DLA, IB and housing benefit

skint_kezza

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

Nice to give someone some good news!

Let us know how you get on, skint kezza.

I will do thank you. I am so much less stressed today knowing that things will soon be easier.
I've applied online so now just need to wait for them to ring me. Fingers crossed!

Piffyonarockbun

My sister-in-law is a solicitor and works for CAB. She said that it is the best kept secret that you can have income support whilst on IB. I struggled for two years living on just incapacity benefit, amassing huge debts (mortgage, ccs etc). She helped me with my DLA application and that is when she told me about the IS. I cried with relief at the time!!

ash4becks

Piffyonarockbun wrote: »

My sister-in-law is a solicitor and works for CAB. She said that it is the best kept secret that you can have income support whilst on IB. I struggled for two years living on just incapacity benefit, amassing huge debts (mortgage, ccs etc). She helped me with my DLA application and that is when she told me about the IS. I cried with relief at the time!!

does this work the other way around on dla , income support and have been on the sick 3 years x

skint_kezza

Piffyonarockbun wrote: »

My sister-in-law is a solicitor and works for CAB. She said that it is the best kept secret that you can have income support whilst on IB. I struggled for two years living on just incapacity benefit, amassing huge debts (mortgage, ccs etc). She helped me with my DLA application and that is when she told me about the IS. I cried with relief at the time!!

Thats great news! Bet that was such a relief for you!!

skint_kezza

Update for those who have helped me. I've had a nightmare time. I feel sick with worry about how i'm getting through the next few weeks.

I waited 12 weeks for DLA to get in touch, but instead of getting my claim amount, i had a letter saying they can't make a decision and are now wanting a GP report. I've never had any of this before and i've had the same condition (ME) for 8 years now and have never had a problem getting the DLA.

I have also just had a reply back from the income support claim i was told i would qualify for, but they have told me i don't qualify as i have more than what the government say i can live on.
I get £106.40 a week from IB. They say i can live on £93.45 a week.

I have lived on IB and DLA for 8 years now and now all i am getting is IB. I am barely affording to eat and without my family helping me out last week, i wouldn't have afforded any food, as i have to cover all my bills.

I just feel sick with worry. I don't know how much longer i can cope.

I really believe the DWP have been told to be extra tough and are going to deny me the benefit that i've lived on for 8 years, and which i cannot live without.

The stress and worry is making my illness worse. I can barely sleep with worry, feel sick all the time and my anxiety has spiralled.

My GP, who has treated me for the past 6 years has left, so i am going to my surgery today to talk to another doctor to see if they will take me over and hopefully they believe in ME enough to give me a good report. I rarely go to the dr for ME as there is nothing they can do. I just go for medication with helps me cope with the symptoms.

I'm sorry for such an essay but i'm really worried and just feel like i have no control over my financial well being at all. :-(

burkey365

will you not get moved to ESA

skint_kezza

What is ESA?

fluffymovie

Bit late to this thread but just wanted to confirm some points that I don't think you had a reply on.

You asked if DLA was used as income for HB and it isn't. However, it is important that your LA know about any DLA award as it can be used to give you premiums.

When a claim is decided, we use your Applicable Amount. This is made up of personal allowances and any suitable premiums such as disability, family etc.

A single person over 25 needs £65.45 per week to live on for the purposes of an HB calc (and IS / JSA This means that if you have income over this amount, a taper is applied and you would not receive full HB.

As you are on Long Term Incap, you will be given the disability premium by virtue of that but as you are on higher rate care, you should also get the enhanced disability premium and I think, the severe as well (haven't got my notes at home)

Also you asked about your capital. The limit for capital before it makes a difference to your claim is £6000 so if the amount the council have for you is below that, it won't give you any more HB but if they are using more than £6000, contact them ASAP.

As you have been on HB for a long time, you won't be affected by Local Housing Allowance (LHA) which is a new type of HB.

Also, HB is a weekly benefit and not monthly so your calculation of what you receive every month may need amending.

You should also contact your HB section as if you aren't on DLA, they will need to amend your premiums until such time as it is resolved.

Good Luck

SMC_2

skint_kezza wrote: »

Update for those who have helped me. I've had a nightmare time. I feel sick with worry about how i'm getting through the next few weeks.

I waited 12 weeks for DLA to get in touch, but instead of getting my claim amount, i had a letter saying they can't make a decision and are now wanting a GP report. I've never had any of this before and i've had the same condition (ME) for 8 years now and have never had a problem getting the DLA.

I have also just had a reply back from the income support claim i was told i would qualify for, but they have told me i don't qualify as i have more than what the government say i can live on.
I get £106.40 a week from IB. They say i can live on £93.45 a week.

I have lived on IB and DLA for 8 years now and now all i am getting is IB. I am barely affording to eat and without my family helping me out last week, i wouldn't have afforded any food, as i have to cover all my bills.

I just feel sick with worry. I don't know how much longer i can cope.

I really believe the DWP have been told to be extra tough and are going to deny me the benefit that i've lived on for 8 years, and which i cannot live without.

The stress and worry is making my illness worse. I can barely sleep with worry, feel sick all the time and my anxiety has spiralled.

My GP, who has treated me for the past 6 years has left, so i am going to my surgery today to talk to another doctor to see if they will take me over and hopefully they believe in ME enough to give me a good report. I rarely go to the dr for ME as there is nothing they can do. I just go for medication with helps me cope with the symptoms.

I'm sorry for such an essay but i'm really worried and just feel like i have no control over my financial well being at all. :-(

So have they actually stopped your DLA payments while they review it?

skint_kezza

fluffymovie wrote: »

Bit late to this thread but just wanted to confirm some points that I don't think you had a reply on.

You asked if DLA was used as income for HB and it isn't. However, it is important that your LA know about any DLA award as it can be used to give you premiums.

When a claim is decided, we use your Applicable Amount. This is made up of personal allowances and any suitable premiums such as disability, family etc.

A single person over 25 needs £65.45 per week to live on for the purposes of an HB calc (and IS / JSA This means that if you have income over this amount, a taper is applied and you would not receive full HB.

As you are on Long Term Incap, you will be given the disability premium by virtue of that but as you are on higher rate care, you should also get the enhanced disability premium and I think, the severe as well (haven't got my notes at home)

Also you asked about your capital. The limit for capital before it makes a difference to your claim is £6000 so if the amount the council have for you is below that, it won't give you any more HB but if they are using more than £6000, contact them ASAP.

As you have been on HB for a long time, you won't be affected by Local Housing Allowance (LHA) which is a new type of HB.

Also, HB is a weekly benefit and not monthly so your calculation of what you receive every month may need amending.

You should also contact your HB section as if you aren't on DLA, they will need to amend your premiums until such time as it is resolved.

Good Luck

thank you for all that info. I went in today to tell them i'm only getting IB but they say nothing changes as DLA isn't taken into account anyway, so i don't get any extra help.

SMC wrote: »

So have they actually stopped your DLA payments while they review it?

My claim ended in May, with my last week payment on the 1st of June. So since then i am living on only IB.

I've worked out my bills today and they total £343 a month, so that leaves me with £60 a month to live on. I can't feed myself and run my home on £15 a week.

I've decided the only way to get through this is to apply for a crisis loan. I'm so upset as i've spent over 10 yrs clearing almost all my debt and now i've got to get myself into more while i wait to see if i get DLA again or not.

I'm seeing my GP tomo and they will then send of the GP report, but who knows how long it will take after then for me to hear their decision.

I just don't understand how anyone can possibly live on £400 a month when they have a home to run and keep. The worry is making me ill.