Benefit Advice

Zebra

I'm the carer for a friend with Huntingtons Disease, and trying to help her with her finances.

She already claims Disability Living Allowance, but I was wondering if there were any other state benefits that she would be entitled to.

Thanks.

NASA_2

If she is under state pensions age then ESA can be claimed:

http://campaigns.dwp.gov.uk/esa/

sunnyone

Zebra wrote: »

I'm the carer for a friend with Huntingtons Disease, and trying to help her with her finances.

She already claims Disability Living Allowance, but I was wondering if there were any other state benefits that she would be entitled to.

Thanks.

Is she/should she be on the highest rate DLA?

Does she claim Ib/IS/ESA?

HB/LHA and CTB?

sunnyone

Zebra

NASA wrote: »

If she is under state pensions age then ESA can be claimed:

Thanks Nasa - I'll look into that. Anything should help as finances are really tight at the moment.

sunnyone wrote: »

Is she/should she be on the highest rate DLA?

Yes she is.

sunnyone wrote: »

Does she claim Ib/IS/ESA?

HB/LHA and CTB?

Please excuse my ignorance, but as I've never claimed benefits before this means nothing to me, would you mind expanding.

amilotte

May be worth contacting the Huntingtons Disease Association - they should be able to advise you on financial matters also.

sunnyone

Zebra wrote: »

Thanks Nasa - I'll look into that. Anything should help as finances are really tight at the moment.

Yes she is.

Please excuse my ignorance, but as I've never claimed benefits before this means nothing to me, would you mind expanding.

If shes under 60 she may be in reciept of incapasity benefit or IS in liu of IB if she didnt have the NI credits for IB, ESA is the new version of IS/IB and this started nearly a year ago now and people unable to work under pension age now claim this either contributions based or income based/means tested, I assume she hasnt paid contributions recently so income based could be claimed if she had no other income. DLA isnt counted as income.

The other two are housing based benefits for people who rent (HB/LHA) and council tax benefit which is also means tested.

sunnyone.

seven-day-weekend

HB/LHA and CTB?

Housing Benefit/Local Housing Allowance (i.e help with the rent), and Council Tax Benefit (i.e help with the Council Tax

Zebra

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

HB/LHA and CTB?

Housing Benefit/Local Housing Allowance (i.e help with the rent), and Council Tax Benefit (i.e help with the Council Tax

Thanks - I'll look into all those as well.

It's so confusing - all these different benefits, and all with different ways to apply. It's no wonder that so many people are put off from applying for them in the first place.

I've also been told about Tax Credits - would she be able to apply for those aswell as the benefits?

seven-day-weekend

I think you have to be working and/or have children to get tax credits.

bryanb

Why not log on to "entitled to" it seems pretty comprehensive.

Zebra

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

I think you have to be working and/or have children to get tax credits.

She has a 15 year old child.

bryanb wrote: »

Why not log on to "entitled to" it seems pretty comprehensive.

What's that then?