Can anyone help with info on what we are entitled to please

wantingadvice

Current situation is this:

My wife and I have been seperated for a while now but have managed to work things out and we would like to give things another go. I had to give up work last year due to a back injury that is getting worse. I'm currently living with my brother as I need help to get dressed and lift things etc (although my wife come and helps when he's at work) and the only income I currently recieve is my war disablement pension (50% disabled) and a mobility car from the war pension.

I have applied for LSO (lowered standard of occupation) from the Veterans agency but have heard nothing back yet as its currently with their doctor.

My wife is living in a private rented house with our 4 children and is currently recieveing income support, child benefit, child tax credts, housing benefit and council tax benefit.

We are getting on alot better now and she has asked if I want to move back in with her and the kids and give the marriage another go.

She spoke to the advisor at the job centre and he told her she would have to work which she is fine about but he said she needed to work full time. If she did this I couldn't care for the children as I can't drive them to school, lift our youngest (just about to turn 2) change his nappy etc and she can't afford childcare for the two youngest whilst the oldest two are at school

So my question is does she need to work full time? what help can we get when I do move back in with her?

I know the local housing disregard war pension here but have no idea on anything else. I've looked on entitled to website but it doesn't make sense

chivers1977

Can you apply for Disability Living Allowance with the pension etc that you get? If so then your wife can claim carer's allowance if you get medium rate care or high rate care which will mean that she doesn't have to work.

wantingadvice

Hi thanks for replying. I was under the impression I couldn't apply for DLA if I was in reciept of war pension.

I know the LSO I have applied for you can't claim ESA, its one or the other. I presume the DLA would be the same.

Sorry its all so confusing and no-one seems to have much insight on war pension

chivers1977

Sorry, I know nothign about war pensions but find it bizarre that your wife could be forced out to work when you have care needs caused by serving our country. Thank you.

I found this

If you receive War Pensioners Mobility Supplement (WPMS) you cannot receive a mobility component of DLA, but for example you could claim the Care component of DLA (unless you also receive War Pensioners Constant Attendance Allowance).

A lot of War Pensioners have not got a high enough War Pension percentage to claim WPMS (ie 40% Disability) so claim DLA Mobility (also DLA care if not getting a high enough percentage for Constant Attendance Allowance ie 80% War Pension).

chivers1977

http://forum.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=2646603 This thread suggests that If you want some help to ensure you are claiming all you are entitled to, either contact the Veterans Welfare Service (they have Welfare Managers throughout the UK) via 0800 169 2277 or via the Veterans UK info site Pac mentions above, or contact your local branch of SSAFA or The Royal British Legion, or if applicable Blesma, RAFA etc, all of which should be able to help you.

wantingadvice

Chivers - Thank you for that.

I understand now, To claim WPCCA (war pensioners constant care allowance) you need to be assessed at 80% for more and I'm assessed at 50% so I will look into the care component of DLA when the offices are open again on Monday.

Thanks for you advice its has been helpfull. I will keep this thread informed of how things go

chivers1977

Here you go. Your wife should be able to claim carers allowance for you if you meet the criteria as below:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/Caringforsomeone/DG_10018705

chivers1977

Excellent

wantingadvice

Just an update - Called the DLA today and asked the question. After aload of phone calls back and forth to the benefits enquiry line, DLA, Carers allowance advice line, Job centre etc I have finally been told NO!

Apparently the Job centre is right in what they told my wife. She will have to look for work that is more than 16 hours a week, which she has no problem looking for and doing if she finds a job but I would then have to look after the children which I can't do.

we wouldn't qualify to put our two youngest into childcare as we couldn't afford it, and we wouldn't be entitled to working tax credits as only one will be working, they would expect me to look after the children which is fair enough.

Unfortunatly I can't recieve DLA as I get a higher rate through the War pension than what they would pay me by £6 per week. The woman on the phone said my wife might be entitled to carers allowance even though the DLA can pay me anything but the carers allowance said unless I was in reciept of the middle or higher rate of DLA then they wouldn't look at her form dispite the fact I'm in recipet of War disablement pension.

To top it all off I recieved a letter this morning informing me that I don't qualify for the LSO through the SPVA, although I am going to appeal that on the advice from the British Legion.

Fingers crossed we will still qualify for Child Tax credits as my wife hasn't called them yet (as far as I'm aware).

Thanks for your advice chivers.

Oldernotwiser

wantingadvice wrote: »

Just an update - Called the DLA today and asked the question. After aload of phone calls back and forth to the benefits enquiry line, DLA, Carers allowance advice line, Job centre etc I have finally been told NO!

Apparently the Job centre is right in what they told my wife. She will have to look for work that is more than 16 hours a week, which she has no problem looking for and doing if she finds a job but I would then have to look after the children which I can't do.

we wouldn't qualify to put our two youngest into childcare as we couldn't afford it, and we wouldn't be entitled to working tax credits as only one will be working, they would expect me to look after the children which is fair enough.

Unfortunatly I can't recieve DLA as I get a higher rate through the War pension than what they would pay me by £6 per week. The woman on the phone said my wife might be entitled to carers allowance even though the DLA can pay me anything but the carers allowance said unless I was in reciept of the middle or higher rate of DLA then they wouldn't look at her form dispite the fact I'm in recipet of War disablement pension.

To top it all off I recieved a letter this morning informing me that I don't qualify for the LSO through the SPVA, although I am going to appeal that on the advice from the British Legion.

Fingers crossed we will still qualify for Child Tax credits as my wife hasn't called them yet (as far as I'm aware).

Thanks for your advice chivers.

Well, that's better than you first thought when you were told she had to work full time. Could she do some late evening/night shifts when the children are in bed but you're around to cover emergencies?

Jay_Tee

wantingadvice wrote: »

Just an update - Called the DLA today and asked the question. After aload of phone calls back and forth to the benefits enquiry line, DLA, Carers allowance advice line, Job centre etc I have finally been told NO!

Apparently the Job centre is right in what they told my wife. She will have to look for work that is more than 16 hours a week, which she has no problem looking for and doing if she finds a job but I would then have to look after the children which I can't do.

we wouldn't qualify to put our two youngest into childcare as we couldn't afford it, and we wouldn't be entitled to working tax credits as only one will be working, they would expect me to look after the children which is fair enough.

Unfortunatly I can't recieve DLA as I get a higher rate through the War pension than what they would pay me by £6 per week. The woman on the phone said my wife might be entitled to carers allowance even though the DLA can pay me anything but the carers allowance said unless I was in reciept of the middle or higher rate of DLA then they wouldn't look at her form dispite the fact I'm in recipet of War disablement pension.

To top it all off I recieved a letter this morning informing me that I don't qualify for the LSO through the SPVA, although I am going to appeal that on the advice from the British Legion.

Fingers crossed we will still qualify for Child Tax credits as my wife hasn't called them yet (as far as I'm aware).

Thanks for your advice chivers.

Have you thought of contacting the Veterans Advisory and Pensions Committee? http://www.veterans-uk.info/vets_advisory.html I found them very helpful when I was initially turned down for unemployability supplement, although after sending a letter to the SPVA outlining the problems I have and pointing out I'd had a recent medical I was awarded the supplement.

It was really my own fault the initial refusal as I didn't put in enough information in the claim form, perhaps you did the same and didn't supply enough information?

The other thing is it worth asking for a reassement of the war pension I note you say your back has got worse?