CAB - Means tested?

Sujamjen

I hope I'm in the right place and not starting an old worn out topic. My daughter has Arthritus (having tests done right now to sort out what sort and what else) IB and FMS and hasn't worked for almost 2 yrs. During that time she has lived on her savings and her partners salary while she waited to 'get better' and 'back to normal'. Anyway to cut a long story short she has applied for various benefits and after 9 months of misinformation, lost forms, lost ID etc, been refused them all. She has reapplied/supplied all extra info etc etc and I suggested that she contact the CAB for some advice with filling in the interminable forms. She has just had a phone call from the CAB asking how much her house is worth (approx 95,000) and what the mortgage is on is approx 90,000) and was then told she can't go to them for advice because she is not entitle to Legal Aid. I thought the CAB was open to everyone?

Please can anyone tell me where she can go for some help? This is all new to me and I feel I'm lost in a mine field!

LameWolf

I don't understand that - we used CAB for advice some time ago, and we weren't entitled to Legal Aid because I had some savings. I've never heard of such a restriction.

ivyleaf

This does seem odd! I wonder if the person at the CAB misunderstood which forms she was asking for help with

Mojisola

It sounds as if someone at CAB didn't understand what help she needed. We've had lots of help from the benefit advisors from our county council. Some people fill in the forms themselves and get awarded benefits but most people seem to do better if they have help.

tom9980

Yes CAB do a means test on your income to see if your entitled to free help or not your daughter obviously have too much income for them to get free advice im afraid, they did this for me recently while helping me with some problems im trying to sort out.

Your thread is probably better suited to the benefits forum.

Did she apply for Incapacity benefit now known as ESA? did she have enough National insurance credits to get it?, even so she should still be signed off sick and get NI credits for her pension. or was she rejected because her health was not considered bad enough?

If she is not entitled to IB/ESA then Income support for incapacity reasons can be given but this is means tested and since she failed the CAB means test its almost certain (do check though) she isnt eligable for this and so is entitled to nothing.

Has she applied for DLA? does someone have to help her with regards to mobility or care needs?

allydowd

I am an ex-CAB employee:

The CAB is free. However, sometimes their debt services and legal services are run by local solicitors who will only see you if you can get legal aid.

What you could do is ring another local-ish CAB and ask if they have the same system. It varies from bureau to bureau.

You could go to the CABs online information system for advice:

CAB link

Or you could look at the DirectGov website under benefit appeals:

DirectGov link

Or you could go to EntitledTo website to see what might be claimed:

Entitledto link

laineyc_2

http://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/

I used this site to help me apply for DLA for my son. It was really helpful for filling in the forms. You need to pay a fee of around £20 to join. I haven't had a decision yet, but it was certainly useful information so hopefully his claim will be successful.

[Deleted User]

She could try welfare rights(usually part of local council)as an alternative to CAB

munchings-n-crunchings

Hello,
As a previous poster suggested Welfare Rights are useful, and normally part of the county council.

Dial is a good service to use, they can help with the filling in of forms etc.
Here is the link to find a local branch.

http://www.dialuk.info/findadial/index.asp

Dial are run by, and for disabled people, so they have seen everything before, and I am sure they will put your daughter on the right track.

You could also have a look at the Benefits Now website, they have lots of good information, specially the 'Decision Makers Guide' and 'The Disability Handbook'.

http://benefitsnow.co.uk

The more information you reaad, the better informed you will be about the process, and the more effective you can make your case,

Good Luck

Munchie

allydowd

Maybe try:

Warwickshire government link

Or call the council on 01926 410410

jenhug

I would agree with DIAL too, my friend has just filled in her forms with them and they suggest they have a 98% success rate, you really do need someone who knows what they are doing to fill in the forms. good luck.
the national rheumatoid arthritis society also has a downloadable leaflet which gives info.