HELP PLEASE!!! Will son's DLA affect Income Support & related benefits? :-(

Mics_chick

In a nutshell...

I'm on Incapacity Benefit due to depression.
My partner doesn't work either due to ill health but he only gets his NI paid coz he was working for less than 2 years before he fell ill so basically he gets no benefits.
We have 2 children 8.5 & 7 - 7 year old diagnosed with Autism Oct 2010 but only just got DLA award thru for him (backdated until Oct last year) coz it took me ages to get round to claiming

My concern now is how will the DLA might affect our other benefits...
Will it affect Income Support or not and am I worrying for nothing?
If it does affect it and they've backdated his DLA does that mean we'll need to pay back the Income Support we've received for the last 3/4 months?
We get other benefits that I'm not sure whether we get them because of IS like Mortgage Interest Benefit (not sure what it's called!), Council Tax Benefit and Free School Meals and I'm worried that some of these will disappear because of my son's DLA.

Also not sure whether to claim for Carer's Allowance or not coz it says he might lose some of his DLA???
He's been awarded high level care component and low level mobility component so if one of us makes a claim for CA will this affect his DLA?

So confusing :eek: LOL

Hope somebody can answer just SOME of these questions

Cheers muchly for any and all advice received Gail

SuziQ

You will always be better off as DLA is not means tested. If you decide to claim Carers allowance he will still get his DLA, but you will only be about £20 a week better off as they adjust the Income support to reflect the extra income form carers.So-no money to pay back! Your other benefits will also remain unchanged including free school meals-you will always get them even if your Income support is reduced to £1 (which it won't be-just an example).
My son gets DLA at hrc, lrm, and I get extra child tax benefit so don't forget to 'phone them too!

bargainsneeded

hey suziq i am in reciept of dla for my boy and i get ib for my hubby topped up with is. i claim carers and i also rang and told the ctc that was a massive top up to be honest. i live in manchester and we have a place in wythenshawe like a cab with excellent free advice. xxxxxx (think u may be the sq off pts if so and want more advice in private feel free to pm me on there. hope this helps am very new to mse and find it very very difficult to use. xxxx

SuziQ

may be the sq off pts if so

Thanks bargainsneeded, but we have been in receipt of this for 3 years now and think I have the support I need, much appreciated. I think it's the OP that needs the support really. Could you explain what this meant though, please?

Dognobs

But remember it is not your money it is your sons.

Notmyrealname

Yes it will affect benefits. You need to notify Child Tax Credits so they can add the disability component.

It will not affect IB, IS, HB or CTB although with HB if you've got a reduced award, for example because you're renting a bigger property than they say you need, it could increase it.

[Deleted User]

SuziQ wrote: »

You will always be better off as DLA is not means tested. If you decide to claim Carers allowance he will still get his DLA, but you will only be about £20 a week better off as they adjust the Income support to reflect the extra income form carers.So-no money to pay back! Your other benefits will also remain unchanged including free school meals-you will always get them even if your Income support is reduced to £1 (which it won't be-just an example).
My son gets DLA at hrc, lrm, and I get extra child tax benefit so don't forget to 'phone them too!

its more like £30 better off per week for the carers premium

bargainsneeded

SuziQ wrote: »

Thanks bargainsneeded, but we have been in receipt of this for 3 years now and think I have the support I need, much appreciated. I think it's the OP that needs the support really. Could you explain what this meant though, please?

aw so sorry i read it as you being the poster, im really struggling with mse seems so very complicated i meant are u the suzie q off paidto shop but i wasnt sure if i was allowed to write names of other places etc ooooooooooh im such a numpty, apologies every1:o

bargainsneeded

Dognobs wrote: »

But remember it is not your money it is your sons.

NO you are very wrong the money is to make life easier for my son by providing much needed items or services. Yes i could bank the money and give him it when he reaches 18, 21 etc or i could use it to buy the bedding mattresses extra care etc that he needs right now!

susannthe3cs

Dla will increase things especially tax credits and if you get middle or higher care you can also claim carers allowance x

Mics_chick

Thx to everyone for their replies so far but still want to hear from other peeps to if they've got owt to say

Think we'll be going to CAB as soon as we can next week though