Filling in ESA50 for someone else

My wife has been on incapacity benefit since having to finish work following a sub arachnoid haemorrhage in 1997. As she is blind, (registered blind in 2005 after being registered as partially sighted in 1997),i am filling the form in for her.

I was wondering how to actually "word" the filling in of the form. Should i word it like this (just an example)..."She cannot cross the road without someone assisting her". Or "I cannot cross the road without someone assisting me". Or "Claimant cannot cross the road without someone assisting her".

Sorry if this is a silly question.

I am also a little confused regarding "Contribution based" ESA and "Income based" ESA. I gave up my job in 2001 to be her full time (Unpaid) carer & i am self employed with small earnings & i pay class 2 contributions on a voluntary basis. Wife has always paid full Ni contributions throughout her working life. She receives low rate of both components of DLA & also receives income support as my earnings are so low.

If she is awarded ESA which category (contribution or income based) would she be in?

Many thanks for any replies.

Gordon wrote:

the important thing is to make it clear if you are completing the form using her words, because she cannot complete the form on her own, or your words, because she is unable to articulate her problems clearly.

I would assume the former is more likely to be the case.

Gordon

Thank you Gordon.
It is a case of the former and the latter as she has very limited concentration since the haemorrhage occurred.