DLA, IB and housing benefit

richard9991

skint_kezza wrote: »

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.



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.

If you get you dla renewed at midle care apply for income support then as the dla is the passport for severe disability prem if you get the high care then you will get the enhanced disability as well the dla mrc and hrc get you the income support so if dla is not in payment then you will get turned down

skint_kezza

richard9991 wrote: »

If you get you dla renewed at midle care apply for income support then as the dla is the passport for severe disability prem if you get the high care then you will get the enhanced disability as well the dla mrc and hrc get you the income support so if dla is not in payment then you will get turned down

Oh i see. Thank you. So i need to wait and see what DLA i get and then reapply for DLA. Thank you!

Indie_Kid

richard9991 wrote: »

If you get you dla renewed at midle care apply for income support then as the dla is the passport for severe disability prem if you get the high care then you will get the enhanced disability as well the dla mrc and hrc get you the income support so if dla is not in payment then you will get turned down

You do need to be living alone (or classed as) to claim the severe disability premium.

OP - have you had a look on the old style board?

skint_kezza

sh1305 wrote: »

You do need to be living alone (or classed as) to claim the severe disability premium.

OP - have you had a look on the old style board?

I do live alone.

Old style board???

SMC_2

skint_kezza wrote: »

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.



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.

Ah I see, I didn't realise DLA claims actually ended and had to be reapplied for. I had assumed that like IB it carried on and they reassessed you from time to time whilst still on it.

I do hope you can sort something out as it is so unfair your health is suffering from all the stress. I still live at home due to ill health as I know there is no way I could move out and be able to afford to live as IB is my only income.

skint_kezza

I just wanted to update for those who have given me some great help.

I've just had my DLA decision but have only been awarded Higher rate care, but no care componant :-( I've gone from higher care to nothing, but nothing has changed at all. So i'm now going to have to fight some more to see if they will change their minds. I will write a letter detaling(again) what care i do get and need and hopefully i won't need to officially appeal.

Its not come on a good day as i've been so ill and am very weak and exhausted so just cried rather than be relieved.

So does that now mean i still won't qualify for the IB top up that i was told about? Can i only get that if i get the care componant?

millym

So sorry to hear they took away your care component. I think you can download form GL24 to appeal online. Please be aware that sometimes an appeal can result in the loss of the existing award ie. your HRM, so please try and speak to someone at the CAB etc.

You must try and send in as much additional evidence as you can to support your appeal. Make sure you write your national insurance no at the top of each separate page as these can go missing...

I had to appeal earlier this year and got it back when they did a reconsidertion. This took about a month.

In the meantime, could you open a new bank account and have your benefit paid into that, rather than having to pay charges every month. Could you delay paying one or some of your bills for few months until this is sorted out?

Also, years ago I was moved from HRC to LRC and in the end I just had to review my finances and live on the lesser amount. I hope this doesn't happen to you though, as it is bad enough being really ill, without the stress and hassle of having to sort out benefits and money.

Good luck and take care!

skint_kezza

Thank you milly. I will have a chat with the CAB i think. I will write a letter first and see if they will change their mind before an appeal as it says i can do on the form.

Im very confused as to why i've gone from getting it to not, when i am no better. Its like it depends on one persons decision.

I didn't realise i could lose what i have been awarded if they review it. Thats a worry. I'll make sure i get as much back up and advice as i can before i risk that! Thank you x

millym

Good luck kezza! It would appear that they are either reducing or taking away lots of peoples' DLA at the moment, but I think that success rates at appeal and also reconsideration,are pretty high.

The CAB are generally really helpful, but also very busy. They recommend that you get there at opening time, but if you aren't well enough to go,try phoning them (you might have to keep redialling but you will get through eventually).

Try and send as much as you can to support your appeal with the form, as this will help at reconsideration. But you only have about a month to appeal, so if you don't have the info, send it in when you get it.

Sorry you are having to go through all this. I'm sure it will be making your illness worse but don't give up. Take care, milly.