Switching from seperate payments to dependent

artvanderlay

Hi there

My wife is getting disability allowance and I am claiming jobseekers allowance. I was previously getting jobseekers with herself as a dependent on my claim, and we were also getting rent allowance, but when she switched to disability allowance we both got the maximum individual rate with a reduced rent allowance (basically it worked out exactly the same in terms of total benefits we received). My question now is: is it fairly easy for me to switch to being a dependent on her disability claim? I know I will lose money from my payment but the rent allowance will go up again so it'll balance out again. As a dependent on a disability claim would I still have to sign on or would I have to do work schemes or do they just leave me be? I ask because I want to do a masters course in September and I wouldn't get any benefits to support me with that, so I'm thinking of going this route as a dependent sooner rather than later just to have it sorted out for when my course starts.

thanks.

mrsbyrne

Its not a problem. Your wife needs to ring DA in Longford on Monday and ask them to send her a Adult Dependent claim form. Just fill it up and send it back.
You won't have to sign on or look for work anymore.
You should also apply for Carers Allowance in respect of your wife. You could have that at half-rate swell.

artvanderlay

mrsbyrne wrote: »

Its not a problem. Your wife needs to ring DA in Longford on Monday and ask them to send her a Adult Dependent claim form. Just fill it up and send it back.
You won't have to sign on or look for work anymore.
You should also apply for Carers Allowance in respect of your wife. You could have that at half-rate swell.

Thanks a lot for the reply Ok, I'll apply as a dependent so. I don't think I'd be eligible for carers - my wife has mental health issues and while she technically doesn't require full time care, I do have to be there for her a lot of the time. Would that make me eligible for carers?

mrsbyrne

artvanderlay wrote: »

Thanks a lot for the reply Ok, I'll apply as a dependent so. I don't think I'd be eligible for carers - my wife has mental health issues and while she technically doesn't require full time care, I do have to be there for her a lot of the time. Would that make me eligible for carers?

If her GP or psychiatric specialist/nurse would oblige you by writing a supportive letter setting out the nature of her condition, the medication she's on, and the level of support she needs from you, as well as completing the medical report in the actual carers application form, then you have a good chance.
Also when you become a Dependent on your wife's payment, you will be entitled to the free TV licence and some free electricity.you will need to apply for those things though. Household Benefits Package.
I'm presuming you are not living with other adults.
If your wife is ill enough to satisfy DA then you have a good chance for Carers IMHO

artvanderlay

Thanks a mill for that. I'll give it a go and see what happens.

mystic

By all means apply for Carer's Allowance for your wife.

However, you said that your Rent Allowance decreased. This is probably a result of the last budget when a couple's contribution towards their rent increased from €35 to €40 a week. Has your Rent Allowance decreased by €21.66 per calendar month? If yes, it won't matter if you switch to being a 'dependant' on your wife's DA claim.

You should also consider that you are probably getting 'credits' while claiming Jobseeker's Allowance. Check out if you would continue to get these if your wife claimed for you as a 'dependant' on her DA claim.

artvanderlay

Hi mystic. I am aware of that decrease in the rent allowance rate for couples. When my wife was a dependent on my claim I was getting 188 for myself and 124 for her, then when she got disability we were both getting 188 each, so approximately an extra 280 per month, but I ended up getting 280 less on the rent allowance so that's what I mean when I say it all worked out the same. I spoke to the community welfare officer and he said that if I went as a dependent on her claim, we would lose that extra 280 per month from our allowances but the rent allowance would go up again by 280.

danjo-xx

mystic wrote: »

You should also consider that you are probably getting 'credits' while claiming Jobseeker's Allowance. Check out if you would continue to get these if your wife claimed for you as a 'dependant' on her DA claim.

Unfortunately Qualified Adults don't get credits.