Bankruptcy and Dla for children

spanner7309

Hi , 
I am currently bankrupt and due to be discharged in February.  

I have 9 year old twins with cerebral palsy and I was awarded Dla for them on the 28th December.
 I phoned up the official receiver and I was advised to email the IPA assessor,  who had emailed me at the beginning of my bankruptcy to say I didn’t have to pay an IPA. I did as I was told after the lady I spoke to reassured me and said not to worry as the money is for my children it would be fine but I should just let them know. 

The IPA assessor has now said I have to fill out some more forms which they will send to me . 

I am now panicking thinking they are going to take the Dla money off my children. 

I have received back pay from the date I applied which obviously looks like a lot of money going into my account but there are so many extras they need and I’m too worried to spend any of the money . Please can anyone give me any advice ? 

When I do get the forms do I keep the childrens Dla money separate or do I have to include it as income/outgoings? 

luvchocolate

You will need to show but I'm sure there will be some where on the form to explain. Just be honest and and hopefully you'll be fine.more experienced than myself will reply later.

spanner7309

Thank you so much for your reply. 

It’s just me over thinking it as usual. 

The logical side of my brain tells me it’s all okay as it’s all there and it shows in my account where the payment has come from etc and I’ve absolutely nothing to hide . It just takes me back to all the worry and stress of starting the bankruptcy process I guess. 

Again thank you so much for your reply this forum has been so helpful. 

sourcrates

You are correct in that the DLA or PIP, whatever it is called now, is for your children's care needs.

Those who receive it usually add it under income, and then add a similar amount under expenditure.

In normal circumstances its disregarded in bankruptcy.

spanner7309

Thank you for your reply sourcrates, I guess I will just have to wait until I receive the forms they want me to fill out . I’m just worried as I look like I have money left in my account with the back pay going in. I was going to use it for some private physiotherapy for them and some other medical things they need 

sourcrates

Believe me, they are well used to seeing these situations, make sure your clear when you fill out the forms, and if they do make a mistake, don`t be afraid to call them out over it, if your not happy, say so.

You do not lose your statutory rights just because you are bankrupt.

spanner7309

Would I be right in saying that the Dla money should not go to pay my debts ? 

I only work part time ( due to my childrens disability I can’t work anymore than I do ) and my wage is all accounted for paying rent and bills .At the moment the back pay does look like spare money , but there is so much my children need and we have been managing without. I
dont know if I should go ahead and get some of the things they need or wait until I have filled out the forms and got a reply from the IPA assessor? 

I sort of feel it would be so much more straightforward if I had been award this after my bankruptcy had finished but yet it is money that my children desperately need . Thank you for taking the time to reply to me . 

flipflopflo

Please don’t feel you have to wait to get essential items for your children from their money please go ahead and get what they need. 

The IS is very practiced in all sorts of circumstances including this. You will put the DLA down under other income or whatever they call it and then on the form you put an amount under outgoings for the exact same and mark it children’s care expenses. Add a separate note to explain if you need to. 

Any problems then as Sourcrates says you tell the OR that there has been a mistake and it’ll get sorted.