Incapacity Benefit and a partner?

Hi, having read quite a lot of messages over the past three week, it has just dawned on me that some people have 'partners' but qualify for IB or ESA.

Please excuse my ignorance but is this correct?

I had absolutely no idea that you could claim these benefits if you lived with someone.

Does it still apply if you are pregnant or have young children?

If it is, then I saved the government a lot of money from 1994 to 2004 when I was even iller than I am now!


I would be intrigued to know the facts on this.

Many thanks,
Rachel

Mod edit: moved to questions forum

Fedup wrote:

Hi, having read quite a lot of messages over the past three week, it has just dawned on me that some people have 'partners' but qualify for IB or ESA.

Please excuse my ignorance but is this correct?

I had absolutely no idea that you could claim these benefits if you lived with someone.

Does it still apply if you are pregnant or have young children?

If it is, then I saved the government a lot of money from 1994 to 2004 when I was even iller than I am now!


I would be intrigued to know the facts on this.

Many thanks,
Rachel

Mod edit: moved to questions forum

Hi,

Incapacity Benefit and Contribution Based ESA are not means tested and are claimable based on oyur own personal National Insurance Contributions. Hence in general these can be claimed regardless of if you have a partner or not.

Income Related ESA and Income Support are both means tested and thus if you live together or are deemed as living together your partners income would be counted which could affect if you receive these benefits and how much.

With regards to pregnancy, sorry this is an area outside of my and possibly other mods expetise however another member may know and post about this.

Pete

Hi Pete, thankyou for that information, it was just curiosity and I appreciate your time in replying.

It just goes to show how important sites like this are! I was severly depressed during 1994 and 2004 (bit better now) and was with my children's father. I had absolutely no idea that I could claim any benefits!

To make it feel even worse; when we split up I was faced with an overpayment of tax credit bill which I will be paying off till 2015!

Oh well onwards and um upwards? Shall concentrate my mental efforts on my appeal for ESA.

Thanks again Pete. Best wishes,
Rachel

Hi yes it does, if 'contribution based'for example if straight after maternity leave / work for in qualifying years before. It depends on your national insurance contributions I was told whereas income based IB would look at other income. So it would have depended on the 3 years (I think!) before you had the episode/s.

Hi Sarah, thankyou for the info.

I really hope you are ok today? Thinking of you.

Best wishes,
Rachel