Disability Benefits - I'm confused

HaushinkaGreenDay

munchings-n-crunchings wrote: »

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

LOL! I think we were writing at the same time there, Munchie! :rotfl:

JulzAk

Ok I'm really confused now.

The premium or top up that was mentioned as an IB top-up - that is for Council Tax/Housing benefit?

Nothing to do with IB or is there two seperate premiums/top ups?


I am going to pursue a complaint about the misinformation (I had to give up my home as I couldn't afford it alone and my other half and I weren't ready for living together yet as we'd only just met) because I don't want anyone else to go through what I did. However I just want to get myself sorted and organised first.

Thanks

HaushinkaGreenDay

JulzAk wrote: »

Ok I'm really confused now.

The premium or top up that was mentioned as an IB top-up - that is for Council Tax/Housing benefit?

Nothing to do with IB or is there two seperate premiums/top ups?

Hi Julz,

I think the way that some DWP advisors refer to the Disability Premium and/or Income Support as an IB 'top-up' is the reason for confusion.

There is only one form of increase to the standard rate of IB, and that is the Age Addition, which is paid automatically depending on your age when you became sick. It was meant to compensate for the loss of earnings incurred due to illness at a (comparatively) young age.

I don't think that's what you have been advised to claim; and yes, you have to be claiming at least one means-tested benefit such as Income Support, Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit to get any of the premiums mentioned above.

You generally don't need to worry about premiums as they are usually automatically calculated when you make a claim for IS, HB or CT. It would just be wise to check they've included it if they send you a letter detailing how they worked out your entitlement, if you make a claim.

And I hope you're successful in your complaint - benefits advisors should NEVER state that a person wouldn't be entitled to a, b or c without actually processing an official claim, as they may not be sufficiently trained to take into account all the nuances of the benefits system.

If in doubt, submit an application!

Hope this clarifies things a little!

Haushinka

PS I've had bad experiences with DWP staff too - I was accused of 'not being sick enough' as I was studying at Uni - despite having had to change courses to one that I only had to attend for 4-6 hours a week due to illness!! (And I had to spend the rest of the time, including the 5 months of holidays, bed- and house-bound every year to recover). You try to get on with your life as best you can...

cheap_charlie

Not sure about adults getting the companion card to allow free travel on buses but certainly my daughter has one and she is on Middle Rate Care and Low Rate Mobility DLA.

I would query this further.

HTH.