'Disability Allowance' to be counted as income.

jobbingmusician

I have just received the following email. My questions are .....
1. What is 'Disability Allowance'? Have I missed something or do they actually mean DLA?
2. Is it actually even legal to count DLA as income for the purposes of assessment?

If there are any disability benefits experts on here I'd be very interested to know!

[FONT=&quot]Consultation on Changes to the Fairer Contributions Policy[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Monday 14 November to Monday 6 February 2016.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]As a valued stakeholder in Barnet, we would like to engage with Mind on our proposals for up-dating out Fairer Contribution Policy.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]If you have any forum meetings or events upcoming, we would like to offer to come along and explain the proposals, answer questions and hear feedback from those in attendance.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]We are proposing to make the following three changes to our Fairer Contributions Policy:[/FONT]

• [FONT=&quot]Raise the maximum contribution for home and day care to reflect the current cost of care.[/FONT]
• [FONT=&quot]Include the full amount of Disability Allowance and Attendance Allowance as income.[/FONT]
• [FONT=&quot]Change our policy on guaranteed minimum income.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]More details of these proposals can be found at engage.barnet.gov.uk. There you can find the consultation document, online survey, downloadable postal survey and Easy Read versions of the consultation document and questionnaire. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]The questionnaire can be completed online, or printed off and posted. We are also running drop in sessions to discuss how the proposals may affect individuals and for them to get help to complete the questionnaire.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]If you would like us to attend one of your meetings or forums, or if you have any questions on the consultation, please contact us on:[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Email: [/FONT][EMAIL="engage.adults@barnet.gov.uk"][FONT=&quot]
[/FONT][/EMAIL]
engage dot adults at barnet dot gov dot uk
[EMAIL="engage.adults@barnet.gov.uk"][FONT=&quot][/FONT][/EMAIL][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Telephone: 020 8359 [/FONT][FONT=&quot]3289[/FONT]

nannytone_2

is this about co funding contributions towards the provision of care?

if so, many councils consider DLA as income when it comes to the provision of care ( after all DLA is to help pay for the care you need)

my own council charges 70% of mid rate care DLA, or low rate AA

at the moment they disregard the amount paid in high rate DLA/AA as this is for overnight care.

Ames

Is this for social services? As Nannytone says, it's common. In fact, I didn't realise there was anywhere that didn't count DLA as income.

sheramber

from the website

These proposals are about fees and charges for community based (non-residential) care services which include: home care, day care, supported living, extra care, direct payments and other services financially assessed under our Fairer Contributions Policy.

davidplans

I have section 117 aftercare because I've been under section 3 in hospital so don't have to pay anything towards my support which is paid for by social services.

Articulate25

Since the change in the care act there is no longer a distinction between night and day so in terms of financial contributions that night care component of DLA around 26.00 is no longer deductible, used as a disability related expenditure, etc, many councils have implemented,it, PIP has never had it.

I will be post up a huge post about fairer charging guidance this weekend, there is nothing fair about it and councils social services are surviving by charging the most vulnerable(here working disabled people pay nothing).

nannytone_2

Articulate25 wrote: »

Since the change in the care act there is no longer a distinction between night and day so in terms of financial contributions that night care component of DLA around 26.00 is no longer deductible, used as a disability related expenditure, etc, many councils have implemented,it, PIP has never had it.

I will be post up a huge post about fairer charging guidance this weekend, there is nothing fair about it and councils social services are surviving by charging the most vulnerable(here working disabled people pay nothing).

i receive direct payments to employ a PA.

i wont go into detail, but it is sufficient for me to employ her for 22 hours a week at above minimum wage, cover all the costs of being an employer, plus a small contingency.

my co fund is £155 every 4 weeks. when i was on low rate care DLA, i made no contribution at all.

i think this is a bargain.

if i had to employ my own PA, i would get less than 6 hours a week.

DLA/PIP care componant is to help pay for the care that the claimant needs.
why should they receive the care and keep the money?

Cyclamen

DLA/PIP care componant is to help pay for the care that the claimant needs.
why should they receive the care and keep the money?

I do see this and in theory it makes perfect sense but what if the social care/direct payments doesnt cover all your needs?

I still pay a huge amount for equipment (that I can't get from an OT), gardening, handyman for jobs i'd love to do myself. Extra care/help that isn't covered from DP, supplements that have been recomended by NHS staff but not prescribed. Replacing clothes i mangle in wheelchair ..and I buy new to me from ebay. and so on..

