Housing benefit lowered because of excess income?

neo866

Recently my partners housing benefit was lowered to roughly half because we have excess income.
I would like some advice to see if this is correct.
Some info:
I've lived with my partner for 7 years and we have 4 children (3 are hers from a previous relationship and we have 1 together)
3 of our children are autistic.

I am in receipt of incapacity benefit at £108 pw
My partner receives Child Tax Credit at 380 pw
She also receives Child benefit at £242 pm
And Carer's Allowance at £55 pw
The children get:
£372 DLA for our youngest and
£275 X2 for our twins

We've only recently been receiving the money for the twins (£275x2) as they have only just been diagnosed as having autism and this is when the council changed our entitlement.
I have no problem if everything is above board and correct but I've been told DLA and my Incapacity benefit is not to be taken into account?
I'm a bit confused by it all so any help would be great.
Thanks

bazzaboo

I'm sure with that amount of income you will survive without hb.

neo866

I was asking if this is right not if i could afford it.
I won't go into the cost of bringing up 3 autistic children because i'm sure your have an answer so if you have nothing constructive to say please don't comment.
Thanks

puddy

it depends on your rent and the calculation that you have been sent. what does your entitlement letter say?

Fiver29

As a single parent with two children, I get absolutely nowhere near what you are getting (not even close to half of the amount before you add you DLA), and I only get a small amount of HB/CTB, most of the rent I pay myself.

pauletruth

your on 39,500 a year tax free. you would have to earn over £55,000 to get that as a wage.

child benifit is not counted not sure on the dla its normally not counted for benifits but they are asking for the amounts on the form so it may well apply.

im not judging you im disabled and so is my daughter we are lucky to come out with 20k after the wifes wages have been taxed.

puddy

it depends what purpose, i thought child ben was taken into account for housing benefit claims IF the claimant was not on IS or JSA

nannytone_2

the incapacity, carers are classed as income, because they are not means ested.

DLA isnt counted nor is child benefit. not sure about the tax credits.

as a couple, your 'income' is £652 a month.
on means tested benefits the law says a couple needs £105 ish a week, so £420 a month ( 4 weeks)
i would assume that your housing benefit is assessed on the extra £232 a month that is coming into the household

eeeeeee

guess its time too tighten your belt like the rest of us ;

pauletruth

are you getting two disabled child add ons and a higher one for you child with the higher care payment. on your tax credits.

real1314

nannytone wrote: »

the incapacity, carers are classed as income, because they are not means ested.

DLA isnt counted nor is child benefit. not sure about the tax credits.

as a couple, your 'income' is £652 a month.
on means tested benefits the law says a couple needs £105 ish a week, so £420 a month ( 4 weeks)
i would assume that your housing benefit is assessed on the extra £232 a month that is coming into the household

On a means tested basis a couple would also be allowed amounts for each child (approx £60 per child) and also extra amounts for children who get DLA (iirc).

If you're just going to use the couple rate, you'd have to ignore the Child Tax Credit and any other allowances for children.

That would leave the IB at £108 and Carer's Allowance at £55.

The changes the OP has suggested would not generally lead to a significant reduction - it may be worth the OP checking with the council that:-

1. None of the DLA has been treated as income (it should all be disregarded)

2. A carer's premium has been included in the allowances

3. Appropriate Disabled child premiums have also been included in the allowances.

My knowledge isn't fully up to date, but i think the above points are still valid.

Incidentally, IB should be taken into account. :cool: