Do you have to declare DLA receipt to prospective employers/agencies??

Sam_Spends_Too_Much

A relative of mine has chronic arthritis and is currently not working. I have said many times that due to his condition, he should claim DLA. When his condition is under control, he is able to work, but does he have to tell his employer about his condition?? It doesn't affect the work that he does but he is concerned that once he tells anyone that he is on DLA (should he apply for it) he would be overlooked for employment.

Thanks in advance.

Lou76

Sam_Spends_Too_Much wrote: »

A relative of mine has chronic arthritis and is currently not working. I have said many times that due to his condition, he should claim DLA. When his condition is under control, he is able to work, but does he have to tell his employer about his condition?? It doesn't affect the work that he does but he is concerned that once he tells anyone that he is on DLA (should he apply for it) he would be overlooked for employment.

Thanks in advance.

Sam, I wouldn't have thought so.

I received my letter DLA renewal letter today - had it renewed for 5 years (sorry for adding that, still hyper and getting over the shock, it's such a worry waiting for that dreaded letter to arrive) so I have my letter to hand.

Under the section Disability Living Allowance and Work, it states Disability Living Allowance is a benefit that can be paid whether you are in or out of work or in training [...]

[...] If your care/mobility needs have changed, you must tell us immediately. Your benefit award can be looked at again and a new decision made, if necessary,. The money you get may stay the same, go up or down.

If you need advice on work or training you can contact Jobcentre Plus...

From reading that, it seems that DLA doesn't affect the rate of tax etc you'd pay if employed, therefore, the only people who need to be informed of any change of employment would be the DLA, and that would only be if he was claiming it in the first place.

It may be a good idea to notify an employer of his condition, that's obviously up to him and how he plans to tackle the issue of being [possibly] unable to work for any length of time, but his benefits are of no business to them at all.

Tell him to apply for DLA anyway, the worst the can do is refuse.

p.s. if he does apply, get help with the form. I initially answered it all as what I could do on a good day, not what I was like the majority of the time. Thankfully after an appeal I was awarded it and the money has helped me keep a roof over my head since.

ETA: the likes of CAB should be able to answer all his question e.g. should he tell prospective employers of his condition, and also help him fill the forms out.

Good luck from me.

[Deleted User]

Sam_Spends_Too_Much wrote: »

A relative of mine has chronic arthritis and is currently not working. I have said many times that due to his condition, he should claim DLA. When his condition is under control, he is able to work, but does he have to tell his employer about his condition?? It doesn't affect the work that he does but he is concerned that once he tells anyone that he is on DLA (should he apply for it) he would be overlooked for employment.

Thanks in advance.

As DLA isnt means tested or taxed then probably not,however if the reason he can go to work is due to an improvement in his condidtion then he would have to notify the DLA and it may be removed due to the change in circumstance

black_paw

a friend works near full time and gets dla

somebody_else

Sam_Spends_Too_Much wrote: »

A relative of mine has chronic arthritis and is currently not working. I have said many times that due to his condition, he should claim DLA. When his condition is under control, he is able to work, but does he have to tell his employer about his condition?? It doesn't affect the work that he does but he is concerned that once he tells anyone that he is on DLA (should he apply for it) he would be overlooked for employment.

Thanks in advance.

Answer in three parts - it's possible to be in receipt of DLA while working, but don't be surprised if your friend doesn't get the care component. I was working full time when I first applied for DLA, and was awarded the higher rate of mobility. I didn't get awarded the lower rate care 'til I'd become to ill to continue working.

Your friend doesn't have to tell employers that they're in receipt of DLA - but they do have to tell DWP that they're working.

It's not a good idea not to tell present or future employers of a long term medical condition - it can cause all sorts of problems when it does come to light. And it will, next time your friend has a flare up.

kazzah

Your friend doesn't have to tell employers that they're in receipt of DLA - but they do have to tell DWP that they're working.

I don't understand why you need to tell the DWP you are working?
there is NO where on a DLA form that asks you if you are employed or who you are employed by and it is quite possible for the DWP to see if you are working by checking your National Insurance numebr against contributions.
There seems to be a common belief ( not on these boards, but in the press etc) that the receipt of DLA means the claimant is unable to work.
The claimant does NOT get the benefit for being disabled, but for how their disability affects their ability to care for themselves or for their mobility needs

I know lots of people with a variety of disabilities through my voluntary work and many of them hold down full time jobs as well as claiming DLA - there really is NO problem with working and claiming DLA
my friend with Cerebral palsy works full time and is in receipt of middle rate care and high mobility - his care needs are still the same as they would be at home - he takes a packed lunch to work and one of his co-workers unclips his lunch box for him and unscrews the bottle lid from his drink and then when he gets home his wife makes his meal - he is fully entitled to his care component and still holds down a job
there is nothing illegal or improper about this at all.
In fact I think many people with disabilites feel they are contributing to society by working - which of course they are

somebody_else

kazzah wrote: »

Your friend doesn't have to tell employers that they're in receipt of DLA - but they do have to tell DWP that they're working.

