Hi 

I'm a benefits officer and cancer patient. Statutory Sick pay is paid by the employer for up to 28 weeks but they can stop it after 4 depending on the business. As soon as the employer stops you need to ring the DWP to claim ESA (Employment & Support Allowance) they will take the claim over the telephone and send it to you to keep, no need to return. You wil then be paid after the first week and then another  form will arrive called ESA50. This is a medical form  where you write about all of your difficulties  and personal info etc. You will then be assessed for a medical appointment. Once the medical has been completed the money will be increased from week 14 of the claim. This is quite complicated but I am here for any questions. 

Basicly if you have paid national insurance contributions you can get ESA  contributions based and this is not means teased but if you haven't worked you will only get it if you have no/ low income or maybe not at all  if you have other household income (i.e partner, savings, etc) you may not qualify as it is means tested. 

Its best to answer questions rather than trying to explain the terrible system. There are also two groups to this benefit ( support group and work related activity group) cancer patients should go into the support group until fully recovered from treatment and symptoms . The support group is paid indefinitely if you are claiming on contribution grounds but otherwise it could stop after 12 months . 

Hope this helps

regards

Carol 

Thank you for your reply. 

She is currently on full pay for 6mths then it will drop to half thereafter. The idea really is to get knowledge of what there maybe out there to claim and when to do so. Do you know if my income would be taken into account as we dont technically live together but would do so if she become ill and needs more support or would i be better as it is , that her living alone.

Hi

She can claim as soon as the SSP stops even if she is receiving half pay she can still claim ESA. If its Contribution based ESA ( paid enough stamps) then you can live with her and it won't be affected BUT if she had to claim means tested ESA and YOU MOVE IN  then your income must be counted otherwise it's fraud and she could have to pay it all back . This is even worse if she claims housing benefit and you move in, it must be declared. She can claim pip as well ( personal Independance payments) she needs to be ILL for three months first unless terminally Ill then it's immediate. ( sorry has to be explained) I can help you if you message me with all the facts if you want a correct assessment. If you live together you will be assessed as a couple unless you can prove you are only her carer?

Regards

Carol

www.cancerresearchuk.org/.../

Hi

She can claim as soon as the SSP stops even if she is receiving half pay she can still claim ESA. If its Contribution based ESA ( paid enough stamps) then you can live with her and it won't be affected BUT if she had to claim means tested ESA and YOU MOVE IN  then your income must be counted otherwise it's fraud and she could have to pay it all back . This is even worse if she claims housing benefit and you move in, it must be declared. She can claim pip as well ( personal Independance payments) she needs to be ILL for three months first unless terminally Ill then it's immediate. ( sorry has to be explained) I can help you if you message me with all the facts if you want a correct assessment. If you live together you will be assessed as a couple unless you can prove you are only her carer?

Regards

Carol

www.cancerresearchuk.org/.../