SDA - when married? & driving lessons?

ikkleosu

I'm sure this is probably a very dumb question but I've been on the DWP site and just end up going round and round in circles, and i have a bit of a thing about phoning!

Anyway I have been receiving Severe Disablement Allowance for 17 years and also get IS as a top up. i currently live with my mum, but recently got engaged. Obviously eventually I will be moving in with my fiance, so i was wondering how this will affect my benefits?

My OH has a full time job which i know will mean I no longer get IS, but will I still get the same level of SDA? Because of me being on a "disabliity" benefit, will that entitle us to any other cash breaks? (Someone mentioned something about a council tax rebate?)

And in related topic, I would desperately love to learn to drive but on benefits just cannot afford it. My brother says he knows someone who got a car (or grant for a car) because of a disability, and someone else mentioned to me that the government would help towards the cost of driving lessons? This all sounds a big urban legend to me, is there any such scheme? i would have thought they would only help if it was an aid to get you back to work (which is still a pipe dream for me at the moment, unfortunately).

Any hlep gratefully received! thank you!

Nilrem

By the sounds of it the car thing sounds like someone who is in receipt of Disability Living Allowance (Mobility component, higher rate) and has gone for the Motorbility high car scheme.

If you have problems getting around due to pain etc (effectively unable to walk) you may be entitled to Mobility Allowance, which is meant to pay towards the costs of getting around when you are unable (or virtually unable to walk).

Morglin

As the above poster states, if a claimant is in reciept of highrer rate DLA (Mobility) they can lease a car from Motability.

The only way I know of that driving lessons may be provided is through the Motability grant system, and these grants are difficult to get, heavily means tested, (you must be in reciept of a means tested benefit, and give a lot of information about your income and savings), and there is a long wait. Quite rightly, they usually tend to be given to the most disabled for car adaptations.

You don't mention DLA, and you will lose your IS, so it doesn't look as though this scheme will help:

http://www.motability.co.uk/Templates/Internal.asp?nodeid=89984&int1stParentNodeID=89592

You could ask your DEA at the job centre if there are any schemes to enable you to learn to drive so that you can return to work, though.

Lin

Peanuckle

Your SDA will stay the same and it isn't means tested or taxable.