DLA - Change of Carer

Sovverf

Hello.

My girlfriend receives the highest level of DLA but lives at home with her mother as her carer. I'm wondering how the process works with her moving in with me and me becoming her carer.

Currently she receives both component of DLA, including mobility. The car has 18 months to go of the 3 years and is in the mother's name, am I right to say this is this a simple case of cancelling it?

Given that she receives the highest DLA, is there anything other support we are entitled to?

Will there be any change to what she receives with her as part of a couple?

Thanks. The .gov website is a little unclear.

enabledebra

Use this calculator to enter details as if you already live together to see what your household entitlement to benefits will be http://www.turn2us.org.uk/ her DLA won't be affected but any 'means tested' benefits she gets will be (eg income support or income related ESA)

Speak to Motobility about the car http://www.motability.co.uk/

If her mum is her 'appointee' (as you mention the motobility car is in her mum's name?) this is another issue that will need to be resolved if this is to change - info about appointees here https://www.gov.uk/become-appointee-for-someone-claiming-benefits

letthemeatcake

If the award is in your girlfriends name then the car should belong to her unless she is an appointee.

Its likely that your girlfriends mother is just named on the insurance as you are allowed two nominated drivers (there are some conditions such as how far a nominated driver lives from the person with the mobility award) and the car is paid for by the mobility part of your girlfriends 4 weekly DLA payments. When she moves in with you she could still keep the car until the end of the 3 year period and put you on the insurance instead but you would have to let motability, DLA and the insurance know of the change of address .

In fact you could go on the insurance now if she only has 1 named driver but you will need to use the car solely for her benefit such as taking her to appointments or doing errands on her behalf but clear it with motability first.

It could be that her mother has bought a car using the DLA payments but I'm certain that the mother would have had to buy it in her daughters name.