Incapacity Benefit and single parent?

24skins

I'm asking on behalf of a friend of mine who is on the long-term rate of Incapacity Benefit, he has a 12 year old daughter whose mother has been unwell and is considering asking for full time custody; my question is, what would he be entitled to if his daughter moved in with him? Would he still be able to claim Incapacity Benefit even if he was a single parent, or would he have to change on to Income Support?

I've had a look around and it doesn't seem clear at all and would be very glad of any assistance

dmg24

He would need to claim Child Benefit and Child Tax Credits.

Does he receive DLA?

24skins

dmg24 wrote: »

He would need to claim Child Benefit and Child Tax Credits.

Does he receive DLA?

No, only the IB.

dmg24

Do you know how much IB he receives? If he does not get an age addition, he will be entitled to IS (approx £2 per week). If he does get the age addition, he will not get any IS.

Does he receive help with mortgage interest or LHA/ HB?

24skins

dmg24 wrote: »

Do you know how much IB he receives? If he does not get an age addition, he will be entitled to IS (approx £2 per week). If he does get the age addition, he will not get any IS.

Does he receive help with mortgage interest or LHA/ HB?

He gets the long-term rate and I believe he does get an allowance because of his age (he's 46) - I think the full amount he gets is around £96 but would have to ask to be sure.

He is in a council property and gets HB.

dmg24

Yep, that would be the lower rate age addition. Therefore he will not be eligible for IS.

If he does not receive full HB at the moment it would be worth him submitting a change of circumstances.

24skins

dmg24 wrote: »

Yep, that would be the lower rate age addition. Therefore he will not be eligible for IS.

If he does not receive full HB at the moment it would be worth him submitting a change of circumstances.

Thankyou, you've been very helpful.

If he wasn't entitled to IS, would he actually be any better off other than the HB? If he got Child Tax Credit would the amount be deducted IB, or would he get both?

dmg24

He will get both - IB is for him, CTC is for the child.

healy

24skins wrote: »

Thankyou, you've been very helpful.

If he wasn't entitled to IS, would he actually be any better off other than the HB? If he got Child Tax Credit would the amount be deducted IB, or would he get both?

There would not be anything deducted from the IB as the CTC is paid for the child.

24skins

dmg24 wrote: »

He will get both - IB is for him, CTC is for the child.

Excellent, thankyou both

sunnyone

CTC is affected any savings whereas IB isnt.

sunnyone