BENEFITS - husband considering starting work

I'm so confused, there is my 2 kids and my husband, my kids are his step kids. we currently get PIP, ESA income based support group, child tax credits, council tax paid. My husband gets carers for looking after me. I have been very unwell for many years and am getting sicker but because kids are getting older the money we get is reducing, anything I get for my son stopped at the end of August. My husband has been my carer since about 2010 and I do need this but money is so tight. I used to get long term incapacity benefit which was in my name and for me, I still got this when my husband moved in with me but this was eventually changed to income based ESA and was then pit into joint names even though it's for me and in support group. My husband has been offered a job which is 4 hours a week at £11 an hour plus some bonuses. I belebe wed ne migrating to UC next year if we stay as we are amount will be covered. I don't know what we should do, I'm scared we make the wrong decision. Also he won't get paid for first month so is there anything to help us with this if he does do it. This job offer has come through a friend not job centre. HELP. THANKS

I've done a benefits calculator it says we'd be better off but I'm worried about me being so ill, I'm worried that if he starts work and then has to give it up will it be a new claim and we'll be worse off than if we stay on it now, we are going to be about £50-70 a week better off if he works, because I was originally on incapacity benefit and it was transferred to income based employment support will I still get anything it says no on calculations on ESA but yes on UC. Would we still be classed as getting esa because of me even if we don't get money. Also at what point do you tell benefits people is it start date or date younget first wage because my husband doesn't get his first wage for 7 weeks and we cannot survive that long with no money is there help to cover this time. Thanks

Hi Gordon, We won't get esa at all which is my worry, as you said it's effectively my claim so why will I lose it all if my husband goes to work when I got incapacity benefit for years, it's as if I'm being penalised, I guess if is what it is. If I'm not getting esa will my NI credits be paid still. At minute we don't pay council tax and my kids gets bursaries free school meals etc but if husband works even a low wage about £360 a week for 40 hours will have to pay council tax, prescriptions etc plus money towards kids as i presume bursaries will stop and my son will get a lower student loan (my kids are my husbands step kids their dad doesnt help at all) we get child benefit and child tax credit at minute child tax credit will drop right down, at minute in get a disability premium as my daughter has physical and mental conditions and gets DLA but she's just turned 16 so have to apply for PIP but my daughter has physical and mental conditions and there is no way she could have a f2f if anyone mentions her conduitions to her she self harms and is in denial somits wouldn't put her through that so doubt we will get anything for her so no disability premium, my son is going to university so any money for him stopped end of august, so there is so many unknowns, if I knew I was getting disability element of ctc for daughter we could manage. I'm really struggling without my husband so if he took job but 1,3,6 months down line if he needs to go back onto carers to look after me what happens will the esa be a new claim even though I've never been able to work, would it be at same rate as now or the new claim rates. I'm being investigated for early onset dementia im really struggling now so at some point if my husband stays at this job he's going to have to stop which is why we need to know if this is really worth it. He also needs to buy equipment for his job which has to come off his wages monthly, he's just come home with a quote of £900. Our citizens advice are rubbish my husband is rubbish at this type of thing and I'm really struggling cos of my mind and feel confused and scared and I don't know what to do for best, if my husband tries this is there a way if in a few weeks if I admit to him I just can't cope that the claim can be restarted. If he stays at the job but doesn't get paid until end of September do benefits carry on until that point or do they just stop and we end up with not a penny. I feel very scared and confused . Thank you x