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Forum Home  →  Discussion  →  Universal credit migration  →  Thread

CESA runs out in UCFS area: self-employed family with 3 children - WHAT NOW?

EKS_COTTON
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Tax and Welfare Rights Officer, Equity

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Total Posts: 288

Joined: 10 March 2014

I have a horribly complicated case and am looking for some clarity.

Facts
Self-employed mother.
Self-employed and employed father.
Three children born before 6/4/17 thankfully.
Very high rent: £2000 per month.  They are receiving housing benefit.
Currently - the mother is working full time and receiving WTC and CTC.  Her latest accounts showed around £4k profit for the year.
Father earned around £6,750 from employment in 2016/17 and about £1.5k net profit self-employment.  Same in 2017/18 before he became unwell.
The father is not working: has had heart issues and his CESA runs out in May 2019 after 365 days.  He says that he does have a new condition (chronic migraine) but that he doesn’t think it will stop him from working.
They are now of course, living in a UCFS area
He is thinking of going back to part time work and starting an MA in September (!)
What happens after the CESA claim stops?
UC must be avoided due to the likelihood of the MIF being applied to either of the couples claim.

Options?
Are the following options possible now they live in UCFS area?
1. Possibility of supersession if could qualify for support group?
2. Possibility of income related ESA claim?
3. Go back to part time work and re-join Tax credit claim
4. Claim CJSA
It is particular option 2 that I need clarification on.
Thanking you in advance!
EKS

HB Anorak
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Benefits consultant/trainer - hbanorak.co.uk, East London

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Joined: 12 March 2013

If the partner is working more than 24 hours a week, ESA(ir) is out of the question - always been the case irrespective of UCFS.  WTC is doing the job of ESA(ir) in their case (supplementing adult living costs because of low income), and now that their income has reduced the WTC will increase (assuming they are not already on the maximum).  You say he could “rejoin” the Tax Credit claim, he’s already on it - couples make joint claims.  A reassessment of Tax Credit to account for the loss of conts-based ESA is all that they need.