Income Support question.

the_devil_made_me_do_it

At present I claim IB & DLA (hrc & lrm).

I was recently advised that I would be entitled to Income Support. So I telephoned DWP and filled the form in over the telephone as I could'nt quite get my head round the online form.

During the form filling, the adviser told me that 6 weeks after being paid IS, a personal advisor could contact me to discuss support in getting back into the work place ect. She also said if I got called for a work based interview & didn't attend the appointment, the benefit could be stopped.

Has anyone who claims the same or similar benefits as me, had to attend one of these interviews after 6 weeks of claiming Income Support?

cattie

Now I'm not sure if the rules changed, but claiming DLA care at the high rate did mean that you were exempt from being called in for such interviews.

Do an internet search to see if it is still applicable & if it is, if you get contacted for any such interview, just phone them up & tell them you are in an exempt category because of your DLA care claim.

Anubis_2

Cattie is right, although I think it was for MRC and HRC. They called us in for such an interview once along with a medical, but I was in the exempt group for the medical and therefore exempt for the interview.

A quick phone call sorted it out. However, it was a few years ago and things may have changed so check it out. I think the best course would be to ring the disability benefits helpline, they will know the score, as they are very helpful and knowledgeable on such questions.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Dl1/Directories/DG_10011169

the_devil_made_me_do_it

So people can be exempt if claiming DLA then?

I have done an internet search before & couldn't find anything.

Anubis_2

Click on the link I posted and ring them - they will be better placed to tell you as there are so many rule changes no one here can say for certain.

The disability helpline are very helpful and not there to judge.

the_devil_made_me_do_it

Thanks Anubis, I will telephone them tomorrow.

I missed out on so much help & support due to been given the wrong diagnosis. After 13 yrs, I managed to get the correct diagnosis, but it took my OH to kick off because I wasn't getting any better.

Anubis_2

the_devil_made_me_do_it wrote: »

Thanks Anubis, I will telephone them tomorrow.

I missed out on so much help & support due to been given the wrong diagnosis. After 13 yrs, I managed to get the correct diagnosis, but it took my OH to kick off because I wasn't getting any better.

I can empathise. Don't be put off by ringing them though, they are there to help you, and they will also let you know the benefits you should be getting.

A few years ago I rang them about something and they did a benefits check on me and said I was missing a certain benefit so they sent me the forms, and I got a lot of backpay too.

They will let you know about your interview and also do a benefits check if you ask them too.

the_devil_made_me_do_it

I have had the form for a couple of weeks now. It just needs signing & returning, but I've been put off by the thought of having to go through interviews. Just can't face them.

LadyMorticia

As far as I know, there aren't any exempt groups r.e. DLA for IS anymore. Something to do with them being done away with after all the ESA changes.

I used to be exempt from medicals because I'm on HRC DLA but I read about those on DLA not being exempt anymore.

the_devil_made_me_do_it

I really don't know.

I think there are exemptions for certain illnesses, but I think this is to do with ESA as opposed to Income Support or DLA.

Problem is the goverment are changing things all the time & at a very swift rate. Don't even think the staff at jobcentre plus have a clue what's going on because things are constantly changing.

dinkytoy

Hi a friend of mine was awarded DLA in March and she has applied for IS now as she was told if she had left it till after 30th April she would have missed out as you cant claim IS for disability after that date due to the changes to sickness/disability benefits so if you are going to claim IS you need to do it now. The meeting are nothing really, I had them twice a year as a lone parent but my friend will find them it harder as she has agraphobia among other things.