DLA for my son - what now?

karenthemummy79

Hi. My little boy who has just turned 3 has Epilepsy and has just been awarded Middle Rate DLA. I have informed Tax Credits and am waiting for a letter to confirm if our Tax Credits have changed.

I have also phoned Council Tax benefit and am not entitled to a discount as, apparantly, we earn too much.

I was just checking with you knowledgable people whether I should be informing anybody else and whether there is anything else we should be getting??

I am not eligible to apply for Carers Allowance because I earn more than £100 per week.

I work 3 days a week and long to be at home looking after my little boy but it isnt financially possible but all this makes me wonder whether we would actually be better off if I reduced my income to less that £100 per week??

Any advice would be great.

Karen x

rogerblack

Random thoughts.

Some councils offer concessionary travel for those on DLA, and a carer.

If appropriate, disabled facilities grants may also be available to adapt your home to your sons needs.

Js_Other_Half

Have you looked at putting your figures into http://www.turn2us.org.uk/ ?

In two years time your son will be at school, hopefully full time. It could be difficult to get back into work at that point; I know several friends who have had no luck getting back into previous careers after taking a few years off.

Could you ask your employer to reduce your hours?

Have a look through this for more information on your rights as the parent/carer of a disabled child.

http://www.cafamily.org.uk/families/rightsandentitlements/working/rightsinwork.html

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Parents/Childcare/DG_4016029

http://www.ncb.org.uk/edcm/home.aspx

http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/index/life/employment/parental_rights_at_work.htm
"
Flexible working can include working part time, working school hours, working flexitime, home working, job sharing, shift working, staggering hours and compressing hours (where you work your total number of agreed hours over a shorter period).
Although you have the right to ask to work flexibly, your employer doesn't have to agree to it. However, they must give your request serious consideration and have a good business reason if they decide not to agree.
You can make one request to work flexibly each year. This must be in writing. You should say how you think the change in your working pattern will affect your employer's business and how this might work in practice."

sadie33

my son is on dla, the tax credits may rise x there is things like the cinema card you can get for £5 per year which gets you in for the year..many places offer discount too families for disabled children, i.e carer gets in free. In my personal opionin you would not be better off losing working hours. You need to work 16 hours per week to get tax credits, so maybe reducing your hours wont allow for tax credits and you may still be over the thresh hold. I work 16 hours and my wages are still over £100 per week. I put money away every week from my tax credits for my son onto a savings account, at teh end of the day the extra finicial help is for him. I also put half of his DLA into his savings account too, the rest pays for clubs he goes too. That money is for him to allow him to do things to help his disability. My son hsa dcd & dyslexia (bad) , he also has very low muscle tone and hyper exteneded joints amongst other things. He d oes activities that helps to build up on his core stability ect.. i also pay for 2 hours a week private tutoring for him to help with his reading and writing skills. As far as i now i dont think you vcant get any other fianacial help onto of what you are getting x good luck with everything xx

Hammyman

I strongly suggest seeing if there are any forums for people suffering and supporting sufferers of epilepsy. We joined the National Autistic Society forums and there was a wealth of information on there.

karenthemummy79

Hi. Thanks for your replies - I will definately apply for the cinema card - he loves going to the cinema.

I have been told by his HV today that we may get a discount on our Water Rates so I have phoned Welsh Water who said that yes, because we get DLA and the Disability element of Tax Credits that we are eligible for Welsh Water Assist which means your bill is capped at £228 for the year!

I am hoping to be able to save his DLA to help with his extra care and needs so all these things help make that possible!

x