DLA has just stopped

biggsyy147

Hi. I have been on the Motabilty scheme for 10 years up until 3 months ago when I opted to change back to DLA. My question is, would DLA take my money back in order to pay off some money I owe on working tax credits? They did pay me for the first 2 months. I have tried to get hold of them but can't seem to get through.

Any help would be great
Thanks

poppy12345

biggsyy147 wrote: »

Hi. I have been on the Motabilty scheme for 10 years up until 3 months ago when I opted to change back to DLA. My question is, would DLA take my money back in order to pay off some money I owe on working tax credits? They did pay me for the first 2 months. I have tried to get hold of them but can't seem to get through.

Any help would be great
Thanks

Hi, what do you mean " you opted to change back to DLA"? If you were aged 65 or under on 8th April 2013 you will be invited to apply for PIP. You can't just opt to change back. Have you been invited to apply and didn't? This is one reason they could stop your money. If you don't apply by the time stated your money will stop.

pmlindyloo

poppy12345 wrote: »

Hi, what do you mean " you opted to change back to DLA"? If you were aged 65 or under on 8th April 2013 you will be invited to apply for PIP. You can't just opt to change back. Have you been invited to apply and didn't? This is one reason they could stop your money. If you don't apply by the time stated your money will stop.

I think the OP means they used the mobility part of DLA for a car and then went back to receiving it as money.

OP, you will need to ring and find out why the DLA has stopped and then come back if you need further help.

And no, they cannot take arrears for WTC from your DLA.

NeilCr

I read this as the OP was on the motabilty scheme - decided not to continue - so will be receiving mobility DLA instead. Could be wrong of course

OP. I don't believe they can take all of your DLA to pay back what you owe on tax credits

What sort of information have you had about the overpayment?. What stage did you think it was at? Have you been told itmay be recovered from your DLA?

biggsyy147

Yes sorry I should have been more clear! I was on the Motabilty scheme and it came to and end and I didn't want to renew with a new car hire, it then took a few weeks but I was paid a small backpayment and then paid DLA every 4 weeks until a few days ago.

No I have received any information so I thought I would just ask on here if these things happen, so just to be clear, the DLA i'm entitled too cannot be used to pay off any other debts, unless maybe I was to agree? You all know a lot more than I do so I just didn't want to be stuck for words after waiting an hour to get through to them on the phone!

Thanks

NeilCr

pmlindyloo wrote: »

And no, they cannot take arrears for WTC from your DLA.

Absolutely not arguing with you as I don't know the answer for sure

I did, however, find this on Rightsnet

http://www.rightsnet.org.uk/Forums/viewthread/9429/#42569

And I can't look at CPAG till tomorrow. Have you got a link on this, please, as I am genuinely interested.

Thanks

OP

I do think you need to talk to DWP to ascertain what is going on. It's hard to advise without knowing exactly what is happening. Perhaps post back here when you have spoken with them?

poppy12345

pmlindyloo wrote: »

I think the OP means they used the mobility part of DLA for a car and then went back to receiving it as money.

OP, you will need to ring and find out why the DLA has stopped and then come back if you need further help.

And no, they cannot take arrears for WTC from your DLA.

Thanks for this

Alice_Holt

I think I have heard about an instance of deductions from DLA for other benefit overpayments.
But I can't recall if these were successfully challenged.
Sorry - bit vague.

However, I'm sure any deductions would not amount to the total DLA payable.
So, it's very likely to be another reason (admin error? / paid to incorrect bank account? / OP has not completed PIP form or not attended medical for the transition from DLA to PIP, and his disability award has ended ?/ etc )

The OP needs to urgently talk to HMRC to find out what has happened, and why payment has not been received. No-one else can tell him why his payments have stopped.
If there are deductions, I would then suggest getting advice from his local CAB to establish if there is anything to be done.They will have a copy of the CPAG book NeilCR refers to.

biggsyy147

Hi Alice, thank you for that information it was actually very useful and I now may know why it has happened. My contract with the lease started in or around this time 3 years ago however the contract was terminated early due to my disability getting worst and me not being able to push the pedals properly, would this mean they possibly paid up until the end of the lease and now I have to re-apply with PIP? Sorry I don't know much about this as I had just been on Motability without dealing with any DLA or PIP before, but this seems to make a lot of sense.

Thank's again

NeilCr

NeilCr wrote: »

Absolutely not arguing with you as I don't know the answer for sure

I did, however, find this on Rightsnet

http://www.rightsnet.org.uk/Forums/viewthread/9429/#42569

And I can't look at CPAG till tomorrow. Have you got a link on this, please, as I am genuinely interested.

Thanks

OP

I do think you need to talk to DWP to ascertain what is going on. It's hard to advise without knowing exactly what is happening. Perhaps post back here when you have spoken with them?

I looked at CPAG today and it does seem to go with what was said on Rightsnet. I also asked a debt specialist and they were aware of a recent case where tax credit overpayments had been taken from DLA

However, as Alice says, I can't see that they would stop the whole payment for that so it is most likely something else - probably one of the options Alice suggested