Confused with odd DLA payments

wishing5

Hi i'm not sure if anyone can help, i applied for DLA for my 5 year old son, i received a letter saying they received the application on the 21st November i was surprised to find they had made a decision and paid his dla into my account last friday, only a week after applying!
I have not received any letters explaining the decision so i phoned them and asked what rate he had been awarded, i was told he has highest rate care allowance plus low rate mobility allowance at £98 a week, the amount i received last friday was for £110 which works out at one weeks payment plus £10 extra, He said i would get another payment next wednedsay but i was under the impression that he would get his payments every 4 weeks in arrears, has that changed recently?
I really don't know how much to expect next week, i was so shocked that he had been awarded so quickly i forgot to ask, i didn't expect anything until after the new year.
Could somebody please explain how it is worked out and how frequently it is paid?
Thanks in advance.

rogerblack

It is normally paid every 4 weekly.
I believe what's likely to happen is ypu'll be paid four weeks from last friday, the normal amount per week.
The extra 10 pounds is the christmas bonus.

harry7075

Do you get a Christmas Bonus for DLA? I never knew that just thought it was for Incapacity

Doom_and_Gloom

Yep DLA is a qualifying benefit for the bonus. The thing to remember is that no matter how many qualifying benefits you get, you as a claimant get only one Christmas bonus.

Horseunderwater

Christmas bonus and DLA is only payable on MRC/HRC part not on LRC or mobility - hence why I do not have it on my award for DLA. But it is on my ESA one.
What tends to happen with DLA is they pay you some odd payments once claim has been approved to get you to the day that they will pay you every 4 weeks, then things will run smoothly after that. From what I can tell from the info you kind of have is that claim opened on 21st Nov, so they have paid you 8 days of DLA and will pay you another 7 days this week along with the Xmas bonus of £10 - so expect another £108 perhaps? Just guessing. That will bring you upto the tuesday/Wednesday that seems to be a normal day for DLA payments. Mine is paid on a Tuesday. Glad they sorted you out so quickly. You will get a letter in due course which will explain it all in next week or so. Meantime do not worry.

rogerblack

Horseunderwater wrote: »

Christmas bonus and DLA is only payable on MRC/HRC part not on LRC or mobility - hence why I do not have it on my award for DLA.

Sigh.
Do you happen to have a link for this?
They've sent me a letter saying I'm getting it - and I'm on LRC/LRM.

I suppose in principle they could have bumped my award, and I'm gonna be getting a lot more, that seems extremely unlikely though.

Doom_and_Gloom

https://www.gov.uk/christmas-bonus/eligibility
Just says DLA it doesn't state which rates it goes with.

Anyway Horseunderwater you get it with your ESA you say. A claimant can only have 1 Christmas bonus no matter how many qualifying benefits they may be on as I already stated.

Horseunderwater

Doom_and_Gloom wrote: »

https://www.gov.uk/christmas-bonus/eligibility
Just says DLA it doesn't state which rates it goes with.

Anyway Horseunderwater you get it with your ESA you say. A claimant can only have 1 Christmas bonus no matter how many qualifying benefits they may be on as I already stated.

As I said - when I got DLA it was before I applied for the ESA at all and the award was for LRC and HRM and it was not on award letter. So I assume that it would only apply with MRC/HRC by logical deduction. DWP should make it clearer though, then we'd know for certain would we not.
Perhaps if anyone who reads posts on here has had a xmas bonus from DLA, could come on and answer that one?

Horseunderwater

Horseunderwater wrote: »

As I said - when I got DLA it was before I applied for the ESA at all and the award was for LRC and HRM and it was not on award letter. So I assume that it would only apply with MRC/HRC by logical deduction. DWP should make it clearer though, then we'd know for certain would we not.
Perhaps if anyone who reads posts on here has had a xmas bonus from DLA, could come on and answer that one?

Now folks - DO NOT LAUGH TOO MUCH - I got a letter this morning and it said I will get my Bonus on the 4th December and yes it is from DLA not ESA. So I admit I am wrong!!!! Why DLA award did not say it would happen is anyone's guess. Now let me see if they make a mistake on wednesday and pay me another one with the ESA - now that would be hilarious. Yes I know I'd have to adjust my next ESA payment with them, but I can live with that!