Incapacity Benefit

Frosty_box_2

Hi Kurjam

I can't see why fostering a child and recieving the associated benefits for the child would affect your Incapacity Benefit. Incapacity Benefit is a contribution type benefit, therefore 'generally' the only 'income' taken into account that may have an effect on your award would be a Pension. However, if you claim IB/IS, where Income Support is a means tested benefit (taking the income of the household into account), this might attract different rules. I really can't see it effecting your award to the IS element as the money will be for the child/ren, just like Child Benefit. I'm not too hot on IS, someone else may be better to answer that area for you. Remember though, it's vital you do inform the department of any changes in your circumstances as you really don't want to be over paid.

I hope you were able to get something out of this.

Thank

Frosty

computerwoman

Hi thanks for that, I got awarded the middle rate of care as of end october 06 and sent a form off after this I think for IB for work, that they sent me, is it due to this that I now have to attend this medical, also my GP (she) just put that as I needed my wheelchair to travel and that the round trip would be 3-4 hours it was not advicable for me to go, also I get very breathless in cold air,
and dont usually go out at all in winter, I do have a disabled scooter which I use in summer, but only when I feel well enough to go out, so I am having a home visit on friday from my GP and will ask her to write me another letter, and then get my son to fax it to the medical services department and ask for another home visit, thankyou and will let you know the outcome of this.
cw

Frosty_box_2

Hi TIA

Thanks for your enquiry. There are generally two types of reviews, depending on where you live. One is the Work Focused Interview. This is where you have to attend your local Jobcentre Plus office and discuss and work/training requirements with your Personal Advisor to see if there is anything they can do to help you into work. It's also to see if you feel ready for work/training etc. It is a manditory interview to attend and participate, although there is no manitory requirement for you to accept any work/training etc.
The second is a PCA (Personal Capability Assessment). This takes place with a GP contracted to the DWP. Otherwise known as a Medical. The doctor is assessing whether he/she feels you are well/not well enough to work. By work, they look at any kind of work and not necessarily your 'usual' occupation. If you 'pass' then you no longer have to supply medical evidence to the DWP for a specified period of time ie 1 year. If you 'fail' then, and you disagree with the doctors report/opinion, you have a right to appeal. Advice: if appealing don't just say you are 'unhappy with the decision', get additional medical evidence/letters from your GP detailing exactly why you disagree. Maybe your condition has worsened/significantly changed etc. Anyway, appeals are a different ball game altogether. Just be yourself at the PCA and answer the series of questions/tasks as honestly as possible.

I hope this helps

Frosty

kurjam

hi frosty box i dont get income support just incapacity benefit so i should be ok but would they not class me fostering as working ??
and when i have my medical would they asume i am capable of work because i am fostering even though i have medical evidence that i have problems !!

Frosty_box_2

Hi Sue

You really are caught in the middle here. Right, if I understand you're claiming IS due to being sick. Therefore you have an IB/IS claim. OK, the IB side of your claim is paying your NI credits and IS make the financial award to benefit. You are correct, you do have to work for a minimum of 16 hours weekly to claim the DPTC and you would be required to sign off benefit and 16hours is considered full time. This is where it's tricky, to claim DPTC = 16 hours work which = sign off benefit, however, if you're earning (don't quote me and check the figures) approx £80?? a week, then your husbands company should be paying your NI credits. Right, if you want to continue to have your NI credits paid by the DWP, then you have an option to stay on benefit (IB/IS) work and earn under a certain threshold and declare this to the department as 'Permitted Work'. There are 4 main categories of Permitted Work. It would be best to speak to your local office for full details of all 4 categories (the website https://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk may have details) Be aware, any money earned will be taken into account with Income Support, but you may still get your NI credits paid.
As I said, you;re in the middle here!

Good luck

Frosty

computerwoman

Hi I cannot understand why I have to go for this medical, as I havent had to give in medical notes for quite sometime, and was awarded dla mob high rate in feb 2002 and dla low rate care, then this year got awarded the middle rate care, is it because I got the award in oct 06, or what, I now suffer from speech problems and memory problems due to see my neuro surgeon soon, this could be fixed with meds but if not an op, I woke up this morning and my head and face on the right side were twice as big as the other side, which is something I am having to deal with, until I get back in to see my neuro. thanks for your help.
cw

healy

Frosty_box wrote:

Hi Computerwoman

In short, you can have a home visit. The Medical Board look at the evidence provided by your doctor. You said you'd been refused previously based on your doctors recomendation? It all depends on what he/she says ie, if he just states "I feel a home visit would benefit this customer" end of, then thats not considered 'strong evidence' to support a home visit. However, if he/she stated "I feel a home visit would benefit this customer because leaving the house unattened is a danger to her health and could aggrevate an already serious condition............." you get my meaning? He/she needs to explain fully to the Medical Board the total effect attending a medical would have on your health.
You also said you've been awarded DLA higher rate Mob and middle rate Care? It is my understanding that people awarded DLA Higher rate do not have to attend for a PCA. I forget if this is for Higher rate mob or care, so I'd suggest you ring your local office and ask them to check a) the DWP is aware of your DLA rate and b) if you can now be excempt from the PCA due to your DLA rate.

Hope this helps.

Frosty

If somone has higher rate CARE DLA they are exempt from the PCA. Higher rate mobility does not cause an exemption.

computerwoman

healy wrote:

If somone has higher rate CARE DLA they are exempt from the PCA. Higher rate mobility does not cause an exemption.

thankyou.:confused

Frosty_box_2

computerwoman wrote:

Hi thanks for that, I got awarded the middle rate of care as of end october 06 and sent a form off after this I think for IB for work, that they sent me, is it due to this that I now have to attend this medical, also my GP (she) just put that as I needed my wheelchair to travel and that the round trip would be 3-4 hours it was not advicable for me to go, also I get very breathless in cold air,
and dont usually go out at all in winter, I do have a disabled scooter which I use in summer, but only when I feel well enough to go out, so I am having a home visit on friday from my GP and will ask her to write me another letter, and then get my son to fax it to the medical services department and ask for another home visit, thankyou and will let you know the outcome of this.
cw

No worries CW, good luck.

Frosty

Frosty_box_2

healy wrote:

If somone has higher rate CARE DLA they are exempt from the PCA. Higher rate mobility does not cause an exemption.

Thanks for clarifying that one Healy, I couldn't remember off the top of my head whcih way round it was :mad:

Frosty