I don't understand why you need to tell the DWP you are working?
there is NO where on a DLA form that asks you if you are employed or who you are employed by and it is quite possible for the DWP to see if you are working by checking your National Insurance numebr against contributions.
There seems to be a common belief ( not on these boards, but in the press etc) that the receipt of DLA means the claimant is unable to work.
The claimant does NOT get the benefit for being disabled, but for how their disability affects their ability to care for themselves or for their mobility needs

I know lots of people with a variety of disabilities through my voluntary work and many of them hold down full time jobs as well as claiming DLA - there really is NO problem with working and claiming DLA
my friend with Cerebral palsy works full time and is in receipt of middle rate care and high mobility - his care needs are still the same as they would be at home - he takes a packed lunch to work and one of his co-workers unclips his lunch box for him and unscrews the bottle lid from his drink and then when he gets home his wife makes his meal - he is fully entitled to his care component and still holds down a job
there is nothing illegal or improper about this at all.
In fact I think many people with disabilites feel they are contributing to society by working - which of course they are

You are required (once you've been awarded DLA) to inform the DWP of any change of condition. If you have recovered enough to be able to go to work then a change in your condition has happened.

I don't think anyone here has said that you can't work and claim DLA - in fact most (if not all of us) have said you can claim DLA while you're working. If you'd read my post in full, you would have seen that I was in receipt of DLA while working full time.

No-one is saying that you can't work if you're disabled, but if you're too ill to work when you first claim, and then you recover enough to return to work, then you have to inform DWP. Or you can take your chances and risk being prosecuted for fraud.

kazzah

somebody_else wrote: »

You are required (once you've been awarded DLA) to inform the DWP of any change of condition. If you have recovered enough to be able to go to work then a change in your condition has happened.

I don't think anyone here has said that you can't work and claim DLA - in fact most (if not all of us) have said you can claim DLA while you're working. If you'd read my post in full, you would have seen that I was in receipt of DLA while working full time.

No-one is saying that you can't work if you're disabled, but if you're too ill to work when you first claim, and then you recover enough to return to work, then you have to inform DWP. Or you can take your chances and risk being prosecuted for fraud.

I think we are speaking at cross purposes - I didn't say you shouldn't inform DWP if your condition gets better - I did say there is no requirement to inform DWP if you take a job on

with an illness I agree you may "get better" enough to work and if you get better you should inform DWP

if your disability is stable and you simply decide to take a job, perhaps after studying or having a child or because a suitbale one becomes available there but your condition has not changed then you do not need to inform the DWP

I did state that the common misconception was NOT on these boards - I read an article in the Daily Mail yesterday where a disabled althlete was found guilty of fraud - the byline said he was fraudulently claiming "disability benefits" whilst in receipt of a large grant from a trust to progress his training for the paralympics - in fact he was perfectly entitled to claim DLA ( disability benefits) whilst being in receipt of the grant, but what he wasn't entitled to claim was the housing benefit and council tax benefit and income support he was claining whilst having the grant.
It is this common misconception that gets many genuinely disabled people a " bad reputation" for working whilst claing DLA - when in fact there is no resaon whatsoever for them not to work whilst being in receipt of DLA

my itention was not to cause offence- merely to comment

casdor1

hi i have a 3.5yrs son who has speech and behavier problems i didnt know that he had behavier problems i did think that everything he was doing is normal for child to be everywhere in the house. thank God is getting help from family support and speech therapist.
one day he was sick & i toke him to GP and my the time i was explaining want was the problem with him when the gp & i looked at him he was on top of the table smaching the Gp's computer Gp got scared and said this child has problem. and asked how i live with him & baby gp said not to leave them together in the same room. he did burn my house twice, sometimes u r looking for him he his inside wash machine calling u. i cant sit down for 5mins.
sorry for long story. i applied for dla since feb. still waiting yestday i received a letter asking me to tell them the dates i received the form and when did i sent. that means that i will be accepted or what? i did sent letter from gp about his behavier and letter for speech therapist's appointment for lessons.

and also i dont know if i can apply for family fund has i need computer to help him at home. becouse he needs stimulation activies.E.g. if you tell him to choice between two things lets say !! big or small he will tell you the last thing you said because he wont remember the first.
sorry again any help will do. thanks

cidergirl

casdor1 wrote: »

hi i have a 3.5yrs son who has speech and behavier problems i didnt know that he had behavier problems i did think that everything he was doing is normal for child to be everywhere in the house. thank God is getting help from family support and speech therapist.
one day he was sick & i toke him to GP and my the time i was explaining want was the problem with him when the gp & i looked at him he was on top of the table smaching the Gp's computer Gp got scared and said this child has problem. and asked how i live with him & baby gp said not to leave them together in the same room. he did burn my house twice, sometimes u r looking for him he his inside wash machine calling u. i cant sit down for 5mins.
sorry for long story. i applied for dla since feb. still waiting yestday i received a letter asking me to tell them the dates i received the form and when did i sent. that means that i will be accepted or what? i did sent letter from gp about his behavier and letter for speech therapist's appointment for lessons.

and also i dont know if i can apply for family fund has i need computer to help him at home. becouse he needs stimulation activies.E.g. if you tell him to choice between two things lets say !! big or small he will tell you the last thing you said because he wont remember the first.
sorry again any help will do. thanks

these days doctors ans specialists are on top of these problems when my son was younger now 18 i never got any help or diagnosed if i knew wat i know now get every bit of help you can dont suffer for 18 years as i have its done my health no good at all i have 5 children now 2 have adhd and have both been diagnosed oldest at 18 younger one at 11 older one whois 18 had speech and language problems at 3 also

Gemmzie

You can claim DLA and work, actually in certain situations it means that you can work part-time and get Working Tax Credits to help support you up to a liveable wage.