SDA, DLA & Income support.

Paradigm

Hi,

Just wondering if anyone can help!

I have a Downs syndrome son in his late 20's who has always received Disability Living Allowance + some income support.

Yesterday I got a letter from the DWP stating that because of a change to the Severe Disability Allowance he has coming in his Income support will drop to virtually nil. As I understand it DLA isn't taken into account when deciding Income Support whereas SDA is. This would explain the drop in IS.

The problem is... he's never been on SDA but DLA.

I'm struggling to see how he can suddenly be in receipt of SDA when that benefit was abolished in 2001 (except for existing claiments) & he's never received it... I have Post office account statements clearly showing that he gets DLA.

The other thing is that SDA, from the little I know, isn't the correct benefit for someone with my sons disability.

Any help/thoughts would be appreciated.

Indie_Kid

Does the letter talk about SDA or severe disability premium (SDP) ?

Paradigm

No mention of SDP just SDA

Hollyharvey

If your son has never been able to work he may well be getting severe disablement allowance. It was a benefit for people who could not get incapacity benefit as they had not paid enough NI contributions.

A lot of people that are sick and unable to work get income support and this tops up their incapacity benefit.

What rates of DLA is your son on?

This will show what rates of premium he should be getting.

Paradigm

Hollyharvey wrote: »

If your son has never been able to work he may well be getting severe disablement allowance. It was a benefit for people who could not get incapacity benefit as they had not paid enough NI contributions.

Thanks for that. Thing is he's never been on SDA, always DLA.

Hollyharvey wrote: »

A lot of people that are sick and unable to work get income support and this tops up their incapacity benefit.

AFAIA because of his condition he doesn't qualify for Incapacity benefit which is why he's on (was) DLA

Hollyharvey wrote: »

What rates of DLA is your son on?

This will show what rates of premium he should be getting.

£267 pm, this is just the care component...he doesn't get the mobility DLA

Hollyharvey

£267 pm, this is just the care component...he doesn't get the mobility DLA[/QUOTE]

That doesn't add up to any of the DLA rates.
He must be getting either: Higher Rate at £71.40 a week
Middle Rate at £47.85 a week

Do you know which one of these he receives?

Paradigm

Hollyharvey wrote: »

That doesn't add up to any of the DLA rates.
He must be getting either: Higher Rate at £71.40 a week
Middle Rate at £47.85 a week

Do you know which one of these he receives?

Errrr... no, I'll have to see if I have any letters from DWP but that's the amount he gets clearly stated on the PO account statement as "DLA DWP"

Indie_Kid

Paradigm wrote: »

AFAIA because of his condition he doesn't qualify for Incapacity benefit which is why he's on (was) DLA

DLA can be paid whether someone works or not. He doesn't qualify for IB if at time of applying, he didn't pay enough national insurance or didn't mean the youth rules. You can receive DLA & IB.

£267 pm, this is just the care component...he doesn't get the mobility DLA

£267 pm equates to mid care and low mobility.

Paradigm

sh1305 wrote: »

DLA can be paid whether someone works or not. He doesn't qualify for IB if at time of applying, he didn't pay enough national insurance or didn't mean the youth rules. You can receive DLA & IB.



£267 pm equates to mid care and low mobility.

Thank you So why do they now say he's on SDA when he's never, ever been on that?

Tehya

sh1305 wrote: »

DLA can be paid whether someone works or not. He doesn't qualify for IB if at time of applying, he didn't pay enough national insurance or didn't mean the youth rules. You can receive DLA & IB.


£267 pm equates to mid care and low mobility.

That's what I was thinking. DLA MRC & DLA LRM seem to be the only benefits that fit the amount received.

SDA is paid at a rate of about £59 + £15 the age adition for under 40s = £74wk = £296 a month.

Paradigm

To be honest I didn't think that he got any mobility payment but it seems he does.

SDA is paid at a rate of about £59 + £15 the age adition for under 40s = £74wk = £296 a month.SDA is paid at a rate of about £59 + £15 the age adition for under 40s = £74wk = £296 a month.

The figure they are quoting for SDA is £74.45 pw but, as I said, I don't understand how he can suddenly be classed as receiving SDA when he's never had it before & it was abolished in 2001?