DLA HRC for a child - does this trigger/entitle to anything else?

GobbledyGook

Hi all

I'm asking for someone that I know. Her son has been awarded high rate care and low rate mobility today.

Does this trigger anything else off for her? Someone mentioned something about tax credits today, but we weren't sure what it meant for her tax credits. Will they go down or up?

Am I right in thinking that high rate care will entitle her to Carer's Allowance?

I'm only asking because she's had a horrific time and we'd like to make sure she gets everything she's entitled to to try and help her through. She lost her husband in the accident that has left her son requiring the care he needs now so it's been a hellish year for her. She admits herself that she's not the best at pushing to find out what she's entitled too and she is no good on computers so I said I'd ask on here (she's aware of the fab help and advice I've had here in tough times).

Thanks Gemma

concerned43

Hi Gemma
Your question is not easy to answer as you have not provided a lot of information about your DD's circumstances.
Carer's allowance is paid to those looking after someone receiving MRC or HRC, however it is a means tested benefit and will depend on your DD's circumstances! check this site
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/CaringForSomeone/MoneyMatters/CarersAllowance/index.htm

The biggest help will be Child Tax Credits as your DD will receive a premium because of the HRC - check here
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/TaxCredits/Gettingstarted/whoqualifies/Childrenandtaxcredits/index.htm

there is also benefits in Council Tax help and rent help

Your DD may want to do a benefit calculation using this:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Diol1/DoItOnline/DoItOnlineByCategory/DG_172666

Hope that helps

nannytone_2

carers allowance is NOT a means tested benefit.
it is payable to anyone caring 35+ hours a week, who doesnt earn in excess of £100pw.
If your friend is on means tested benefit then carers will not be paid. Instead a carers premium is added to the existing benefit entitlement ( approx £30 extra)
There is also an additional premium paid with child tax credit.

GobbledyGook

Thanks for that concerned43. Just to clarify though she's not my DD - she's just a friend. She's actually more of my friend's friend, but that's by the by.

More information - not sure what to give.

She doesn't work. Her son (6) has required full time care since he and his father were involved in an accident. He has significant brain damage and will always need full care (barring a medical science breakthrough).

She receives child tax credits so will tell her to get on to them. She was told to ring them when she put her son's DLA claim in which she done so hopefully it's just a simple thing.

She receives Widowed Parents Allowance. I think that's what it was called - it's something she gets because her husband has passed away leaving her with the two young children. He was under retiement age (she thinks when she filled in the forms for that that fact was important).

She has no mortgage because of her husband's insurance so that's one good thing. Tbh we're just trying to help her get on her feet. The past months have been a bit of a fug for her, but now she's got her son home she's trying to rebuild a life for the three of them.

I'll get her to do that calculator. Thanks.

concerned43

nannytone wrote: »

carers allowance is NOT a means tested benefit.
it is payable to anyone caring 35+ hours a week, who doesnt earn in excess of £100pw.
If your friend is on means tested benefit then carers will not be paid. Instead a carers premium is added to the existing benefit entitlement ( approx £30 extra)
There is also an additional premium paid with child tax credit.

You have just descibed a means tested benefit!

nannytone_2

no i havent . if a households income is £100,000 a year and one parents cares for a disabled child receiving HRC, then they would be entitled to claim carers allowance regardless of the household income, just as lomng as the person caring doesnt earn over £100 a week themselves.

Means tested benefits are worked out according to household income. Carers allowance ISN'T

concerned43

GobbledyGook wrote: »

Thanks for that concerned43. Just to clarify though she's not my DD - she's just a friend. She's actually more of my friend's friend, but that's by the by.

More information - not sure what to give.

She doesn't work. Her son (6) has required full time care since he and his father were involved in an accident. He has significant brain damage and will always need full care (barring a medical science breakthrough).

She receives child tax credits so will tell her to get on to them. She was told to ring them when she put her son's DLA claim in which she done so hopefully it's just a simple thing.

She receives Widowed Parents Allowance. I think that's what it was called - it's something she gets because her husband has passed away leaving her with the two young children. He was under retiement age (she thinks when she filled in the forms for that that fact was important).

She has no mortgage because of her husband's insurance so that's one good thing. Tbh we're just trying to help her get on her feet. The past months have been a bit of a fug for her, but now she's got her son home she's trying to rebuild a life for the three of them.

I'll get her to do that calculator. Thanks.

Sorry about the daughter thing...the best advice I could give you is to ask the person to go to her nearest CAB to get a full benefit check - they will also be able to point her in the right direction for other potential help - respite, grants to adapt her home to suit the needs of her son etc. Best call the CAB first to make an appointment - that way she will not have to sit for hours waiting to be seen. I wish her well and hope 2012 will be a much better year for her and her family.

nannytone_2

i think you need to be clear of your facts before you start dishing out benefit advice. you clearl;y have no idea of how carers allowance works.

suelees1

concerned43 wrote: »

You have just descibed a means tested benefit!

No it isn't means tested. Yes you have to meet the conditions but that's it.

It won't be paid though as it's an overlapping benefit with WPA. She will have what is called underlying entitlement and will be entitled to the carers premium in any other means tested benefits such as housing and council tax benefit (which means extra benefit). Depending on the rate of WPA she may be also be entitled to Income Support.

CTC will increase by both the child disability element and the severe disability element so it should be a relatively high increase which can be backdated up to three months so it depends on when the DLA was awarded.

GobbledyGook

Thanks for all the help.

She has an appointment at CAB (which she made over a month ago), but it is not until the second week of Feb.

suelees1

GobbledyGook wrote: »

Thanks for all the help.

She has an appointment at CAB (which she made over a month ago), but it is not until the second week of Feb.

She needs to be claiming now as she could lose out on some entitlement

1 Ring HMRC and let them know
2 contact LA to let them know of the change for housing benefit if she's tenant or if not just for council tax benefit
3 Do the Carers Allowance claim online
4 Possible claim for IS. Ring claims nbr 0800 55 66 88. (She might not be entitled to IS as it all depends on the amount of Widowed Parents Allowance she gets at the moment).