Quick Benefits Check

jolson

....

MJay wrote:

but was turned down for DLA last year.

Hi MJay

Don't give up on the DLA. My partner is Deaf, and so is my son. I went through the DLA process for both of them and was turned down both times. On appeal, I won DLA for both of them, and successfully argued my son's DLA from lower to middle rate care component.

The DLA assessment procedure seems to be entirely arbitrary, as is their system for deciding how much to award. I know a lot of people who have been turned down, only to get it on appeal. If there is a group or organisation for your particular disability, they may be able to advise you on how best to fill in the forms. Otherwise, the NDCS (https://www.ndcs.org.uk) has some excellent information about it that you might be able to apply to your own case.

Cheers

John

caforty

Hi again, I think the problem here is the term "passport". A passport benefit is one which automatically entitles a beneficiary to claim and receiveother benefits. If you are a parent in receipt of child ben you can as you say apply for other benefits and will be entitled to various premiums and elements when calculating that benefit that you wouldn't otherwise but it is only one of various factors which will determine whether you actually end up getting anything. Probably the only exception to that is Child Tax Credit which is pretty much guaranteed unless you're fabulously wealthy. As to whether this is fair I bow to others experience that it isn't.

kitaj

For anyone who is in the position of contesting whether they are 'responsible for a child' (legal phrase used by the various agencies) I've been sent a good link by the Low Incomes Tax Reform Group http://www.litrg.org.uk/help/lowincome/taxcredits/childtaxcredit.cfm#resp which outlines the gist of how responsibility is determined. The Low Income Tax Reform Group's website is a good website for anyone on a low income who's trying to establish what they are entitled to and they will answer individual queries if it's within their knowledge base.

As an aside and not financial at all, I think the point regarding how parents feel about being told that they are pretty irrelevant in their child's life according to tax law is a good one. It's all very well expecting parents to take responsibility financially and otherwise for the children they bring into the world but lets have a bit more even handedness here when it comes to dishing out the cash too. Not every parent who doesn't have a Child Benefit book sees themself as the babysitter... I seem to remember the phrase used by the CSA was 'absent parent' - that went down well with the parents who had shared care, too!

Oh and yes it is 2006. Except in Government Offices that deal with finance when it may as well be 1900.

kitaj

I just rememebered - my son gets Higher Rate Mobility allowance (not paid to me). I applied for a share of the Allowance and was told it couldn't be split but after initially telling me that the the free tax disc also only applied to one parent the DLA finally admitted that it didn't know whether two discs could be issued as it was in the gift of the DVLA. They suggested that I contact the DVLA and ask them. I never did as I became worn out with dealing with officials but other people may have more energy than me....

POSSETTE

there is an answer to future probs people may have with all this....DONT HAVE KIDS YOU CANT AFFORD...!! i didnt... and my parents both worked three jobs between them because there were no credits then!..sorry just had to say it..too many folk think we tax payers will pay for thier brats...right ive calmed down now

Jo_R_2

MJay wrote:

I have three permanent disabilities - one of which is degenerative but was turned down for DLA last year.
MJay

Re: the DLA. A good proportion of DLA claims are turned down at the first application. Picture the scene: with an initial application, it will get reviewed and the decision made by the first level employees, who have less experience of cases, conditions and their effects, etc. I can't remember the exact figures I was quoted but it's a significant proportion.

If you dispute this in the first instance, the application will go to the next level up; if it is then turned down again the employee has to write something like a 7-page report explaining exactly why it has been turned down. When you think of how busy these places are that handle the applications, simply to do that much paperwork to say no is a lot of time and manpower... Thus you have a lot more scope if this happens that you may initally be turned down, protest, have yr case looked at, then get a 'yes.' So it is worth reapplying and keeping at it.

They like to hear about concrete examples, evidence of the individual components of the disability, and be as specific as you can. Detail what the particular issue is, how it affects you, when it affects you, what help and support you need either from another person or from an aid, whether you get it or not, and if you don't get this help, what consequence it has/may have.

HTH a little and good luck!

deca_321

can any1 tell me what is the discount rate for empty domestic property rates in scotland, edinburgh? All my council tax booklets state this rate as being 50% discount for domestic property rates. But now they have done away with the booklets!! lol you cannot find out this info!! yet more council dogdyness for us lol

littlejaffa

If the property is empty you don't pay any water rates .. and depending on the reason it's empty you shouldn't pay any no council tax (water rates are paid with these but broken down on your bills).

The 50% you mention relates to non-domestic properties only.

you can contact the council to check on 0131 200 2323 or justask@edinburgh.gov.uk

Paul_J

Martin, I'd just like to say a big thank-you for posting that link up and for including it in one of your newsletters last year.
I decided to click on it and input my elderly parents details to see what they might be entitled to. They worked all their lives, paid their pensions, NI and taxes, but their pensions are paltry.
Well, after applying, they learned they were able to get around a third off their weekly rent (back dated 12 months- the £1100 cheque just landed yesterday!) as well as 31pence off their monthly council tax.
The rent reduction and cheque has really helped them out. The smaller weekly rent has eased their situation noticeably.
They really had no idea that they were entitled to anything, especially after applying for benefits a couple of years ago and getting knocked back.
So thanks again. Its really appreciated.

I sometimes wonder if you realise how much money you, and other contributors, have helped people to save through your website. For some of us its just 'nice' to save a bit of money here and there. For others (like my parents) even the smallest of savings can make a big difference to the weekly outgoings.

Thank-you everyone :T :beer:

damo73_2

Offering help

I work for DWP as an income support decision maker both with fresh claims & maintence. any problems / queries please just ask.