Pip and other benefit help please

Jonnyhere

Hi all newbie here.

Right I was on dla low care and mobility but did the changeover to pip and been awarded enhanced care and standard mobility which I'm relieved and happy about , my questions please if anyone can help are..

1. Due to me being awarded a higher rate in enhanced daily living instead of the Low rate care dla I was on do we now get an enhanced disability premium of housing benefit , I'm sure we get a premium of some kind now but with the higher enhanced rate I'm going to get I'm sure there is another premium that we can qualify for now I'm no longer on low rate dla ? I'm sorry if I confused anyone.

2. We get CTC and because my partner works we get wtc, we never got the disability premium of wtc as she worked full time and I didn't and I'm the one disabled ,my question is I have read of another disability premium which if either one person of the couple get pip at an enhanced rate it doesn't have to be the disabled person working to claim this ? I might be wrong here but I'm not sure and can't understand this one.

So to summarise I have been transferred from low rate dla on care and mobility to enhanced daily living and standard mobility on pip, we claim tax credits CTC and WTC I don't work my partner does full time, we also claim hb and council tax reduction.

So basically the main question is now being upgraded to be on enhanced pip daily care and standard mobility instead of low rate care and mobility dla does that change anything lol sorry.:)

paragon909

Jonnyhere wrote: »

Hi all newbie here.

Right I was on dla low care and mobility but did the changeover to pip and been awarded enhanced care and standard mobility which I'm relieved and happy about , my questions please if anyone can help are..

1. Due to me being awarded a higher rate in enhanced daily living instead of the Low rate care dla I was on do we now get an enhanced disability premium of housing benefit , I'm sure we get a premium of some kind now but with the higher enhanced rate I'm going to get I'm sure there is another premium that we can qualify for now I'm no longer on low rate dla ? I'm sorry if I confused anyone.

2. We get CTC and because my partner works we get wtc, we never got the disability premium of wtc as she worked full time and I didn't and I'm the one disabled ,my question is I have read of another disability premium which if either one person of the couple get pip at an enhanced rate it doesn't have to be the disabled person working to claim this ? I might be wrong here but I'm not sure and can't understand this one.

So to summarise I have been transferred from low rate dla on care and mobility to enhanced daily living and standard mobility on pip, we claim tax credits CTC and WTC I don't work my partner does full time, we also claim hb and council tax reduction.

So basically the main question is now being upgraded to be on enhanced pip daily care and standard mobility instead of low rate care and mobility dla does that change anything lol sorry.:)

Only the monetary rate would change... PIP or DLA etc doesn't effect any income related benefits. It doesn't count towards income....

eadieb

There is a severe disability premium that you can get on income related benefits if you are a single person living alone and no one claims carers for you. The enhanced rate premium is something usually added on to an income related ESA calculation for people placed into the Support Group of ESA.

You should always inform your housing benefit (local council) of any new benefit as it might readjust your claim but I cant tell without doing a full benefit check, which you might want to get done at a CAB.

On the Tax Credits issue you are correct. The Disability Rights Handbook page 158 (most citizens advice will have this) says

Severe Disability Element - this will be included if you get....PIP enhanced rate daily living
if you are part of a couple and one of you meets this test you get one severe disability element. The person who meets this test does not have to be the person who is working.

dktreesea

There's a disability element for working tax credit if the disabled person works - you don't have to work as many hours and it is quite substantial, like over £40 a week but, as with the rest of WTC, gets clawed back depending on how much your household earns.


For housing benefit, I think being disabled increases the applicable amount but don't know if this depends on the disabled person working or not.

Jonnyhere

eadieb - I thought that about tax credits but when I rang them last night he said that I'm incorrect and the severe disabled element is only for if the disabled person works is when it kicks in ? I did try and say I had read that it's not the same as the disabled element and I wasn't referring to that.

The severe disabled element is when you get the enhanced daily living part of pip the disabled person of the couple does not have to be working or that what I thought I read ?

Regarding housing benefit I have tried to look up on the net if now receiving enhanced care on pip upgrades the disability premium to an enhanced premium from the disabled premium as I was only on low rate dla before.

Thanks for all help so far looks like tax credits might be a struggle to get the truth.

pmlindyloo

Jonnyhere wrote: »

eadieb - I thought that about tax credits but when I rang them last night he said that I'm incorrect and the severe disabled element is only for if the disabled person works is when it kicks in ? I did try and say I had read that it's not the same as the disabled element and I wasn't referring to that.

