are placed in the wrong group by the assessor.

New style esa may be set off against other income such as your husband has from his former job. There is a site called Benefits and work that I found useful when going through this. They are more specialised than citizens’ advice Used to be ten ponds a year, but may have gone up a bit