Disability Benefits - I'm confused

JulzAk

Hi

I'm hoping someone can help me out. I'm completely confused as to what I should be claiming for and what I shouldn't be claiming for.

I have been on IB for 4 years. Last month, after being practically bullied into doing the form, I got word that I'd been awarded DLA at Mid Care and Low Mobility. I was told 4 years ago (and then again 2 years ago when my attempt at going back to work failed) by my local job centre that I could only claim IB or DLA.

Now I've been bombarded by people (CAB, JCP, GP and councillor) telling me what they think I should be claiming for.

My husband has to do all of the cooking and has to accompany me if I go outdoors so I'm told he should claim Carer's Allowance. However someone else said if he does I'll lose the care component of my DLA and as he'll pay tax on CA we'll be worse off. Also we've been given different information over if he can claim CA while he works full time. Can anyone tell me what the score is?

Also according to the Entitlement Travel Card website the mid-rate Care componant of DLA should entitle me to a Companion travel card, however the woman in the social work office says that as I am not wheelchair bound or blind am only entitled to a normal travel card. My GP is adamant she is wrong. Anyone any ideas?

I was told at CAB (although I don't hold 100% faith in them as they've given me wrong info before) that I should be claming the Disability Premium on top of my IB. I cannot find any information on what this is, eligibility or how to claim.

Thank you to anyone who has managed to get through this!

Please do not think I am trying to scrounge - I am 27 and would do anything to get rid of Narcolepsy and get back to work. I've lost out on 4 years of £60 a week because of mis-information. I'd just like to make sure I'm getting what I should so that the massive burden on my husband is eased as much as possible.

Julz

dmg24

You could post on the Benefits board to find out?

bjorky

The benefit system is so complex and i gaurentee not one person knows it all, welfare rights should be your best bet, they know there stuff, best to get down and see about the disability premuim asap, i am in the same position as you, different advice from everyone but the only people i would really trust are the welfare rights folk, ask for a IB top up(something to do with income support to boost your money), if you have the cash buy a welfare benefit book, they are about £36 but gives you everything you need, best of luck

tenacioust123

Hi

I know the benefit system is very hard to understand try this link it will tell you what you are entitled to.

http://www.entitledto.co.uk/

munchings-n-crunchings

Hi Julz!
CA. There are restrictions on carers allowance. How many hours your carer looks after you, how many hours they are employed elsewhere etc.
Benefits Now have a good website.
http://www.benefitsnow.co.uk/carers'/introduction.asp
If you meet the criteria, you will not loose the care component of DLA, they are 2 separate things.
If your husband is working full time, then he will not be entitled as, I would assume, he earns over £95 per week.
I claim CA, plus I receive HRC + LRM for 1 child and MRC +LRM for 2nd child.
But I am a full time carer.

Have a look at the Benefits Now Website. Also, see if you have a branch of Dial in your area. It's similar in some ways to CAB, but they are specific to disabilities.

Good Luck

Munchie xx

On the travel card, some councils work it differently. On my application form, there was a section for a GP to fill in, saying you require a companion. If there is not, and your GP still feels that you should have someone with you, ask them to write a letter of support. It will carry a lot of weight.

JulzAk

Thanks all.

That clears up the Carer's Allowance - thank you.

I shall look into the Income Support/IB top-up. Thanks. Very difficult to find any information about it online.

I'll ask my GP to write a letter about the bus pass.

Thanks all
Julz

Ames

You definitely can get DLA and IB. Also, you wont lose your DLA care if someone gets carer's allowance for you. If you're on IS that might be affected by CA, but it's a bit complicated.

sleepless_saver

The disability premium is not something you need to apply for. You get it automatically if you are getting a qualifying benefit, such as DLA. You will get the severe disability premium if you are, for example, on middle rate DLA and living with a partner who doesn't get carers allowance. The rules are really complicated but are set out here.

JulzAk

sleepless_saver wrote: »

The disability premium is not something you need to apply for. You get it automatically if you are getting a qualifying benefit, such as DLA. You will get the severe disability premium if you are, for example, on middle rate DLA and living with a partner who doesn't get carers allowance. The rules are really complicated but are set out here.

I can't make head nor tail of the disability premium rules. It seemed to read to me that to get the severe premium my partner had to get DLA too. It just seemed really odd.

Is the premium added to IB or does it count as Income Support? I don't get income support as was told you get either IB, IS or DLA. I'm told now I wouldn't get IS as my IB is too high.

Thank again

HaushinkaGreenDay

JulzAk wrote: »

I can't make head nor tail of the disability premium rules. It seemed to read to me that to get the severe premium my partner had to get DLA too. It just seemed really odd.

In terms of Housing Benefit (help with rent) and Council Tax Benefit (in which department I used to work), the severe disability premium, designed to acknowledge a greater financial need for those with severe disabilities and living alone, would not likely be awarded in your case as your partner, who, I gather is not disabled, lives with you. This also applies to other means-tested benefits such as Income Support.

You would, however, get the disability premium (different to severe disability premium) if you were claiming means-tested benefits, i.e. those where your income is taken into account (not IB or DLA), as it is the Government's way of acknowledging that you have extra financial need due to disability, regardless of who lives with you.

(See http://www.dsdni.gov.uk/income_support_gbi_premiums.htm for more info)

JulzAk wrote: »

I don't get income support as was told you get either IB, IS or DLA. I'm told now I wouldn't get IS as my IB is too high.

You can get all three at the same time if you qualify; that is, for Income Support, if your household income is less than the amount the Government specifies for your particular circumstances.

It is likely that you have been misinformed, as had you been living on your own it would be likely you would qualify for Income Support now that you have DLA Care Middle-Rate, as even the highest possible amount of IB award (Long-Term plus Higher Age Addition, currently £102.25 per week) does not exceed the applicable amount for a single person with a severe disability premium, assuming no other income and little or no savings and investments are held.

However, as you are living with your partner his income is also taken into account and it may be that his full-time salary is more than the applicable amount (the amount determined by your circs that the Gov say you can live on).

I'd recommend you check out the entitledto.co.uk website mentioned earlier by tenacioust123 as it will also give an indication whether your partner might be able to claim Working Tax Credit if you don't qualify for Income Support.

Hope this helps,

Haushinka

munchings-n-crunchings

Hi again Julz,

I think the disability premium that you are thinking about is not attached to either IB or DLA.

If you were in receipt of Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit or Income support, there would be a 'Premium' that they would add to their calculations.

If you are not in receipt of those, I don't believe the premium will be applicable to you!

I know it's all a nightmare, but just working thru things step by step helps,
and there is always lots of folk on here that will give you their thoughts

Good luck with the bus pass

Munchie