DLA Related...

Popperwell

Apologies if this has been already covered...I suspect until I settle in I may duplicate some questions that are covered by others.

I receive Income Support and DLA(and therefore help with Housing Benefit/Council Tax)

Obviously I worry about the future changes being introduced.

However...for now...

My Mother lives in the same house as me and is 80+ years old.

In the last few years after a fall downstairs leaving her with a crushed vertbrae and then approx a year later braking a hip...I am caring for her.

She receives her State Pension and monthly a little pension my late Father was given with his job.

Many years ago after some discussions with the CAB before all this we were told that as we are not married or partners our incomes are seperate.

As yet we have never considered applying for me being officially a carer...we manage ok as we are.

But if we decided to apply(and assuming we were considered to be entitled)how would we be affected?

As far as I can see the caring that I do and the hours I am available for Mum we fit the criteria. I certainly do not feel she could be on her own if I was working.

Would we be worse off? Would I have to switch to a different benefit? Would I be able to claim Carer's Allowence as well as DLA?

How would it affect Mum's income and would she have to claim Attendence Allowence? If she doesn't can I still claim Carer's Allowence?

I understand CA is pretty low, if I lost the other benefits would I still be entitled to HB and help with Council Tax?

Or if she was entitled AA could I still care for her and not claim CA?

Any help would be appreciated.

nannytone_2

in order for you to claim carers allowance, your mum would need to be receiving AA (attendance allowance)
you would be able to claim, but as IS is means tested, you would see a decrease in it, but by less than you'd gain by claiming CA.
I think you'd be about £30 a week better off.
No doubt somone will be along to confirm the amount.

Popperwell

Thanks Nannytone,

As long as we can pay the bills and afford to keep warm and buy food, I actually do not mind if I lose money or have to pay towards the cost of rent/council tax(I just want to be sure I do everything correctly)

Mum's well being is the most important thing of all.

The other worries are that as she is housebound(I'd like to think she might get out for a change of scenery once in a blue moon)I know she always hopes to improve but with the problems I see of mobility(and age)and other matters such as me helping with personal care I don't see that as being likely.

Income for Mum might change if the small amount of savings she has are needed because she goes into a home at some point and they are taken from her.

We are also prepared that some of the income that she has now(as mentioned in the original post)or that she or myself may receive in the future could change things.

(If I was to lose my DLA)or we were able to claim AA and/or CA it might be affected by not being able to spend the whole amount, if that was the case she would put it with her savings which could see income reduced by having to pay tax or going over the personal allowence or paying tax on savings interest.

I don't understand how that side of things work.

And of course you never know from one week/month to the next what your outgoings might be.

If I lose Income Support how would I be affected regarding the credits I earn towards my own State Pension? I understood IS is used for this purpose.

If I lost IS I'd be worse off anyhow as I have regular prescription medicines to buy monthy for my own illness. So that would then come out of my DLA(approx £48)

Equally, can you spend your money on whatever you wish?

I am happy to stay as we are but it's more a case thinking ahead with what may change in the future either because of changes caused by the new rules being introduced and what we may have to do to be in the best position financially.

nannytone_2

I'd suggest that the first thing you do is put in a claim for AA. like DLA it isnt means tested, so any savings she might have, wouldnt affect it.
you wouldnt lose all of your income support if you managed to claim carers, just a portion.
I REALLY THINK YOURE LOOKING TOO FAR AHEAD RIGHT NOW. ANYONES SITUATION COULD CHANGE AT ANY TIME, SO IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO PLAN AHEAD FOR EVERY SCENARIO,
EVEN IF YOUR MUM ONLY MANAGED TO GET LOW RATE aa, SHE'D BE APPROX £49 A WEEK BETTER OFF, PLUS YOU'D BE ABLE TO CLAIM CARERS, WHICH EVEN WITH THE REDUCTION IN YOU is WOULD MAKE YOU APPROX £30 A WEEK BETTER OFF. A GAIN OF ALMOST £80 A WEEK BETWEEN YOU!

Popperwell

Thanks again Nannytone...

I've sat down and worked out our general budget as best I can annually and believe we are doing everything as we should.

I think you hear so much about the changes planned and the media's castigation of genuine people for the few that are not, it can get to you and make you paranoid.

It's true that you cannot plan for every situation...

And I will seriously look into your suggestions...

I feel much better with your help and having be able to discuss it with someone...

Cheers:D

[Deleted User]

I am a mother of a son receiving DLA (midddle rate care, lower rate mobility). I personally get carers allowance because of the DLA, receipt of the carers allowance makes me entitled to income support as a carer. Basically what I am saying is its kindof like a house of cards. Carers allowance is dependent on DLA, my income support is dependent on receipt of carers allowance.

When I received carers allowance, my income support was reduced, but not by the full amount of carers allowance as suggested above. I can confirm that I am about £28 a week better off when all is said and done, plus there is the DLA amount each month.

DX2

Popperwell wrote: »

My Mother lives in the same house as me and is 80+ years old.

She receives her State Pension and monthly a little pension my late Father was given with his job.

Many years ago after some discussions with the CAB before all this we were told that as we are not married or partners our incomes are seperate.

Are HB and CTB aware that your mother lives with you?

kingfisherblue

You can claim CA as well as DLA, but only if the two do not contradict each other. If you give care to your mum, and that care is contradictory to whatever you claim DLA for, you risk losing your DLA.

I hope you understand what I mean - I can't think of another way of putting it, but hopefully someone else can explain more clearly. My head is fuddled this morning

Popperwell

DX2 wrote: »

Are HB and CTB aware that your mother lives with you?

Yes they are...all the appropriate departments have been supplied with every bit of information by phone and on every single form that has to be filled in.

Popperwell

kingfisherblue wrote: »

You can claim CA as well as DLA, but only if the two do not contradict each other. If you give care to your mum, and that care is contradictory to whatever you claim DLA for, you risk losing your DLA.

I hope you understand what I mean - I can't think of another way of putting it, but hopefully someone else can explain more clearly. My head is fuddled this morning

I understand what you are trying to say...