If you're a carer whose ability to work is also limited by ill health or disability, you may have to decide between claiming income-related ESA or Income Support. This is because you could qualify for either income-related ESA due to your limited capability for work, or Income Support, due to your caring role.
Alternatively, you may be caring for an ill or disabled partner who is eligible to claim ESA. In this situation you might need to choose between making a joint claim for ESA, or a joint claim for Income Support.
Depending on your situation, one of these benefits may be more appropriate for you than the other. For example, you may get a higher rate of benefit by claiming one compared to the other.
Claiming ESA may also mean that you need to attend work-focused interviews. If you have caring responsibilities you may need to consider your ability to attend these.
You can get more information and advice from your local Citizens Advice Bureau or welfare rights organisation, which you can find by searching our directory of local carers' services or by calling the Carers Direct helpline on 0808 802 0202.
Comparing benefit amounts
One of these benefits may leave you better off financially than the other. This will depend on your individual circumstances.
For example, Income Support can include a disability premium, which is an extra amount for people who are ill or disabled. This is usually only paid to people who are getting a qualifying benefit such as Disability Living Allowance, or are registered blind. If you qualify for this disability premium, you may be better off claiming Income Support. On the other hand, if you don’t qualify, you might find that you get more benefit by claiming ESA.
If you, or your partner, qualify for contribution-based ESA as well as income-related ESA, this could further complicate your decision.
Each case is different, and there are many things to consider when working out what you can claim and what would be best for you if you have a choice. It's important to get advice about what you're entitled to and what your options are.
Carers and work-focused interviews
As part of your claim for ESA, you may be required to attend work-focused interviews. This will depend on the outcome of your work capability assessment. For more details, see ESA claims. You won’t be required to attend these if you’re placed in the support group for ESA, or if you’ve reached the qualifying age for Pension Credit. You can find out your qualifying age for Pension Credit on the Directgov website.
If you have caring responsibilities, you may be concerned about the requirement to attend work-focused interviews. However, there are situations when you can ask Jobcentre Plus to take your caring role into account.
You can ask for a work-focused interview to be put off (deferred) to another date if it would not be helpful to you or appropriate in the circumstances. If you're a full-time carer, an interview can be deferred if it clashes with your caring responsibilities. Your circumstances will be considered and it may be agreed that you don't need to attend a work-focused interview for the time being.
You can ask for a work-focused interview to take place in your home if attending one elsewhere would cause you great difficulties.
If a work-focused interview is not deferred but you can't attend it (for example because the person you're looking after becomes unexpectedly unwell or care arrangements fall through), you must tell Jobcentre Plus your reasons within five working days of being notified that you failed to attend the interview. Your ESA won't be subject to sanctions in this situation.
At a work-focused interview, your caring responsibilities will be taken into account when discussing what work-related activity, if any, is appropriate for you.
If a decision is made to reduce your benefit because you did not attend a work-focused interview, you have the right to appeal. See Challenging an Employment and Support Allowance decision for more information.
