Benefit Advice

Hello Mike, I’m getting Universal Credit, that includes a Housing Costs Element. This doesn’t cover my full rent. I asked my landlord about… Read More > "Renting out my spare room?"

Hello Mike, What can I claim if I can’t work (much) because of ill health? Julian. Hello Julian, Going off-sick from work: Statutory… Read More > "What can I claim when I can’t work (much) because of ill-health?"

Good afternoon, I am a single mum with 2 children age 10 and 6 years old. I am on Universal Credit (UC) and… Read More > "I’m living in a refuge. How much can I earn, before my HB goes wrong?"

Hi Mike, My service user claimed Carer’s Allowance and the DWP deducted the same amount off her Universal Credit. So there was no… Read More > "What’s the point of Carer’s Allowance?"

Hi Yoda, My service-user Marta is 47, single and lives in a housing association property She’s been off sick from work getting Statutory… Read More > "What’s the point of ESA?"

Hi Mike, I support a gentleman whose 1st PIP application has been rejected. He has done a mandatory reconsideration which also failed to score… Read More > "PIP: Re-Claiming While Waiting For A Tribunal"

Update May 2023: The amounts shown in this post are now out of date. The concepts are still valid. Hello Mike, I visited… Read More > "Getting UC Now, Then Getting More…"

Hello Mike My client Tyrone is doing his A Levels. He has a severe disability and gets PIP. His mum currently gets Child… Read More > "Tyrone is going on to college"

Hello Mike My client Corinne is being bedroom-taxed because she has a spare bedroom in her housing association flat. Her friend Josie wants… Read More > "Lodgers, Boarders and Non-Dependents"

Hey Mike.  My client Camilla has been on ESA for six years. She used to get £107.60 per week. Recently she moved onto… Read More > "Switched to UC. Lost £130 per month."

Hey Mike.  My clients want to move in together as a couple. They are both on Universal Credit. What will happen to their… Read More > "The Cost of Love"

Hey Mike.  My Client Livia (44) gets PIP and old-style ESA from before UC arrived. The ESA of £204.75 per week (£887.75 per… Read More > "Carer moving in. Better-off on UC?"

Hey Mike.  I work in a DV service. Caroline has recently moved in with her three children. We need to claim Universal Credit,… Read More > "Who Can Claim for Children?"

The amounts shown in this post are now out-of-date. The ideas are absolutely correct. Hi Mike I hope you are well. Steph has… Read More > "ESA: Getting more!"

Hi Mike, Tom is 22. He had a head injury when he was at school. He finds it difficult to learn new things… Read More > "Appointees"

Hola Mike After waiting nine months, my client Chrissie has a PIP appeal coming up soon. The other day the DWP phoned her… Read More > "PIP Appeals: Pre-Tribunal Offers"

This post was updated on 6 May 2022 to include current benefit rates Hello Mike My clients Hannah and Hietor are in a… Read More > "Catch 22: No UC, no WCA. No WCA no UC."

Hiya Mike, My client Krystyna is a lone parent. Her daughter Carrie has a disability and gets DLA Care Component at the middle rate. Krystyna… Read More > "Benefits for Disabled Children – A Massive Cut"

Hello Mike My client has had a Work Capability Assessment and been told that she is fit-for-work. I have looked at the scoring… Read More > "Work Capability Assessments – The Substantial Risk Safety Net"