Eligible for Severe Disability Premium?

SJI85

Hello everyone,

I have been claiming Income based JSA with Disability premium. Last month I moved from my parents' address into a new address. I share the house with three other people on an Assured shorthold tenancy. I am not related to any of my housemates, nor are any my partner. We are all liable for our own rent payments and only share the kitchen and bathroom.

As far as I understand, this means I am therefore classed as single and living alone. I also receive the middle rate care component of DLA. So I should be entitled to the Severe Disability Premium.

Unfortunately it seems I haven't had the Severe Disability Premium added to my claim now that I have moved house and transferred to a new jobcentre. I am still receiving the same amount as when I lived with my parents.

I was just checking that, before I nag the relevant people, I am eligible for the SD Premium?

If anyone can confirm it would be greatly appreciated.

[Deleted User]

from what i`ve read the answer may well be yes IF you are classed as living alone,and from what you say you dont live alone
but what gets me is why you claim jsa if you are so disabled?why not esa?

SJI85

woodbine wrote: »

from what i`ve read the answer may well be yes IF you are classed as living alone,and from what you say you dont live alone
but what gets me is why you claim jsa if you are so disabled?why not esa?

Thanks for the reply.

But from what I understand I am living alone, at least for the purposes of SDP, as I thought co-tenants are excluded. As mentioned, we only share the kitchen and bathroom and are responsible for our own rent.

In my student days I lived with housemates, under an AST, and received the SDP for Local Housing Allowance (not that it resulted in more money).

As for not claiming ESA, I am well enough to work and am looking for employment. I actually have a Zero Hours job starting next month as an Educational Support Worker.

What are the advantages of being on Work Related ESA compared to JSA, except for the not being required to sign on every fortnight?

Edit: - As far as the SDP goes, this seems to confirm that co-tenants are excluded

"Any person who is not a close relative of you are your partner and jointly occupies your dwelling as a co-owner or who is sharing liability to make rent payments, a joint tenant cannot count as a non dependant. If the co-owner or joint tenant is a close relative they will count as a non dependant and will exclude you from being awarded the severe disability premium."

http://moneycarer.org.uk/articles/severe-disability-premium-overview

webtalk

If you have your own tenancy agreement with the landlord, without having to be responsible for the other tenants' rent, then you may well be eligible

If you all signed the tenancy agreement together, then I would guess you're jointly liable. I don't really know though as I am not a specialist in this field.

Either way, why not write a letter to the relevant Job Centre explaining exactly what the situation is, the nature of the tenancy agreement, and your relationship (or lack thereof) with the other tenants. Then see what they say.

Actually, scrap that ... go to (or phone) your nearest CAB and ask them as they'll know chapter and verse about this sort of thing.

The whole area of SDP can be a minefield, which is why I suggest speaking to specialists.

SJI85

webtalk wrote: »

If you have your own tenancy agreement with the landlord, without having to be responsible for the other tenants' rent, then you may well be eligible

If you all signed the tenancy agreement together, then I would guess you're jointly liable. I don't really know though as I am not a specialist in this field.

Well, co-tenant does suggest the same ASH tenancy agreement. Because of this, and that I was eligible for SDP with local housing allowance when in a shared student house, I can only assume I'm eligible.

Of course I was going to contact the jobcentre about this. I was just under the impression that my claim hadn't fully transferred yet (which would explain why the additional premium hasn't been paid) so was waiting a few days. I also realise that CAB are there should further advice be needed.

Just thought someone might be very clued up and could offer some thoughts before I can contact them, though I appreciate it is a minefield.

Thanks for the reply.

epitome

If you had a seperate tennancy agreement for yourself you would definately be eligible for SDP (but if one of the other people was a close relative I think you might struggle to get it.)
If you have a joint tennancy agreement, then you are liable for the whole rent if one of your friends does not pay up. According to what you quoted, even in this situation as long as the others are not close relatives or partners then you would get SDP.

The reason you are not recieving SDP is because you have to apply for it on an IS10 form. You could try your local jobcentre to see if they stock IS10 forms but I don't think they do. You can phone ESA and they will send you an IS10

Troutwrestler

You can get an IS10 from jobcentre..they printed one off for me and sent it off for me too...being unusually helpful...although I was told I couldn't get sdp because I live with my 3 year old child....:p

After speaking to a manager it was backdated though...but don't expect it to go smoothly