CCCS and DLA

kendalls_cave

This morning I had my first review of my DMP with the CCCS. I have been paying £120 monthly for over a year now. However last year when my DLA was reviewed i was awarded top care component with lower mobility . The care component went up from middle to higher rate. So we went through my income and outgoings and the guy said that my payments should go up to £300 with them :eek: Now I really struggle with this because i really feel they shouldn't be taking my DLA into account at all when working out income. I get DLA because I am ill ( severe mental health stuff). For example to go to the day hospital I have to get taxi's, as i don't do public transport on my own. Sorry I'm rambling now. My question is should and can CCCS take DLA into account when working out how much to pay creditors? I feel frustrated that money I''ve bene awarded to help cos i've an illness, so extra care needs is going to be spent on paying my debts. Someone please help me, but go gently I'\m feeling upset and confused.

fatbelly

So they're suggesting an increase of £180 per month, or about £41.50 per week. Are you saying that your DLA went up from mid-rate care to high-rate care and the mobility component stayed the same? If so, that's an increase of just over £21 per week. Or did the mobility component kick in where before there was none? That would be another £17 per week. Either way I agree that the £180 per month increase seems a little harsh given that your actual spending on those care and mobility needs have also increased.

But as a general point I think it is fair that DLA is taken into account as income and that fair expenditure on essential care and mobility is also shown.

After all, the aim of the exercise is to get you debt-free.

Sea78

Hi

I can imagine that this is a worry. Did you tell the CCCS about these costs and have then factored into your expenditure? If you have them on your budget and then get the CCCS to pop a little explanation next to it, this might mean that you can still pay a little more, but keep the taxi money etc. for when you need it. Might be worth ringing them up for another chat and explaining it again? Obviously, they will want to increase the payments slightly due to your income increasing, but perhaps they should only increase it a little, not taking all the money that you require.

Sea xx

kendalls_cave

fatbelly wrote: »

Are you saying that your DLA went up from mid-rate care to high-rate care and the mobility component stayed the same?

Yes that's right. My mental health had deteriorated a lot over the last couple of years, so when my DLA came to be assessed again, I was awarded higher rate component. As you say my spending on care needs has also increased

Did you tell the CCCS about these costs and have then factored into your expenditure?

Yes i did try to, but didn't really get anywhere To me there is a fine balance between paying of my debts and been able to have some quality of life, which DLA gives me. So I am just scared if they take as much as they want to I won't have the money I need to go on care needs. I will try and talk to them again, but I do struggle on the phone. Thanks for your replies