Help please - are we missing out ?

millies-mate

Hi all - new to the forum so a big hello to everyone.

Hoping for some advice and pointers if anyone can help please ?

I am a 42 year old woman and have been on long term Incapacity benefit for about 4-5 years now due to CFS/ME along with depression and mild agoraphobia.After a successful appeal against a no entitlement decision,I have just been awarded DLA care and mobility components at the lower rate on both.

My Husband works full time (£23500pa) and obviously since I had to give up work we have really struggled on basically half income.We have no dependant children,and live alone in our mortgaged home.

At present we claim no other benefits than those listed above and wonder with the DLA award if we are now entitled to anything else,and whether we should have been claiming anything on our Council Tax as we have paid full council tax until now.

Any help gratefully received !!

karenx

With a income of 23k plus incapacity and DLA payments I doubt you will be entitled to any council tax benefit. I could be wrong though.

millies-mate

Hi - it was more the single occupancy 25% reduction I was thinking of.We know that we would not be ebtitled to any means tested benefits,just interested in any statutory things that come with the IB/DLA entitlement.

karenx

Single occupancy is just that though- for someone living on their own.
I think you get free prescriptions while on DLA

firesidemaid

all the other benefits come along once you are claiming a means-tested benefit -DLA is NOT means tested. i don't think you will be entitled to anything else. you are not exempt for CT purposes because you get DLA or IB.

i think you can get free cavity wall insulation/loft insulation if in receipt of DLA though - and it might help reduce your bills.

some local authorities might give you a bus-pass (but SOME are means-tested).

free prescriptions will be down to income again. if you need to get lots of things on prescription you could buy a pre-paid season-ticket.

you can always check using the website www.entitledto.co.uk

also, have a look on the disabilities section/board forum for lots of other things.

healy

karenx wrote: »

Single occupancy is just that though- for someone living on their own.
I think you get free prescriptions while on DLA

People do not get free prescriptions just because they receive DLA.

Indie_Kid

healy wrote: »

People do not get free prescriptions just because they receive DLA.

There is however, something (might be what Karen is thinking about?) about having a continuing (ie, permanent) physical disability which means you can't get out of your home without the help of another person. I get free prescriptions on this basis.

daska

millies-mate wrote: »

Hi - it was more the single occupancy 25% reduction I was thinking of.We know that we would not be ebtitled to any means tested benefits,just interested in any statutory things that come with the IB/DLA entitlement.

There is a Council Tax discount for disabled people but...

Disabled band reduction scheme
The disabled band reduction scheme aims to ensure that disabled people do not pay more Council Tax because they live in a larger property than they would have needed if they were not disabled. Having a disability does not automatically entitle you to a reduction.

In summary, the requirements for a reduction are that the property must be the main residence of at least one disabled person and it must have at least one of:

1. an additional bathroom or kitchen required to meet the needs of the disabled person
2. a room (other than a bathroom, kitchen or toilet) required to meet the needs of the disabled person, and used predominantly by them
3. extra space inside the property to allow for the use of a wheelchair - wheelchairs for outdoor use only are excluded

The room or the wheelchair must also be essential or of major importance to the disabled person's well-being, due to the nature and extent of their disability.

'Disabled person' in this context means a person who is substantially and permanently disabled. The disabled person can be either an adult or a child and does not have to be responsible for paying the Council Tax bill.

An extra room does not need to have been specially built, but your home will not qualify for a reduction unless the 'essential or of major importance' test above is met. Simply rearranging rooms - for example, having a bedroom on the ground floor rather than the first floor - is unlikely to make your home eligible for a reduction.

firesidemaid

you also, at least used to be able to get a council discount if someone was 'severely mentally impaired' - this could be signed by a gp

again, if you need a large amount of water for your needs brought about by a disability you can get a reduction or capping of your water bill - but often, again, it is means tested.

i think also you can get a pass for free cinema going for your carer, but not sure if dla has to be of a certain level or not.

dmg24

firesidemaid wrote: »

you also, at least used to be able to get a council discount if someone was 'severely mentally impaired' - this could be signed by a gp

Depression and mild agoraphobia would not come under severe mental impairment.

firesidemaid wrote: »

some local authorities might give you a bus-pass (but SOME are means-tested).

The OP would not qualify for this.

daska

sh1305 wrote: »

There is however, something (might be what Karen is thinking about?) about having a continuing (ie, permanent) physical disability which means you can't get out of your home without the help of another person. I get free prescriptions on this basis.

Yippee! something useful! Might just apply for that myself thank you sh1305

http://www.patient.co.uk/showdoc/23069022/