DRO, Which Benefits to include?

derbyco1

Hi Everyone

Just working out the finances because we think a DRO is the correct way to go for my wife.
At the moment we both have benefit only incomes (due to my wifes disability).

What i want to know is, which benefits she should include as her income from the list below?

Housing + Council Tax Benefit = Im the main claimant but with her name in the details.

Income Support = Im the main claimant but with her name in the details. We get increased payments due to her disability.

Disability Allowance = My wife's, only in her name ofcourse.

Carer's Allowance = My name only.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Andy.

debt_doctor

derbyco1 wrote: »

Hi Everyone

Just working out the finances because we think a DRO is the correct way to go for my wife.
At the moment we both have benefit only incomes (due to my wifes disability).

What i want to know is, which benefits she should include as her income from the list below?

Housing + Council Tax Benefit = Im the main claimant but with her name in the details.

Income Support = Im the main claimant but with her name in the details. We get increased payments due to her disability.

Disability Allowance = My wife's, only in her name ofcourse.

Carer's Allowance = My name only.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Andy.

Hi,
In my view as an intermediary, only the DLA is your wifes income, which can be fully offset as care needs.
Certain benefits have a claimant (who is paid the benefit and accepts all of the legal obligations of compliance) such as IS, CA, HB, CTB and others - so I consider those as income of the claimant only.... and other benefits are joint claims - like tax credits, which should be split 50 - 50 as income.

DD

derbyco1

Thanks very much for your reply,

So, with her DLA being classed as her only income and that being offset against care needs, how are we supposed to say she pays for basic needs such as food, electric etc?
And will this have any effect on her being able to obtain a DRO?

Thanks.

debt_doctor

derbyco1 wrote: »

Thanks very much for your reply,

So, with her DLA being classed as her only income and that being offset against care needs, how are we supposed to say she pays for basic needs such as food, electric etc?
And will this have any effect on her being able to obtain a DRO?

Thanks.

You dont have to. Her DLA is for her care needs so she makes no contribution to the household - all of that is provided from your income - which is irrelevant for DRO purposes.

Occassionally I will process a DRO for someone who has no income at all - perhaps a stay at home wife / husband when their partner works full time ; income nil - expenses nil - all costs down to partners income.

DD

derbyco1

Thanks again,

She has about 12k of unsecured debt which she was able to pay until she became disabled, does the fact that she has nil income/expenses effect her chances of getting a dro? Or will it make it pretty straight forward.

Thanks.

debt_doctor

derbyco1 wrote: »

Thanks again,

She has about 12k of unsecured debt which she was able to pay until she became disabled, does the fact that she has nil income/expenses effect her chances of getting a dro? Or will it make it pretty straight forward.

Thanks.

All that matters is that the net surplus income is less than £50 pm. Clearly if DLA = care needs there is nil surplus - job done.

DD

derbyco1

Thankyou very much, your a saint

debt_doctor

If you get any problems with your chosen intermediary then get back to us on here - or PM me.

Good luck

DD

derbyco1

Hi Again,

Just 1 more question,

Do you have any idea on how many month's bank statements they require to see for a DRO?
We've just sent of for her credit report in preparation so was going to do the same with the bank statements.

Thanks

Andy.

derbyco1

*BUMP* For above question

debt_doctor

derbyco1 wrote: »

Hi Again,

Just 1 more question,

Do you have any idea on how many month's bank statements they require to see for a DRO?
We've just sent of for her credit report in preparation so was going to do the same with the bank statements.

Thanks

Andy.

It depends upon the intermediary or organisation concerned. You will have to give them what they require but certainly 3 months sounds reasonable. One wage slip is ok for me, it has your earnings to date, so any averages can be worked out from it.

DD