The severe disabled element is when you get the enhanced daily living part of pip the disabled person of the couple does not have to be working or that what I thought I read ?

Regarding housing benefit I have tried to look up on the net if now receiving enhanced care on pip upgrades the disability premium to an enhanced premium from the disabled premium as I was only on low rate dla before.

Thanks for all help so far looks like tax credits might be a struggle to get the truth.

From what I have read I have to agree with you about the severe disability element of tax credits - you do not have to be working for your family to receive this.

For example

http://www.litrg.org.uk/tax-guides/tax-credits-and-benefits/tax-credits/disability-and-tax-credits

However, since you have already been told this is incorrect I suggest you wait for DarkSparkle to reply to your thread (or someone else with experience of tax credits)

if this doesn't happen I suggest that you write to tax credits with a copy of your new pip award (keep a copy of the letter and receipt) informing them of this change of circumstances.

As regards HB and CTR I would also contact them and inform them of the new PIP award as certainly for HB there are disability elements applied during their assessment of the amount of HB awarded.

Alice_Holt

Some info here which may help with your conversations with TC:

"What is the WTC severe disability element?

This element is different to the disability element. You can get this even if you don’t qualify for the disability element.

This is because there is no requirement that the disabled person must work to get this element so if the worker has a partner who doesn’t work but meets the condition below, they will get the severe disability element included.

Can I get this element included in my Working Tax Credit?

To qualify the claimant (or their partner) must receive the highest rate care component of disability living allowance (DLA), the enhanced rate of the daily living component of personal independence payment (PIP) or the higher rate of attendance allowance (AA).
As it is part of WTC, at least one person must be working (although, unlike the disability element, the disabled person need not be the worker).

If you are part of a couple and both of you meet the conditions, you can get two severe disability elements included in your WTC.

How much additional premium is included in my Working Tax Credit?

If you satify the above rules for the Severe Disability Element to be included in your Working Tax Credit an additional £1,275 will be included in your tax credits.

HM Revenue and Customs may ask you to nominate a professional involved in your care who can confirm how your disability affects you - for example, an occupational therapist, community or district nurse or doctor."

http://www.entitledto.co.uk/help/severe-disability-element

You would not be entitled to the disability element (see:http://www.entitledto.co.uk/help/disability-element); but it looks as if you and your partner may be entitled to the severe disability element.

In addition to phoning TC again and (hopefully) speaking to someone more knowledgeable, I might be inclined to write HMRC a letter (copy to your MP) referencing the incorrect info you have been given. Ask for a transcript of the telephone call, and make a complaint (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/complain-to-hm-revenue-and-customs)

Edit - And as pmlindyloo has helpfully suggested include a copy of your PIP award.

Jonnyhere

Thanks to you for the replies. Very helpful.

I called just now and on both occasions I have called they never asked for my details so was kind of general query anyway i spoke to someone I said I was calling back as we are confused due to mis information , I asked the question again and this time the chap understood my point and said there is a severe disabled element which we would seem to qualify for, he said once I get the award paperwork to call back and a special team deal with it.

I also tried to explain I was on dla and the change over to pip means I get to stay on the dla for a little longer as they have you stay on dla until the pip kicks in which I think is a month or so as it isn't a new claim, he said call in that case once the pip starts and with the letter in hand with the dates and rates etc.

So confusing as what to do.

Darksparkle

Jonnyhere wrote: »

Thanks to you for the replies. Very helpful.

I called just now and on both occasions I have called they never asked for my details so was kind of general query anyway i spoke to someone I said I was calling back as we are confused due to mis information , I asked the question again and this time the chap understood my point and said there is a severe disabled element which we would seem to qualify for, he said once I get the award paperwork to call back and a special team deal with it.

I also tried to explain I was on dla and the change over to pip means I get to stay on the dla for a little longer as they have you stay on dla until the pip kicks in which I think is a month or so as it isn't a new claim, he said call in that case once the pip starts and with the letter in hand with the dates and rates etc.

So confusing as what to do.

Essentially just do what they have said.

Once you know the date the PIP enhanced rate will start from and the date you were notified of the decision, let them know. That way they can ensure it is appropriately backdated.