Ending DLA Advice needed

blackorred

My 1st post

After a visit yesterday from my brother in law and sister in law we had a day watching the Queens Jubilee and in the evening we chatted about my sister in law who has been on dla mobility and care for several years after a car accident, they have come into some money from a close relative who passed away last year they have paid off the mortgage and have a six figure sum left my sister in law wants to end claiming benefits although she is fully entitled to the money she gets and we told her she would be mad to do so but she is determined to stop claiming as she feels they no longer need what she descibes as a handout from the state.
Her question is how to end the payments, does she have to have a new assesment or is it a simple form or telephone call and does she have to give a reason why she no longer needs the benefits.
Thanks

Two4Tuesday

I would recommend writing to them and stating that although her care and mobility needs have not changed, that for personal reasons (you can explain why if you wish) she wishes to withdraw her claim.

Normally (for me at least) DLA payments are made on a Wednesday and cover the period up to the following Tuesday. I suggest that you state that the claim is to be withdrawn from the Wednesday after that Tuesday that the last payment is for. This reduces the risk of an overpayment being generated.

Send the letter by recorded delivery and keep a copy.

earthbound_misfit

Could I just point out that DLA is intented to cover the extra costs associated with having a disability; it is meant to 'level the playing field' so that financially the disabled are no worse off than if they weren't disabled.
That's not to say I think millionaires should claim - there is a moral issue there!
In this case it depends, is this person working? If so, the extra money can be covered by the inheritance whilst normal living costs are covered by wages.
On the other hand, if she's been claiming ESA or income support, then obviously those payments stop - they would anyway, as she is over the savings threshold. But a "six-figre sum" could be £100,000, and if she is disabled/unable to work for life, perhaps it isn't unreasonable to claim DLA for the extra, disability-related expenses (carers, mobility aids etc) whilst living off the inheritance. It depends how much it is and how long it'd last spent sensibly on living costs.

CTcelt1988

sangio wrote: »

I applaud your sister in law in doing the right thing.
If there were more people like her in this country that had this level of responsibility and moral outlook, we would not be in the mess we are in right now.

She is the entire opposite to that guy and his wife that won the Lottery multi millions but refused to give up his DLA and his Motability car saying that he was fully entitled to it!

David Cameron was rich yet he still claimed DLA for his disabled son.

princessdon

Or your SIL could still claim and then donate to charities and good causes close to her heart (maybe holidays for those children affected by motor accidents caused by drink drivers or uninsured drivers) for example.

It's a personal choice and I applaud them for the thought but I'd also consider if they felt that any local causes could do wonders with that money as opposed to entering the black hole of benefits. Just my personal opinion from someone who donates her CB to a very good cause.