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ESA, DLA, Restrictions on saving
Comments
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Because DLA is not counted as income. There are also disability premiums.0
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They originally had ESA and DLA and then were told to apply for housing benefit which was £350 (rent is £420) and then got a letter the other day to say that due to their disabilties etc they were getting an extra payment on top of the ESA (I think). This has now tipped them into having £1300 spare but their outgoings are very low, basically they don't spend anything unless they are absolutely forced to!
I suppose the same amount of income to someone else would not result in that much spare as they would live a bit more normally.
It's hard to absorb the exact details when you're not the one getting the letters and understanding the systemJust a general question, but if they have £1300 over each month how do they manage to qualify for housing benefit?0 -
Yes - thank you for clarifying
Plus they're good at not spending it - lol!lukieboy96 wrote: »Because DLA is not counted as income. There are also disability premiums.0 -
It is quite likely that this is the case. It would not be unusual for say a 65 year old male and his wife to claim over £600 in benefits + housing costs and council tax support per week! If you play the system, it seems that not only can you have a good lifestyle but manage to save as well.Yes - thank you for clarifying
Plus they're good at not spending it - lol!0 -
entitlement has nothing to do with 'playing the system'
once you go to the middle rate of DLA, all the premiums kick in. you don't claim them ... they are paid automatically.
so someone on low rate DLA gets very little but once middle rate is achieved ... then income doubles overnight!
put 2 disabled people in one house and they get all the premiums x 2 ( whereas the premiums are not usually payable unless you live alone)
this isn't 'playing the system'
if you think the system is wrong, then blame the system ... don't make disguised abusive comments towards disabled people!0 -
Their monthly expenses are low and they're now in a ridiculous situation of being given lots of 'extras' due to their disabilities that they have a whopping £1300 a month excess (They originally had ESA and DLA and then were told to apply for housing benefit which was £350 (rent is £420) and then got a letter the other day to say that due to their disabilties etc they were getting an extra payment on top of the ESA (I think). This has now tipped them into having £1300 spare but their outgoings are very low, basically they don't spend anything unless they are absolutely forced to!
Why did they apply for HB if they didn't need the money?0 -
entitlement has nothing to do with 'playing the system'
once you go to the middle rate of DLA, all the premiums kick in. you don't claim them ... they are paid automatically.
so someone on low rate DLA gets very little but once middle rate is achieved ... then income doubles overnight!
put 2 disabled people in one house and they get all the premiums x 2 ( whereas the premiums are not usually payable unless you live alone)
this isn't 'playing the system'
if you think the system is wrong, then blame the system ... don't make disguised abusive comments towards disabled people!
OK it's not playing the system.
Some people actually have worked out what to claim that will give them the best result. If you are telling me that manipulation of say PIP, AA or DLA is not possible.....
OK, what about a wife that has arthritis. What would be the best report to gain the maximum award? Certainly not one from a GP. Maybe Social Services? OT assessment? Some people do a self referral and at the assessment at home, some exaggeration occurs. The OT is more than willing to give a glowing report to the DWP. In fact I am aware of one such case, where the OT from Social Services came to see the lady and a week later telephoned her to run through the form she had received from the DWP. The husband took over the call. Between the OT and the husband a report was compiled that suggested that her needs were far greater than they actually were. result was an AA award at the highest rate indefinitely. Likewise the husband had an assessment with the same OT, which also resulted in a report being sent to the DWP suggesting that he too was in a very bad way. Result - maximum AA idefinitely as well. Now with those they maxed their income.
They knew that Social Services/OT would be on their side and it would not be difficult to 'play on the disability' - on the principle that there must be a problem hence the self referral.
Next they went for Carers Allowance he for her and her for him. It was dubious that they each provided care to the other for 35+ hours a week. But they realised that no one would be able to disprove it as each would vouch for the other. They couldn't get the actual payment as they were both over 65 and receiving the SRP. Just with getting those two AA awards their income went from just a few hundred a week to well over £600 a week.
They had worked out how the system worked and what was needed to maximise their income - AA was the key for both of them. They realised that they both needed an acceptable report to be sent to the DWP.
Was the end result justified by the means? And that was just one couple.0 -
Someone said on another thread that 30/40 or so years ago, those that claimed benefits were seen as mugs. Claiming in those days held a stigma. Now it is readily accepted that the mugs are those that DON'T make a claim if they are entitled to do so. Whether they need the money is here nor there - they are entitled.Why did they apply for HB if they didn't need the money?0 -
benniebert wrote: »It is quite likely that this is the case. It would not be unusual for say a 65 year old male and his wife to claim over £600 in benefits + housing costs and council tax support per week! If you play the system, it seems that not only can you have a good lifestyle but manage to save as well.
You sound just like 'rotoguys'
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=50973959&postcount=18
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=50994327&postcount=490 -
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