DLA help please

hoggle_2

Hi all
As some of you may know if you follow this forum I found out thanks to the magnificent people on this forum that I should be entitled to dla and infact didn't claim for a year as I didn't know I could claim esa and dla.
Anyway with this new found knowledge I put in a claim. I haven't heard anything but I checked my bank account and a payment has gone in from dla.
Now my question is why? Does this mean I been successful in claiming dla and I just haven't recieved the letter yet or do dla pay you in the interim whilst they look at your claim? I recently saw my GP and he said he had been asked for a report from dla so I knew they were looking into my claim. The payment has worked out at 6 weeks worth of dla going by the dla payment weekly rates.
Can someone give me some informaation as to what is going on please. I wonder if the letter is delayed in the post perhaps?
Thank you.

MrsManda

It sounds like the letter has been delayed as unlike ESA I don't think DLA make interim payments whilst being assessed.
I'd call the DLA advice line on 08457 123456 and just ask, then you'll know for certain and won't have to worry about spending it

Indie_Kid

MrsManda wrote: »

It sounds like the letter has been delayed as unlike ESA I don't think DLA make interim payments whilst being assessed.

They don't. You only get DLA once you've been awarded it.

hoggle_2

Hi again
I have just rung the dla phone number and I have been awarded dla!!!!!
I hope everyone who gave me advice over this matter in the last few months reads this. It is only thanks to the advice I have recieved on here that I was made aware that we could claim dla. You are stars.
Thank you so very much.

hoggle_2

Just an after thought, do I need to tell the esa people that I am now going to get dla?

Indie_Kid

You may need to. What stage are you at with your claim and what level of DLA have you been awarded? Also, do you claim local housing allowance / housing benefit and /or council tax benefit?

Newly_retired

There are two componenents of DLA - care and mobility. These are awarded at various rates - higher or lower mobility and three rates of care. Which have you been awarded?
They are not means tested as such, but could affect some other award perhaps, so it is best to inform ESA.

atrixblue.-MFR-.

hoggle wrote: »

Just an after thought, do I need to tell the esa people that I am now going to get dla?

if you are recieving DLA, you can inform CTC, you should recieve a disabled/severly disabled edition to CTC because you are sick, disabled. if anyone in your family cares for you and they recieve income support they can claim carers allowance as an adon to income support also.

dmg24

atrixblue.-MFR-. wrote: »

if you are recieving DLA, you can inform CTC, you should recieve a disabled/severly disabled edition to CTC because you are sick, disabled.

That would only be applicable if the DLA award is for a child.

hoggle_2

Thank you for the replies.
My partner has been awarded higher mobility and middle care and he also recieves esa for him and myself. We get our rent paid and our council tax I am not aware of anything else we should claim but once we get the official letter of confirmation I will notify the esa people, hopefully this won't effect anything we currently recieve. I am trying to return to work part time.

murtle1981

hoggle wrote: »

Thank you for the replies.
My partner has been awarded higher mobility and middle care and he also recieves esa for him and myself. We get our rent paid and our council tax I am not aware of anything else we should claim but once we get the official letter of confirmation I will notify the esa people, hopefully this won't effect anything we currently recieve. I am trying to return to work part time.

Hi Hoggle.
Firstly, you can claim Carers allowance if you look after you partner for 35+ hours per week. You will get £53.90 per week and can ask to have it backdated (it will tell you more on CA application form). You WILL get it-its not like DLA or other benefits where you have to wait to see if it has been awarded or not. As long as he gets Middle rate care, you will get it without a doubt.
You will however get £53.90 per week taken from your ESA (£107.80 fortnight) BUT they will add a disability premium to your ESA of 30 odd quid a week...
So if you work it out, you will still be 30 odd quid a week better off. You are not really losing anything. They take CA off your ESA but then you get CA paid to you anyway. Then they add 30 odd quid a week back onto to your ESA.....confusing i know, weve been through it ourselves but you will be better off!
Just a word of advice....when my partner was awarded DLA, he was thrown off ESA and we were disgusted. It may not happen to you so please dont think it will but its happened to a few people according to our Welfare Rights office. Why, nobody knows. But if you DO find yourself in that posistion, you can claim Income Support rather than take it to appeal. You will claim IS for you and your partner in your name as you will be his carer (once you start claiming CA) He wont have to go for anymore medicals for ESA either! Hope this helps....:)
PS-Your DLA/CA shouldnt have an effect on your HB/CTB although you will need to double check...