In catch 22 with Benifits

geminigirl1

hi please give me some advice as i seem to be in a catch 22 situation ...im on low rate care DLA high rate mobility care component i recieve long term IB and i have a daughter who cares for me..... we are not entitled to any help with prescriptions, winter fule etc income support, carers allowance anything.. but what im on i cannot live like this, i have already gone bankrupt to trying to keep my head above water, cos bills got out of control...... help me please ... some weeks i have no money to eat :-(:mad:

MrsManda

geminigirl1 wrote: »

hi please give me some advice as i seem to be in a catch 22 situation ...im on low rate care DLA high rate mobility care component i recieve long term IB and i have a daughter who cares for me..... we are not entitled to any help with prescriptions, winter fule etc income support, carers allowance anything.. but what im on i cannot live like this, i have already gone bankrupt to trying to keep my head above water, cos bills got out of control...... help me please ... some weeks i have no money to eat :-(:mad:

Do you or your daughter work?

If you don't work due to your illness why are you not claiming Employment Support Allowance?

Why is your daughter not eligible for Carer's Allowance?

If you are classed as being on a low income you may be entitled to free prescriptions/help with health costs:
http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/792.aspx

If you claim Income based ESA then you are entitled to free NHS prescriptions, dental and eye tests

McKneff

MrsManda wrote: »

Do you or your daughter work?

If you don't work due to your illness why are you not claiming Employment Support Allowance?

Why is your daughter not eligible for Carer's Allowance?

If you are classed as being on a low income you may be entitled to free prescriptions/help with health costs:
http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/792.aspx

If you claim Income based ESA then you are entitled to free NHS prescriptions, dental and eye tests

The OP has stated that she gets Incapacity Benefit a forerunner of ESA.

OP What is your total weekly or monthly income and how old are you.

MrsManda

McKneff wrote: »

The OP has stated that she gets Incapacity Benefit a forerunner of ESA.

oops. I missed that.
Though the rest of my post I think still stands?

I don't think my brain is working today, I read ' high rate mobility care' as meaning that the OP was getting high rate for mobility and care

zzzLazyDaisy

MrsManda wrote: »

Why is your daughter not eligible for Carer's Allowance?

Carer's allowance is only paid in respect of claimants in receipt of mid or high rate care component DLA.

OP has already stated that she is on low rate care, so her daughter doesn't qualify for CA.

ecgirl07

OP have a look around the forums and complete a statement of affairs listing all your incomings and outgoings. Then have a look at the oldstyle moneysaving board and the debt free board, loads of folks on there will help you find some slack in your budget.

KxMx

You may get limited health costs with that income but you won't get full help (so no free prescriptions).

Indie_Kid

If you're on LRC, your applicable amount amount should be £93.45 a week. Entitled to says you're entitled to £2.05 a week IS.

You only get the winter fuel allowance if you're over 60.

Jowo_2

DX2 wrote: »

Okay so you get IB long term = £91.40 per week
DLA low rate care = £18.95 per week
DLA high rate Mobility = £49.85 per week
Per week you get £160.20

Does your daughter work or claim benefits? Does your daughter live with you?

If you are a tenant, what is your HB/LHA versus the level of rent? In other words, do you pay a top up from your benefits?

I recommend that you download the Budget Planner from the MSE free tools section and identify all your income and expenses. Then you can work through the site to identify where you can make savings, such as switching to different tariffs and so on, plus tips on thrift. For example, one member has produced a recipe website where a family of 4 can be fed for £100 per month so you can reduce your grocery bills significantly if you follow it (it has been approved by a nutritionist).

You can post a statement of affairs on the debt free wanabee board and the members there will also advise you which expenses they think you can reduce, plus give you info on how to deal with any current debts.

You can double check your entitlements on the Turn2us online benefit calculator.

zzzLazyDaisy

sh1305 wrote: »

If you're on LRC, your applicable amount amount should be £93.45 a week. Entitled to says you're entitled to £2.05 a week IS.

It is worth looking into this as even on only £2.05 a week income support you would be entitled to free prescriptions and help with dental and opticians costs.

Depending on your housing situation you may also be entitled to more help from HB/CTB.

However, if your daughter lives with you, this may affect your own entitlement to IS, depending on her personal circumstances/income.

geminigirl1

thank you for all your replys
i can get some help with nhs treatment but NOT prescriptions and they are £80+ a month
my daughter is 18 works 10 hours a week she applied for carers allowence and was turned down cos i wasnt on middle rate DLA
i cannot get income support as my IB is £3.25 over agreed allowence to get it
i budget each day we have some strange meals made up of what ever is left in fridge or freezer.
i have now had housing n council tax benifit suspended due to them checking up what hours my daughter works
I cannot work my condition is deterorated alot but that does not seem to make any difference and im due 2 operations early next year 1 for my back condition other a big one.... what will happen then?:mad: