Help with csa and dla

Glpark01

We get higher rate dla for my son, i get carers allowance and we get extra tax credits because of the disability element, my partner pays csa for his other child, can the csa take the extra money we get for our son into account as my partners income?

Any help would be appreciated as the csa don't actually know the answers to any of this when i've asked so i need to back myself up with facts incase they start taking our dla, carers allowance and extra tax credits.

Also if my oh gets dla, can the csa take that into account as his income too, he does work and currently pays csa and they've said if he gets dla his payments for his child will increase which doesn't seem right taking disabilty payments for a healthy child?

kingfisherblue

DLA isn't usually included as income for most things, but I'm not sure about the CSA - they often seem to have different rules! I think I would get in touch with Contact a Family - they have a free helpline and will advise on all matters about disability, including financial concerns and benefit advice. They might be able to point you in the direction of a link to government legislation.

www.cafamily.org.uk

Carer's Allowance is a taxable benefit, but your income should not be included if it is a CSA2 case (opened since March 2003).

mum24boys

Im afraid that they will take all your child tax credit into account. We have just had a change of circumstances because of the exact same reason as you. My youngest son has DLA and i claim carers and this made our ctc rise. They had to get on to a different dept but we had it confirmed within a few days. The PWC in our case is now £15 a week better off, off the back of my son having a serious health problem. Iv complained to CSA and MP but its in the child support law so have to pay it. Your right its not fair and it makes me more savage than iv ever been. Its outragous to take money meant for a sick and disabled child and give it to a fit and healthy one. We were given the option of a varient form but the questions they asked were impertinent and asked for proof of illness and letters from Drs ect and when you have battled DLA i dont see as to why it should be justifyed again to them. The DLA letter should be enough. Its not the CSA business so we did not bother.
DLA and Carers is NOT taken as income by the CSA. The DLA is your sons benefit and carers is yours. Just the tax credits are taken.

Glpark01

Thank you, im absolutely gobsmacked that they can get more for us having a disabled child, but then again the csa have no morals. We asked for a varient form but they sent us payslips instead and then when we rang to complain they told us we didn't need one as they were processing it already, so god knows what they'll do to our payments.

Blue_Elephant

DLA for *anyone* will not be taken into account, neither will your carer's allowance. As long as you're getting child benefit for the child in your house you can apply for a variation.

You need to give them details of the extra costs involved with having a child with a disability/long term illness, anything from having to have modifications to your home to extra heating bills. Even extra transport costs, e.g. hospital trips or having to use taxis because your car won't fit a wheelchair for example. You then send them your DLA award, and they will cost up how much, say transport costs you, and them look at how much of an award for DLA you get, so for example, if transport costs you £100pw, and you get £50 DLA, they'll take the other £50 off your weekly net income.

Hope that helps.

PS you don't need Doctors letters or anything, proof of DLA/attendance allowance is enough.