HELP!!! Loss of everything when changed to CTC

1stmonkeyman

Hi,

Up to July 2005 I was claiming Incapacity benefit (long term) and this was topped up with Income Support, also getting DLA care component (lower rate). This entitled me to full housing and council tax benefit.

In July 2005 myself, my wife and our three children moved house and got transfered to Child Tax Credit and the Income Support element of my benefit was stopped. As I was not in receipt of I.S., the council told me they would have to means test all benefits and this took me £50 over the amount the law says I need to live on. So now I do not get full housing and council tax benefit, but the only thing that has changed is the to words Income Support. Also I cannot get help from the social fund anymore and trying to get an exemption certificate is a nightmare, so I cannot afford the medication I need for my illness.

Can anyone help.

Broken_hearted

Hugs we are still clinging on to the income support top up and are stressed what will happen if we lose it. They tried last year to tell us how much better off we would be on CTC but we said thanks but no thanks. Just paying for OH's medication and hospital visits would bankrupt us.

1stmonkeyman

Yep! No matter how much they say you will be better off YOU WON'T!!!!!!

Why don't they class Incapacity benefit the same as Income Support. They are penalising people because they have an illness that stops them from working. I know this might sound like a moan but it was the doctors/specialists that stopped me from working because I have osteoarthritis and they said if I carry on I will end up in a wheelchair and incapable of looking after myself.

EasilyAggravated

IB is paid if you have made enough NI contributions. if not then you get IS.
i fail to see how you could get both. they only pay income support to those that havent made enough contributions, as they then make the contributions so you are entitled to a pension when you get to that age.
if i were you id be on the dog and bone to the citizens advice yesterday to get it sorted. remember they dont like paying out benefits. even if you are entitled.

oh and irrelevant of what other benefits you get, DLA entitles you to free housing benefit and council tax. thats the whole point of it

ohreally

EasilyAggravated wrote:

DLA entitles you to free housing benefit and council tax. thats the whole point of it

What level of DLA brings this entitlement?

Ted_Hutchinson

EasilyAggravated wrote:

IB is paid if you have made enough NI contributions. if not then you get IS.
i fail to see how you could get both.

If your applicable amount, through premiums is higher than your incapacity benefit amount then your IB is paid first and topped up with income support to meet your applicable amount so both IB and IS are in payment although the IS amount may be very little.

EasilyAggravated wrote:

oh and irrelevant of what other benefits you get, DLA entitles you to free housing benefit and council tax. thats the whole point of it

Not necessarily. The disability living allowance award will increase your chance of getting housing benefit because a middle or high rate care increases your applicable amount via extra premiums but a low rate care or mobility DLA award doesn't attract the same premiums so you cannot say any DLA award automatically entitles you to HB or CTB.

Eager_Elephant

Hi EasilyAggravated,

The line you quoted in the above about DLA is incorrect.

DLA does not entitle you to full Housing or Council Tax Benefit. The only benefits that passport you to full HB and CTB are Income Support, Income based JSA and Pension Credit Guarantee.

Full benefit may be awarded if your income is below or at your applicable amount.

DLA however, depending on the rate may entitle you to the range of disability premiums.

I do agree however that the op should contact his nearest CAB or benefits advice centre.

EE

EasilyAggravated

ohreally wrote:

What level of DLA brings this entitlement?

im unable to work due to a long term illness. i get low rate care and mobility DLA. i also get income support. i live in a private rented house and get a small portion of my rent paid as well as all my council tax paid. if i lived in a council house id get all my rent paid.

Fran

Is your wife working?

1stmonkeyman

EasilyAggravated wrote:

im unable to work due to a long term illness. i get low rate care and mobility DLA. i also get income support. i live in a private rented house and get a small portion of my rent paid as well as all my council tax paid. if i lived in a council house id get all my rent paid.

I used to live in private rented house and getting Income support, DLA, Incapacity benefit and as long as the Fair Rent Officer agrees to the amount of rent payable for the property and your TOTAL INCOME EXCLUDING DLA does not exceed your applicable amount you should get full HOUSING AND COUNCIL TAX BENEFIT.

My council tried to con me by not paying my rent fully but I argued and showed them a copy of the Fair Rent Officers letter and in the end they paid full benefit. But as you know government does not like paying if they can get away with it.

KEEP NAGGING, IT WORKS.

clairec79

Broken Hearted, you would probably still get free prescriptions on CTC if you have no other income than benefits - I do