DLA and Housing Benefit

Chrysalis

interesting, someone on long term IB can get IS but cant get IS on short term IB. This makes a big difference to them since they then auto qualify for max rate of housing benefit.

Does someone on long rate IB qualify for disability premium of housing benefit?

Ted_Hutchinson

Chrysalis wrote:

someone on long term IB can get IS but cant get IS on short term IB. This makes a big difference to them since they then auto qualify for max rate of housing benefit.

I think there is some confusion here. IB is a contributory benefit and takes priority over non-contributory means tested benefits. So a person whose INCOME SUPPORT ENTITLEMENT equalled the amount they would get on INCAPACITY BENEFIT would be obliged to take the IB rather than the IS. Where the IB is below the IS entitlement then the IB is paid first and is made up to the IS total with a small balancing IS payment.

Chrysalis wrote:

Does someone on long rate IB qualify for disability premium of housing benefit?

The disability premiums apply to means tested benefits only.
The only way someone with IB can get a disability premium is if they also claim, and are awarded IS. This is why it's important for people to check their benefit situation after they have been awarded DLA. Because DLA at medium or high care rate attracts extra disability premiums it may then be the case that the amount they are entitled to on IS is greater than the amount they currently get on IB so they would then be entitled to an additional balancing payment on top of their IB.

Because IB and IS for a disabled person with DLA can be virtually the same it is worth claiming HB/CTB to see if you qualify. ENTITLEDTO

Chrysalis

I am not confused.

Short Term IB is above the IS entitlement meaning they dont qualify for IS. This has a chain affect meaning they then dont auto qualify for max housing benefit and when they move onto the higher rate short term IB they then lose half of the increase when their housing benefit gets reduced.

You said yourself when someone qualifies for both IB and IS they are obliged to take IB so why is this? does this seem fair to you? after all if IB is their only income and their financial situation is as such that they would qualify for IS has they not made contributions then why should they be entitled to less help?

Where I am confused tho is what happens on long term IB rate.

According to the dwp site someone on long term IB is entitled to the disability pemium of IS and dont need DLA to qualify for that so this then takes IS entitlement above their IB rate, so moving from short term IB to long term IB is a massive step for a single childless adult as they then qualify for IS and makes a very large difference on their housing benefit entitlement. DLA is a different matter in itself, many people on IB try for DLA and probably should get it but get turned down due to the medicals ruling the wrong way.

I had a look at entitled to but it didnt answer my questions unfortenatly.

Ted_Hutchinson

The rates for IS are here Social Security Benefit Rates (122kb)
the rates for IB are below.
Under State Pension age
Short-term lower rate £59.20
Short-term higher rate £70.05
Long-term basic rate £78.50
Over State Pension age
Short-term lower rate £75.35
Short-term higher rate £78.50
Incapacity Age Addition
Lower rate £8.25
Higher rate £16.50

Don't forget you can get a Disability Premium if getting short term Incapacity Benefit because you are terminally ill. But Your right that so often with benefits/taxcredits system they give with one hand and take simultaneously with the other, so you end up very little better off, very cross and feeling you've been diddled. If the system were less complicated they would need fewer staff, make fewer mistakes and have more money available to really help the poorer off.

Chrysalis

I will paste the relevant IS rates here for benefit of others. if IB entitlement is above these rates then not qualified for IS.

Single person.
aged 18-24 £45.50
aged 25 or over £57.45

IB rates from your post.
Short-term lower rate £59.20
Short-term higher rate £70.05

Both cases dont qualify for IS.

If claiming housing benefit and in receipt of £70.05 IB they will take of 60% of the difference between £70.05 and £57.45 as excess income.

The above doesnt happen if claiming DLA or terminal illness because then qualify for IS disability rate as below.

Disability premium for single person IS
£24.50

payable if in receipt of DLA or IB long term rate.

so 24.50 + 57.45 is above 78.50 meaning long term IB claimants then qualify for IS and of course full housing benefit support.

Ted are you able to explain to me how the age additions for IB work as I cannot find any explanations for that anywhere, Thanks.

code-a-holic

Since reading this been having a look around web and cant find a naswer for my question! If on IB higher rate and DLA, can you get IS? Apologies if i have read the posts wrongly, if i have read right i have been missing out!

Ted_Hutchinson

Chrysalis wrote:

Ted are you able to explain to me how the age additions for IB work as I cannot find any explanations for that anywhere, Thanks.

Incapacity Age Addition
Incapacity Age Addition is only payable for people who are receiving
long-term Incapacity Benefit. To qualify for the addition, you must
have been under age 45 at the start of your period of incapacity for
work. This includes days for which you may have been getting
Statutory Sick Pay.
There are two rates of Incapacity Age Addition. The rate you get
depends on how old you were when your period of incapacity for
work started, see the ‘Terminology’ section for explanation of terms.
If you were under 35 when your period of incapacity for work started,
you will get the higher amount of Incapacity Age Addition. If you were
between 35 and 44 inclusive, you will get the lower amount. For more
information, see leaflet GL23 Social security benefit rates.
If you were getting Incapacity Age Addition 8 weeks and one day before
you became entitled to your State Pension, your State Pension will be
increased by the amount of Incapacity Age Addition you were getting.

Ted_Hutchinson

code-a-holic wrote:

Since reading this been having a look around web and cant find a naswer for my question! If on IB higher rate and DLA, can you get IS? Apologies if i have read the posts wrongly, if i have read right i have been missing out!

Yes. This Benefits Calculator will work out your IS applicable amount.

Chrysalis

Right thanks for the info.

So this essentially means that one claiming IB still doesnt qualify for IS then without DLA or children, so even tho their is a larger IB payout it gets lost on reduced housing benefit and council tax benefit. Does the government assume that everyone who has previously worked is rich or doesnt have problems paying rent or something? because it seems daft to me. Better to pay less and qualify them for IS, or just give them IS instead of IB.

Also I know that on short term lower rate one gets a full HC2 cert if applying but would someone on longer term rate with higher age aiddtion payout (95) get the same help? if no thats another loss from not getting IS.

Ted I am not angry at you you have been great with your help just frustrated at this unfairness with the system.

Chrysalis

Is the age addition supposed to be added automatically, moved onto long term in last payment but only 157.92 for 2 weeks so seems to be just 78.50 for 27 year old.