Disability Living Allowance Entitlements

vic14west

Hi,

I have recently been awarded DLA - Higher Rate Mobility and Middle Rate Care.

What are my entitlements (what can i claim?).

I have already sorted out the Blue Badge, Car Tax Excemption and looking into a mobility car.

I was just wondering if there is anything else that i can claim?

Many Thanks

Paul_Varjak

If you also get Income Support, you can get a 'disability premium' added to that. I am not sure, but if you get Pension Credit I think there may be a 'disability premium' on that as well.

If someone is looking after you for more than 35 hours/week they may be able to get 'Carers Allowance" from the DWP.

If you go on the Humber Bridge (or other toll brdiges/roads/ferries) there are often concessions for those as well, but you need to check in advance their availability (you may need to apply and get tickets in advance).

Maybe you can also get concessionary bus/train travel as well!

Fran

Have a look at FAQ's which is a sticky at the top of this board. The "Carers" threads and "Grants etc." threads might be of interest to you. You can maybe get a Heating grant.

Addy

Council tax reduction?

Specifically, there are three possible features of the dwelling which can lead to a reduction. Only one of them needs to apply:

* space for wheelchair circulation;
* a second bathroom or kitchen;
* some other room used mainly by a disabled person.

The liable person must confirm that the space or room is essential, or of major importance, to the wellbeing of the disabled resident due to the nature and extent of the disability.

The criteria is not restricted to just those who require a wheelchair. Many other types of disability can lead to a reduction, e.g. blindness where a room is needed to house equipment such as a Braille or tape recorder. As long as the various conditions are fulfilled, all types of disabled people can qualify for a reduction.

A reduction for disabilities has be applied for and renewed annually

Paul_Varjak

Some Councils also run schemes to get free/reduced entry into entertainment/sports places they manage.

Ted_Hutchinson

SD1 October 2004 Sick or disabled useful summary of State Benefits for the disabled.
There are a few councils that restrict the availability of leisure facility discounts to "registered disabled" To become "registered disabled" you just ring your council social services and ask if there are any local discounts for the registered disabled which aren't available to non registered disabled and if so could you be Registered. My council don't offer the registered disabled anything extra and to be honest when I enquired about it I don't think anyone really knew where the "Register" was or who was supposed to do what. But now I am the proud owner of a little green card which I have never used.

Generally speaking I've never been asked to show a Registered Disabled card as proof of Disability. Usually a BB is sufficient evidence of proof.

If you want the Humber Bridge discount you need to get your tickets from the office first, You can't just turn up and get through for nowt. You'll find the full list of Bridge, Tunnel concessions and how to get them here

toozie_2

My Father in Law used to get DLA, and he was able to go to the community centre about 4 times a year to collect free energy saving light bulbs.

What about the free cavity wall insulation from the Energy Saving scheme?

Ted_Hutchinson

toozie wrote:

What about the free cavity wall insulation from the Energy Saving scheme?

Fran did that Heating grant.

sce37

Possibility of someone receiving Carers Allowance if you are in receipt of middle or higher rate care component. Application pack is called a DS700

If you are over 60 and eligible for pension credit and you live alone, are not in residential care and nobody receives carers allowance for caring for you, you may be entitled to the severe disability premium which would increase the applicable amount for pension credit. If you are under 60 then as advised above income support premiums may apply.

Ted_Hutchinson

sce37 wrote:

Possibility of someone receiving Carers Allowance if you are in receipt of middle or higher rate care component. Application pack is called a DS700

If you are over 60 and eligible for pension credit and you live alone, are not in residential care and nobody receives carers allowance for caring for you, you may be entitled to the severe disability premium which would increase the applicable amount for pension credit. If you are under 60 then as advised above income support premiums may apply.

Paul did those second post in thread.

Ted_Hutchinson

Zziggi wrote:

You can get tickets to cross the Humber Bridge for free (usually £2.50 each way). Your car needs to be car tax exempt (which you can get if you get high rate mobility of DLA). Initially you have to send proof that your car is vehicle tax excempt and they send you a set of 20 tickets. Once you have used these you can reapply for more (there appears to be no limit). On reapplication you just need to sign a form and confirm your car registration number has not changed. These tickets are only available through the post so you have to apply in advance. You cannot just turn up and ask for the tickets. I understand they are issued only on a thursday (so the lady in the office told me)

Paul mentioned this in post 2 in this thread and in a later post I posted the details of all tunnel/bridge concessions and how to get them here . Any chance we could encourage folk to read the thread before posting?