Receiving DLA What Else Can I Claim?

Vorash

Hello,

My mum is receiving DLA, she has been receiving it since early may last year. She is on middle and high rates, however she is struggling as the money isn't a lot, I'm paying all her bills for her, but now I'm struggling.

I phoned income support, and they said she can claim ESA. However, before receiving DLA, she was on ESA, but they said she was fit for work, she failed the medical.

What are our options? Do we apply for ESA? Considering she is on DLA, does she have a higher chance of getting ESA?

Thanks

Cyclamen

I would put another application in for ESA .. you can be fit for work with DLA but depending on your claim it may provide some supporting evidence.

Is she able to work? If so JSA would be an option buts he would then need to look for and be willing to take work.

Has she applied for housing and council tax benefit.. they are for lower incomes.
You can geta form from your chemist to get free prescriptions if her disability doesn't qualify for them.

help4help2013

if she cannot work due to her illnesses or disability then she can make a claim for ESA yes you may or may not have to attend a medical for ESA ( i know people in the past who have not had to attend a medical )

if she does attend a medical and is found fit for work she can appeal and have a reconsideration done or then go to a tribunal appeal however if she want to apply for ESA then you must gvie as much detail as you can about her illnesses and how they effect her not being able to work and also send in as much evidence as you can

tinkledom

Vorash wrote: »

Hello,

My mum is receiving DLA, she has been receiving it since early may last year. She is on middle and high rates, however she is struggling as the money isn't a lot, I'm paying all her bills for her, but now I'm struggling.

I phoned income support, and they said she can claim ESA. However, before receiving DLA, she was on ESA, but they said she was fit for work, she failed the medical.

What are our options? Do we apply for ESA? Considering she is on DLA, does she have a higher chance of getting ESA?

Thanks

Errr she failed the 'medical'? About 40% do that, it means nothing. Why did she not appeal against that decision? If she had she would have continued to receive her ESA up to the time that she could go to the Tribunal and put her case there.


Time to put in a new ESA claim methinks. She will get another ESA50 form to fill in. Do the best you can filling it out, then probably she will have another 'medical'. If she fails that don't worry the DWP aren't very good at giving the right decision, first time! Don't worry if you have no specific evidence that would back up her claim appertaining to the relevant descriptors - the DWP almost always agree with what the 'medical' people say even if it doesn't fit in with the truth of the claim and despite what evidence you do send in.


Housing Benefit, Council Tax Support??


Does she live on her own? How old is she (not being nosey, she could claim Pension Credit instead of ESA if she is 62 or older)

Indie_Kid

DLA has nothing to do with ESA. The criteria (with a few exceptions) is different.

She should be entitled to a free bus pass and blue badge.

Benefits wise - ESA. If she lives alone and no-one claims carers allowance for her, she can claim the severe disability premium. If she receives income based ESA, she's entitled to full housing benefit for her area and full council tax support and free prescriptions.

Morglin

Put in a claim for ESA again, send all the medical evidence you can, and then appeal if the award is not given.

DLA and ESA are different, but claim for both.

Lin

Vorash

Thanks for the advice guys, I've past it onto her.

She was on the old incapacity benefit before moving to ESA, which she got for a while but then was took off it (we appealed and got no where, even with support from her GP).

Is there a reason why she can not claim income support?

gov.uk/income-support/eligibility

Reading over the eligibility for it, to me she qualifies. Is there more to it that this?

- She is under pension credit qualifying age
- Has low income (only gets DLA middle and high rates)
- Unable to work

Thanks

Indie_Kid

Income support is mostly for carers and lone parents with a child under 5.

Cate1976

If you go to https://www.turn2us.org.uk and put all the relevant details in, it'll tell you what other benefits your Mum could get. I think it'll suggest ESA which you'll be able to do based on current problems. I would be very surprised if she isn't entitled to full Housing Benefit (If she's in Social Housing and house has more than 1 bedroom, she'll have a reduction of 14% for 1 extra bedroom or 25% if she has 2 extra bedrooms, if she's renting privately then she'll only get Housing Benefit based on Local Housing Allowance for 1 bedroom) & Council Tax Support. DLA is disregarded by both Housing Benefit & Council Tax Support.

sleepless_saver

Vorash wrote: »

Is there a reason why she can not claim income support?

gov.uk/income-support/eligibility

Reading over the eligibility for it, to me she qualifies. Is there more to it that this?

- She is under pension credit qualifying age
- Has low income (only gets DLA middle and high rates)
- Unable to work

Thanks

See "Claiming for the person you look after" section in link for explanation. The normal benefit for people unable to work because of ill health is ESA.