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Housing benefit while on DLA

Hi guys, a bit confused, was wondering if anyone could help me out.
Mum dad and me live in one house, while i work full time, mum receives the care component of DLA.
However dad has been refused esa after being on incapacity for years and is now appealing the decision.
The housing benefit has been suspended.
I always thought that if one person gets the care component of DLA in the household, there would be no deductions, so in reality they should continue paying this? Or am i wrong?
Many thanks and the help is very much appreciated
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Comments

  • Soapn
    Soapn Posts: 1,521 Forumite
    wouldn't you be classed as a non dependant, and therefore eligible to contribute something towards the rent and council tax?
    When your life is a mess, stop and think what you are doing before bringing more kids into it, it's not fair on them.
    GLAD NOT TO BE A MEMBER OF THE "ENTITLED TO " UNDER CLASS
  • djh22
    djh22 Posts: 27 Forumite
    edited 3 July 2012 at 8:44AM
    Yes you are correct chokolat2,there would be no Ndep deductions if your Mum gets DLA Care, Is that the reason why payments have been suspended though ? ,could it be over your Dad's income,although if he has appealed payments should continue until the appeal has been resolved.
    Retired Benefits Assessor, IRRV Tech.
  • Sarah69
    Sarah69 Posts: 466 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Combo Breaker
    I'm in receipt of housing + council tax and DLA, my son who is 20 and working does not have to pay any rent as I get DLA. Hope this helps?
  • chokolat2
    chokolat2 Posts: 438 Forumite
    djh22 wrote: »
    Yes you are correct chokolat2,there would be no Ndep deductions if your Mum gets DLA Care. Is that the reason why payments have been suspended though,could it be over your Dad's income,although if he has appealed payments should continue until the appeal has been resolved.

    Yes I am classed as a Ndep, we were in this situation last year, when I started full time work - but they sorted it out due to mum receiving care component of DLA.
    However now the situation is with my dad, as his benefit has stopped, and he is appealing as his health is getting worse.
    So as I understand they should continue with HB until the appeal is sorted?

    I just always thought that since my mum care component means I dont need to contribute as a non dependant - then would this not be the same for my dad, who is not in work at the moment?

    Thanks again
  • djh22
    djh22 Posts: 27 Forumite
    Your Dad is not a non dependent so his income needs to be taken into account in the assessment of HB/CTB.
    Does your Mum get DLA Care because she is disabled or for looking after your Dad ?
    Retired Benefits Assessor, IRRV Tech.
  • chokolat2
    chokolat2 Posts: 438 Forumite
    djh22 wrote: »
    Your Dad is not a non dependent so his income needs to be taken into account in the assessment of HB/CTB.
    Does your Mum get DLA Care because she is disabled or for looking after your Dad ?
    My mum is disabled.

    I must have misread the information online, because I read that if the claimant of HB (my dad in this case) or his partner (my mum) gets the care component of DLA, means there is no deductions to be made at all.
  • Anubis_2
    Anubis_2 Posts: 4,077 Forumite
    chokolat2 wrote: »
    My mum is disabled.

    I must have misread the information online, because I read that if the claimant of HB (my dad in this case) or his partner (my mum) gets the care component of DLA, means there is no deductions to be made at all.

    You are misunderstanding the deductions, they only relate to non-dependant deductions, not claimant deductions.

    The HB will have been stopped as your dad is the claimant and has been refused ESA. He needs to ring the HB office up and ask them to reinstate his HB as he is appealing.

    Any change in benefits for the claimant, eg, a benefit being stopped or not awarded, always results in HB being suspended which is what has happened here.
    How people treat you becomes their karma; how you react becomes yours.
  • chokolat2
    chokolat2 Posts: 438 Forumite
    Anubis wrote: »
    You are misunderstanding the deductions, they only relate to non-dependant deductions, not claimant deductions.

    The HB will have been stopped as your dad is the claimant and has been refused ESA. He needs to ring the HB office up and ask them to reinstate his HB as he is appealing.

    Any change in benefits for the claimant, eg, a benefit being stopped or not awarded, always results in HB being suspended which is what has happened here.


    Thanks for this. All seems a bit clearer now. Yes we've called the HB office, they advised to write a letter about our circumstances, which we'll do tonight.
    Many thanks
  • djh22
    djh22 Posts: 27 Forumite
    If the HB office made it clear when they suspended the payments it would have saved a lot of confusion,time and worry.
    Hope you get it sorted soon.
    Retired Benefits Assessor, IRRV Tech.
  • fluffymovie
    fluffymovie Posts: 1,417 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    To be fair djh, OP has not stated the reason HB was suspended in original post so it could have been clear but they misunderstood?
    I currently manage a Housing Benefit service and have been working in Housing / council tax benefit (as was) since 2001.

    All views expressed in my posts are my own opinions and do not necessarily reflect those of my employer.
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