Do you get disability premiums on income based JSA and housing benefit?

[Deleted User]

My mum finally got her pip back and she was awarded. They said on the phone she would get disability premiums added to her JSA as it’s income based and she’s been sent a form. 

She contacted the council and did a change of circumstances and they said they would look at her claim for housing benefit as premiums/discounts might come off this. 

So is it right you get premiums on both? 

calcotti

If she is the only family adult in the house, gets Daily Living part of PIP and no one gets Carer's Allowance for looking after her then she is entitled to a Severe Disability Premium in the calculations for JSA, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction. Obviously if she already gets full HB and CTR these will not increase. For JSA the SDP is worth £65.85 extra/week.

You said she got her PIP back. If all of the above circumstances applied to her previously she was entitled to the SDP then as well.

If she has a long term health condition/disability and it affects her ability to work she could be claim ESA rather than ESA. If the SDP is put in place she would be able, if she wishes, to claim the old form of ESA (not new style ESA or Universal Credit) - see https://www.gov.uk/employment-support-allowance/how-to-claim

calcotti

calcotti said:

If she is the only family adult in the house, gets Daily Living part of PIP and no one gets Carer's Allowance for looking after her then she is entitled to a Severe Disability Premium in the calculations for JSA, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction. Obviously if she already gets full HB and CTR these will not increase. For JSA the SDP is worth £65.85 extra/week.

You said she got her PIP back. If all of the above circumstances applied to her previously she was entitled to the SDP then as well.

If she has a long term health condition/disability and it affects her ability to work and the SDP is put in place she would be able, if she wishes, to claim the old form of ESA (not new style ESA or Universal Credit) - see https://www.gov.uk/employment-support-allowance/how-to-claim

There is also a Disability Premium that would apply in JSA and Housing Benefit regardless of whether she lives alone or not. In JSA this is worth £34.35 for a single person, £48.95 for a couple. It also applies to HB and CTR.

[Deleted User]

Thanks for that. 

She got awarded and was entitled to that since 8th October 2019. 

I’ve filled in the change of circumstances for the council and handed it in but yes she gets full HB already and pays about £250 a year of CT. 

ive tried to say she would be better on ESA but she insists she won’t let her disability get in the way of her getting a job.