Incapacity benefit? Any other entitlement?

BallerinaGirl

Can anyone tell me if you are on Incapacity benefit, if there is anything else you can claim to help in the situation?

Thanks.

healy

Depending on Income and Captal you can claim Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit.

Also you can claim DLA if you have care/mobility needs.

cabbage

Sometimes you can get a top up of income support when you are on incap and then you can have passported benefits of free school meals for the kids, , free dental care, free prescriptions, full council tax and housing benefit. Unfortunately, as your incapacity benefit goes up the longer you are on it, you may have too much income to claim income support.

Chrysalis

a few years back IB used to be set a little lower then IS so a token award of about £1 was possible from IS but meant you then had passports to other benefits but this was then changed when basic IB was raised above IS.

shameless-about-money

Why not go to https://www.entitledto.co.uk and see what it comes up with?

If it hadn't been for that site I would not have realised that I qualified for WTC.

It is worth a few clicks if nothing else.

littleminx_2

Hi there,
If you have children you will be entitled to child tax credits as well.

Caroline2CV

Your local CAB can do a free benefits check but before going I suggest:

1. Check the CAB website with your postcode to see when your nearest office is: (a) open (b) does it say which day(s) it deals with Benefits?
2. BEWARE as some CAB'offices will ONLY deal with 'local residents' so check it out
3. Get there early - at least 1 hr before opening time (got a lightweight fold up chair?)
4. Stage 1 - Have a note of your Nat Ins No & a pen - you may be asked to complete a 2 paged A4 form with your details re your visit
5. Stage 2 - You may only get 10 mins c. for this 1st assessment & hopefully you are told (a) they make an appt for you to go back to them or (b) refer you elsewhere
6. Stage 3 - You turn up for the appointment prepared with as much information as possible!
7. Be organised & write down before you go - a note of all your financial outlays that you know are relevant to your situation. eg Rent, Mortgage Payments, Residents Association Fees, Ground Rent/Feu Duty, Council Tax amount you pay per year.

back2square1

I have been in receipt of Incapacity Benefit for 5 years now. I split with my husband 2years ago which left me with financial difficulties.
I found Income Support was a waste of time, especially because it is mean tested and any money my ex-husband gave me (maintenance) it would be deducted from Income Support, plus they are determined to reduce the amount of claimants for Income Support so the Benefits Agency relentlessly request information, updates, home checks, etc throughout the course of claiming it.

Child Tax Credit is a lot better and you are still entitled to all the extra benefits such as free school meals, prescriptions, milk (for under 5's), council tax benefit and housing benefit. Also popping into the local Tax Office with any queries regarding your tax credit claim is brilliant they can sort many issues out on the spot. I received £550 backpay when I popped in one day!!!

I definitely think honesty is the best policy and any changes to your circumstances must be reported to the relevant agencies that you are claiming from i.e Council, Inland Revenue. I would never falsely claim for benefits if my partner moved in with me or I suddenly received a windfall.

Incapacity Benefit are trying to reduce their amount of claimants too, every 6months minimum they will contact you and ask for update of your inability to work. You can also be asked to attend a medical review where you will be examined by 2 independent doctors separately. This has always been okay for me because my claim for Incapacity Benefit is very genuine which I think they appreciate. There are alot of people out there claiming Incap for back problems but still go about their daily activities with ease. Please don't think I am implying you are one of these. But when you have to attend a medical review its a bit like going through customs at the airport, you feel guilty even though you have nothing to feel guilty about!!

I am currently now looking for work and a little bird tells me if I speak to the right people regarding Incapacity Benefit I can get financial help towards interviews (suit and travel). I know a while ago they also gave you a reward for starting work (up to £1000) and finally ending your claim for Incap. It is a good incentive to try and get better and get back to work.

Obviously I do not know what your health implications are, but there are advocacy workers at charity organisations who know benefits inside out (where the secret pots of money are kept and how to get a bit). ie. if you have got cancer you can contact Marie Curie who have advocacy workers who can help assist with any benefit applications, disputes, etc, Mind (Mental Health) also have too.

Two years ago I started Access to Higher Education course, an Advocacy Worker knew someone at Benefits office. She managed to get my course fees £300 paid for. Incap Ben will do anything to stop you from claiming so financial incentives such as paying college fees they deem appropriate. I must point out my claim for Incap Ben was not affected and I am still in receipt of it now. You can also work a few hours a day and it does not affect your Incap Ben I think its no more than 16hrs a week.

I know this is a lengthy explanation but this is more or less everything I have learnt about Incap Ben whilst being in receipt of it.

shameless-about-money

Back2square 1 - this is not true!

I have just got a couple of thousand pounds in grants for a course I want to do and it hasn't affected my IB at all!

If you are getting money from one source ie your ex husband/partner why do you think that you should get the full whack of IB as well?

It is meant for you to live on not to be able to live in luxury!

healy

Incapacity Benefit are trying to reduce their amount of claimants too, every 6months minimum they will contact you and ask for update of your inability to work. You can also be asked to attend a medical review where you will be examined by 2 independent doctors separately. This has always been okay for me because my claim for Incapacity Benefit is very genuine which I think they appreciate. There are alot of people out there claiming Incap for back problems but still go about their daily activities with ease. Please don't think I am implying you are one of these. But when you have to attend a medical review its a bit like going through customs at the airport, you feel guilty even though you have nothing to feel guilty about!! END QUOTE

I dont know where you got this from but people on IB are usually reviewed much less often than a minimum of 6 months. When they go for a medical review it is only with one Doctor not two.

back2square1

Clearly your experiences are different to mine but in MY situation I was advised a medical review was required every 6 MONTHS and that this could be carried out where I was interviewed twice, each by an independent doctor on behalf of DWP.

I have been in receipt of IB for 5 years I have in fact attended medical review 3 times and was told at my last medical review I would not need to be seen for another 18months due to MY situation. Also when they last sent me a questionnaire regarding a medical update to see if I needed to be seen by their independant doctor they replied stating it was not needed in my current circumstances.

I DO NOT live a life of luxury, you obviously misunderstood my previous comments. I wanted to do Access to Higher Education course to enhance my future career prospects and IB appreciated this and I was informed via Advocacy Worker at a charity organisation that I could apply for DWP to pay my course fees and my IB would NOT be affected. I got £300 and IB stayed the same.

Also I have 2 children, my maintenance is at the minimum CSA entitlement of £49 a week; my other regular income is IB, tax credit and child benefit. I do not socialise, buy any luxury items such as new clothes. I just manage to pay rent, bills, food and provide for my 2 children. I do not smoke or drink. I can assure you my life is far from luxury. I do not get to plan holidays or day trips for my children which may involve expense.

Prior to becoming very ill 5 years ago I worked full time since I left school and always contributed fully to tax and national insurance.

DWP encourage people back to work especially if they are in receipt of IB, there are many stories within media indicating that there is a high level of claims for IB and the DWP are determined to reduce the figure considerably.

For me personally I do not like being ill and hate having to claim benefits and at the first given opportunity I intend to return to employment.

My previous comments were pointing out that there is financial support for claimants who want to return to work. My comment regarding DWP doing this as an incentive is therefore justified. I have no plans on fiddling the system and believe I am a very honest and genuine person.

Please do not judge me, I was just reiterating advice that I have received in case it was of use to anyone. I am sorry if you felt my comments came across as being a smug benefit claimant, I can assure you I am not.