Eligibility for Invalidity benefit

greenview1

I have worked for forty years and paid Nat Ins contributions accordingly. Three years ago I fell chronically sick. I did not make any claim for benefits of any description and lived on savings. I have applied for invalidity benefit but have been refused because I did not make any Nat Ins contributions for just the previous two years. I have a Old age pension forecast which I would receive when I reach sixty five in five years time. My wife receives an old age pension £2.68 a week which is paid 12 months in arrears. I wont reach sixty five unfortunately so would anybody agree with me that I should be allowed Invalidity benefit or a bit of my pension up front.
My next door neighbour is a terribly nice man but doesnt work but can manage to fetch seven lovely children into the world, he has now got a telly. He gets Income support, council tax benefit, housing benefit,child credit and many more brown envelopes popping through his letterbox every week. I am now considering taking a slice of bread round to see if they will dip it in the gravy!

Do you think I should get Invalidity benefit?

seven-day-weekend

Sorry to hear of your predicament.

Incapacity Benefit unfortunately is based on your having paid National Insurance contributions in the appropriate tax years, however long you have paid it for otherwise. You actually did yourself no favours by not claiming it at the start. You may be able to claim Income Support.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Diol1/DoItOnline/DG_4017646

However, you may be able to claim Disability Living Allowance. You can claim for it online via this link:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Diol1/DoItOnline/DG_10017715

Answer the questions as to how you are on your worst day or ask someone at CAB to help you fill it in.

Your wife may also be able to claim Carer's Allowance for looking after you:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/CaringForSomeone/MoneyMatters/DG_10012522

You may also qualify for Housing Benefit (if you are renting) and Council Tax Benefit.

Some of these benefits are means-tested and will interfere with each other, so really you need to speak to a Welfare Rights Officer at the CAB.

Hope this helps.

Biffa

If you decide to claim DLA, I would phone them for an application form instead of doing it online. The date you phone up will be the date that your claim is paid from, regardless of how long it takes you to fill in the form. When the form arrives, it will have two dates on it - the first being the date you requested the form, the second being the date you have to send it back by.

Be warned - the form is an absolute bar steward to complete, so speak to your local welfare rights officer for some help in filling it in, or get an appointment with the local CAB for some help from them. It took us over 3 weeks to complete the form for my husband - his claim was turned down twice and then awarded at appeal, so be prepared for an uphill battle.

If you've served in the armed forces for more than 10 days, you can get help with the form and the appeal from the British Legion.

krisskross

As you are 60 are you and your good lady not entitled to pension credit type payments? As you are saying you won't reach 65 you may be entitled to apply for DLA under the special rules.

minimadtrix

I seem to think that you can pay to get your National Insurance contributions up to date, then claim - does anyone know if am I right? I know it might be a chunk of money you don't want to pay out, but if I am right, it might be worth your while.

seven-day-weekend

minimadtrix wrote: »

I seem to think that you can pay to get your National Insurance contributions up to date, then claim - does anyone know if am I right? I know it might be a chunk of money you don't want to pay out, but if I am right, it might be worth your while.

I have a feeling that voluntary contributions do not count towards IB - it must be Class One contributions paid whilst you are working.

Morglin

If you phone for a DLA application pack, try not to be talked into giving them the details over the phone - they are doing this more and more and because people get panicked, and perhaps give incomplete answers, more and more claims are being rejected.

Tell them you wish to get help from the CAB (which you should do, anyway), and request that the form is posted.

Meantime, this may give other options for what you could claim:

http://www.entitledto.co.uk/

Lin

Penelope_Penguin

krisskross wrote: »

As you are 60 are you and your good lady not entitled to pension credit type payments? As you are saying you won't reach 65 you may be entitled to apply for DLA under the special rules.

Just a small point - the *Special Rules* for DLA are a quick route to eligibility for the benefit for those who are terminally ill.

Morglin

"Speical Rules" only apply to those that have been given a prognosis of 6 months or less to live.

Obviously, some people live longer, but it needs to be that prognosis by the medics.

Lin

jbambie

minimadtrix wrote: »

I seem to think that you can pay to get your National Insurance contributions up to date, then claim - does anyone know if am I right? I know it might be a chunk of money you don't want to pay out, but if I am right, it might be worth your while.

You can only bring your NI contributions uptodate if you are self empolyed and then there is a six week penalty.