DLA Underpayment?

methecooldude

Hi MSE people!

New to the forums so firstly, HI there!

Now on to the skinny. My girlfriend (who is 20, not that it should make a difference) receives DLA at the middle rate for care and lower rate for mobility for a total (according to the Rates page for DLA on the gov.uk website) of £74 per week...

Now my question to you (is very silly) is this... as DLA is paid every 4 weeks/monthly surely I should times the £74 by 4 (£296) to get said monthly amount.

So why is it then my lady is only getting £88 (ish) every 4 weeks?

She has had no letters explaining this, is it worth me getting on the phone and (calmly) asking where the heck the other £208 is?

Many thanks

Rich

HB58

Yes, she should phone DWP and ask them to explain what she is getting and why. You would not be able to do this for her unless she first answered the security questions and then give permission for you to deal with this on her behalf.

Horseunderwater

You are right that she should be getting £74 each week and that this x 4 = £296 - so it would seem that she is being short changed by £208.
However DWP will only speak to your G/F not you. She needs to ring them and speak to them to ask why this is happening. Get her to look at her latest award letter dated from March 2013 to see if there is something obvious on there that may explain what has happened. That should tell her what she will be paid and when. Could be a computer glitch?

methecooldude

Thank you both. I'll get her to give them a call. This is not a one off payment issue, it seems looking at her online banking (with her of course) that it's been every DLA payment... ah well.

This is going to be... fun?...

Thank you again

Rich

rogerblack

methecooldude wrote: »

Now my question to you (is very silly) is this... as DLA is paid every 4 weeks/monthly surely I should times the £74 by 4 (£296) to get said monthly amount.

So why is it then my lady is only getting £88 (ish) every 4 weeks?

88 is around the correct figure for someone either receiving only low-rate care, or low rate mobility.
Has she had any reviews recently - and how long has this payment been going on?

zzzLazyDaisy

rogerblack wrote: »

88 is around the correct figure for someone either receiving only low-rate care, or low rate mobility.
Has she had any reviews recently - and how long has this payment been going on?

That was my thought. Every April (or thereabouts) we receive a letter confirming our DLA entitlement for the coming year. That is the first place to start. It is quite possible that either you or your gf is confused about what award she has.

TOBRUK

methecooldude wrote: »

Hi MSE people!

New to the forums so firstly, HI there!

Now on to the skinny. My girlfriend (who is 20, not that it should make a difference) receives DLA at the middle rate for care and lower rate for mobility for a total (according to the Rates page for DLA on the gov.uk website) of £74 per week...
.........
She has had no letters explaining this, is it worth me getting on the phone and (calmly) asking where the heck the other £208 is?

Many thanks

Rich

Hi Rich,

Has your girlfriend been receiving DLA for a while or is it a recent claim? The reason I ask is that after your have made a claim and when you are awarded DLA you do receive a letter from DLA stating what rate you receive for CARE and MOBILITY and you also get the breakdown of how much you will receive every 4 weeks.

Arachne_2

I get low care/low mobility, and the figure I get each month (as on my bank statements) is £168.00.

I second the suggestions to dig out the most recent breakdown letter detailing her benefits.

If not, I believe you can call and ask for one to be sent out - I had to do this when pharmacies needed proof of eligibility for free prescriptions.

Good luck to you and your missus Rich

Horseunderwater

Arachne wrote: »

I get low care/low mobility, and the figure I get each month (as on my bank statements) is £168.00.

I second the suggestions to dig out the most recent breakdown letter detailing her benefits.

If not, I believe you can call and ask for one to be sent out - I had to do this when pharmacies needed proof of eligibility for free prescriptions.

Good luck to you and your missus Rich

DLA does not qualify you for free prescriptions and if you are claiming them - then you are doing so wrongly. An income related/based benefit however does and it is that - that you need to give to the pharmacy - called proof of entitlement. However if you are on a low income, then you can fill out HC1 form and get help with costs.

Arachne_2

Horseunderwater wrote: »

DLA does not qualify you for free prescriptions and if you are claiming them - then you are doing so wrongly. An income related/based benefit however does and it is that - that you need to give to the pharmacy - called proof of entitlement. However if you are on a low income, then you can fill out HC1 form and get help with costs.

Ah sorry, I only mentioned the prescriptions bit (I receive IS) as it related to my contacting the DWP for a fresh entitlements letter, and the fact that they sent one out when asked.

Apologies for any confusion!