Success with support group for ESA

We heard today that my husband has been put into the support group for ESA. This is a huge relief... now I can just get back to trying to look after him.

I couldn't have begun to fill in the form without the Benefits and Work Guides. I just didn't understand what was required, because the forms were so vaguely worded.

But I took your advice and worked through everything very slowly and thoroughly. We ended up with a lot of extra pages, but I felt that at least I had tried to give them a full picture of how my husband's illness affects him every day.

It was a hugely depressing experience for both of us though. When you're actually just trying to get on with life, you try not to dwell on the difficulties. Yes, some days are horrendous, but you keep hoping for a better day (good days, alas, are a thing of the past.) Filling in the form forced both of us to face up to just how hard life is, not just sometimes, but most days.

Anyway, a very big thank you to Benefits and Work for their advice and help. It made all the difference.

Hi Magwitch, really pleased for you both. Hope you can both now get some peace and quiet from 'the system'.

Best wishes,
Rachel

Thank you. Although it's claimed that there is no difference in the benefits, my husband's IB was tax exempt, now it is taxable it's going to reduce our working tax credits pretty drastically.... they don't boast about that though!

That is great news! What a relief for you!

Hi
Congrats on SG, but I have a query regarding tax excemption. I thought that IB ESA IS etc were all taxable benefits, mine are and I get a P60 every year. I don't see how IB can be tax excempt, whereas DLA is.
Regards
Peter