does anyone know about benefits in the uk here, how it works.

yeah sure. Well to explain, my husband and I are currently claiming JSA. But my health problems have returned and I now want to claim sick benefit but for him to stay on JSA as he is not sick. Currently we have to claim JSA jointly which I think I am the main account holder of the benefit as its paid into my account. If I claim for the sick, how will this affect my husband? Will he have to re-claim JSA on his own all over again and go through all that stuff from scratch? Or can they just split the benefit up so he gets his and myself mine? Or if its the same amount as JSA maybe they would continue as is and just state that I am on sick now? These are my questions. As for myself, I thought of claiming Disability Living Allowance and have been reading up on other benefits. Years ago I claimed Incapacity I think it was but after a while I got better and came off it, but I am going back to the 1990's so quite a long time ago, I now see its all changed and they have completely different names now to. I was looking at the Income based Employment and Support Allowance and reading about this. Although it states you can not work but in the next sentence on there states they may send you for a work related assessment which I find stupid. I mean after all, you can either work or you cant right. And I always thought the idea of being on the sick is cause you cant work. Otherwise you would not be on it in the first place. The things that are wrong with me I dont mind saying here are. Bad back problems which sometimes is painful and I find it hard to do certain things. I also have high blood pressure which is controlled by tablets from the doctor. And I also suffer with depression on top as well. and stress now due to family circumstances. So if you can advise of help it would be appreciated. my email is Deetox68@aol.com if you want to email me on there.

Vonmac has very good advice above.

The more communicative (and honest and prepared to jump through hoops and fill in forms) you are with the authorities, the more likely it is that you will get all the benefits you are entitled to.

Find the name of one person (or several) who appear to be more helpful than the others and call them often with every little innocent query about anything and everything. Be friendly (this person's job is to help you, not to extort money) and expect help in return!

'anything and everything'??? ... well, you don't need to go as far as asking them how to boil potatoes or when the next bus to town is!!

Anyone can claim DLA, and a claim for DLA wont muck anything else up.
Its a totally independant benfit not linked to JSA or any other,
The number of people who are under the impression it will affect claims and benfits already being paid is unreal.
DLA because of the involvement of a Doctor is not a claim where the wool can be pulled over the agency eyes as such. They check the info you provide with the Doctor etc, and if you meet the criteria its paid,
Some claimants never have to claim it again, and people with terminal or life shortening conditions are passed without fuss and its paid for the remainder of their life.
Its amazing exactly what DLA can be paid for.
The last dozen or so claims we have helped people with have all been passed easily enough.
The form is intimidating though, but taking one box at a time and filling the box seems to be the correct formula.
In all the years I have been doing this, we have never had anyone who has had to pay any money back.
I did a National Welfare rights course and it really did open my eyes as to just how much money there is for people to claim who have no idea that they can claim it

I would further advise that any person recieving Incapacity Benefit claims DLA, and as soon as possible.

hi, well at the moment I get JSA along with husband, years ago I was on the sick in the 1990's but I improved and after a while went back to work again. But now my health has gotten bad. I have a bad painful back which has returned and its hard to do stuff. Then on top high blood pressure which is controlled with medication and depression as well. I never even realised I wast entitle to DLA anyway until the other day. So I am waiting for the forms to come thru in post now. I guess they can either say yes or no! I also thought to come off JSA and go on sick for Income based Employment Support Allowance, its all changed now which is rather confusing, as years ago I think it was called incapacity allowance which has now been replaced by this one according to the job centre plus site. maybe I can ask you some questions then if you deal with this. As moment myself and husband claim jointly for JSA. But if I come off that and go on sick how will this affect us both? Will he have to make a fresh claim all over again? or can they just change it without us going through all that? As I am the main account holder of the claim I think as its paid in my account. Will they split our claims up and he be on JSA and me sick or what? I guess I am worried that we will be without any money if I stop claiming JSA as we will both be affected.

this message is for Vonmac! As you cant seem to post private messages on here. As per my thing above.

As said, at mo we claim jointly jsa. paid into my account. If I claim sick and hubby continues to claim jsa. How will they split this benefit up? or will they just pay jsa and sick into my account for my hubbys half? will it cause confusion with them to have to do this? will it end up a mess? or will they pay us separately? Will he have to end up re-claiming again as well just for himself? could money be held up for us in meantime?

Vonmac. when I talk about the benefit splitting, I am meaning the Income based Employment & Support Allowance one where you get the sick note from doc to say that I can no longer sign on dole cause I am sick. I should have said that on last ones really. I now understand that DLA is separate from the others after reading up on it.