If DLA/PIP was meant to cover social care/Direct payment costs only why do those who don't recieve social care still get DLA/PIP? I know its because they have additional expenses but they don't just go away when carers come in.

I also don't understand why those who work don't have their salaries counted but those of us with ill health pensions have that counted.

My council has recently decided that 'special diets' are no longer a reasonable disability cost.. I don't choose a food allergy and the cost of 1 litre of milk is £1.35 for lactose free rather than 44p a litre. Due to unpleasant mistakes we only have lactose free milk in now.. so although a small expense it adds up and is another 'must' from the PIP fund.

I am happy to pay something towards my care as it makes such a huge difference to my quality of life but I don't find anything fair about the policy for charging. It is very much a postcode lottery and down to local politics.

DomRavioli

Cyclamen wrote: »

I do see this and in theory it makes perfect sense but what if the social care/direct payments doesnt cover all your needs?

I still pay a huge amount for equipment (that I can't get from an OT), gardening, handyman for jobs i'd love to do myself. Extra care/help that isn't covered from DP, supplements that have been recomended by NHS staff but not prescribed. Replacing clothes i mangle in wheelchair ..and I buy new to me from ebay. and so on..

If DLA/PIP was meant to cover social care/Direct payment costs only why do those who don't recieve social care still get DLA/PIP? I know its because they have additional expenses but they don't just go away when carers come in. Because not all costs are social care related. I have two fairly severe disabilities (sight loss and spinal stenosis), but don't require home care as my mother was a nurse for 36 years, and my partner is happy to help out where he can. My DLA goes towards extra costs such as delivery (as I have been housebound for the last 9 months)and taxis (as I can't legally drive anymore).

I also don't understand why those who work don't have their salaries counted but those of us with ill health pensions have that counted. I don't understand that either.

My council has recently decided that 'special diets' are no longer a reasonable disability cost.. I don't choose a food allergy and the cost of 1 litre of milk is £1.35 for lactose free rather than 44p a litre. Due to unpleasant mistakes we only have lactose free milk in now.. so although a small expense it adds up and is another 'must' from the PIP fund. Aldi have almond milk for 69p a litre. Lidl also do a few lactose free milks for under £1, and tesco have lactose free own brand stuff for under £1. If you have a diagnosed allergy, your GP should be able to provide prescriptions for this.

I am happy to pay something towards my care as it makes such a huge difference to my quality of life but I don't find anything fair about the policy for charging. It is very much a postcode lottery and down to local politics.

Not all disability requires carers. That's the long and short of it. I wouldn't have carers come in even if I needed them, as a 31 year old fiercly independent woman I would never ever allow that, regardless of how ill I was.

Cyclamen

DomRavioli,

I agree with you that not all costs are related to social care. I tried to say that even though i have care i have the extra costs of delivery charges, taxis,equipment etc that you refer too.. these needs don't go away just because carers help me with personal care etc. Yet the money for them is taken.. doesn't seem fair.

Shopping around for bargains is not an option for me and it frustrates me no end.. i use tescos and occasionally iceland as they deliver and are affordable. I'd love aldi/lidl and the market but that is beyond my limitations. So whilst i get your point there are cheaper options again due to disability some of us just can't access them. I am confident i could cut my food bill dramatically if i could use different shops, and not have to buy so much pre-prepared..

As for a diagnosed allergy.. yes its on al my medical notes.. even lactose effects the tablets the gp prescribes and soem medicines i just cant have.. but i have never been offered help with 'lactose free shopping' .. i read labels and budget as best i can..but it is far more expensive especially when not well enough to cook everything from scratch. I believe they prescribe for coeliacs and milk for babies but i think i am just meant to go without as adult.

I agree not all disability requires carers.. but those of us who have carers still migt have the extra disability expenses that made us eligible for PIP in the first place. So paying DLA/PIP to social services leaves no money for all the extras of being poorly and if we dont work (due to health) it makes it very tricky to juggle things.

I admire your tenacity.. i was a 30 year old fiercely independent woman when my disability struck and sobbed my heart out asking for carers and after every care call.. but in my case 'needs must' and i didn't and still dont have a choice. I am glad you do.

It's a tricky path we all travel and i just find some of the 'rules' illogical.

GlasweJen

A % of my wages is taken into account for carer assessment. I was told it's because people on income based benefits would get help towards housing and council tax but I don't so they set me an amount for that and for work expenses like travel, lunches etc.

I ended up binning the council as their workers were very inflexible and almost useless. Just employing the same agency on a private contract has improved my care dramatically.

I'm also a fiercely independent 30 year old but needs must.