dla and work ?

sarebear_2

my husband has decided that he has had enough of being on incapacity benefit and wants to return to work.he also gets dla, he gets lower rate care and higher rate mobility (which he uses for his car).
we have been told that we would have to inform dla if he returns to work and they would then decide if he still qualifys. i thought that dla was a stand alone benefit and wasn't affected by income, so why are they saying he might not get it anymore. nothing has changed with his medical condition and he would need the car to be able to work. has anyone been in a similar situation or been told the same thing ?

Lisakx

the only reason is they'll want to know what job he's doing and will decide if he is capable of working certain jobs then they may decide he is capable of doing things for himself that were previously said not able to. So if his DLA claim stated he was unable to cook for himself but became a chef they might think hang on a minute. If the job has no relation to any of the things he's claimed he can't do they will just allow the DLA to continue to be paid. For example you can't walk and you can't care for yourself in respect of personal hygeine etc but you can sit at a computer and type a desk job shouldn't effect the DLA payment.

Hope that made the slightest bit of sense.

cifpower

You do not have to tell DLA if you start work. I receive lower rate mobility and medium rate care and I contacted all my benefit offices including DLA. I was told that benefit was not dependant on employment status or income and as a result did not have to inform them.

healy

sarebear wrote: »

my husband has decided that he has had enough of being on incapacity benefit and wants to return to work.he also gets dla, he gets lower rate care and higher rate mobility (which he uses for his car).
we have been told that we would have to inform dla if he returns to work and they would then decide if he still qualifys. i thought that dla was a stand alone benefit and wasn't affected by income, so why are they saying he might not get it anymore. nothing has changed with his medical condition and he would need the car to be able to work. has anyone been in a similar situation or been told the same thing ?

The information you have been given is incorrect, there is no requirement to tell DLA that he has started work, many people work and claim DLA. If his medical condition had improved you would need to tell them, but as it has not there is no need. If he stops claiming IB DLA may well be advised of this and it could lead to a review anyway, but if his needs are the same it should be ok.

sarebear_2

now i'm confussed :rotfl: :rotfl:
as i say he gets low care so we don't think that would be too much of a problem. it's mainly the mobility we are worried about. he still can't walk without crutches , or use a wheelchair if it would be over a distance,. the job he is looking at is delivering hire cars direct to the customers , so no lifting and carrying, and the only walking would be to hand over a set of keys !
do you think this job would be ok with them and entitle him to keep his benefit ?

sarebear_2

[Deleted User]

i`m sorry to say that there is a need to inform them,it is after all a significant change of circumstances,however if the job in question can still be done given the reasons that he claimed DLA in the first place then there should be no problem
Put it this way if he`d said he couldnt sit in a chair for more than 10 minutes without needing to move around then driving long distances would mean he no longer qualified for DLA
You also state that "your husband has decided hes been on I/B lomg enough and wants to work",do his doctors agree that this would be ok health wise?
It might be a good idea to speak to a disability employment advisor at the JC+,and get some advice as to whats avaliable help wise,and what the score is re:dla and other benefits.
good luck
John

healy

woodbine wrote: »

i`m sorry to say that there is a need to inform them,it is after all a significant change of circumstances,however if the job in question can still be done given the reasons that he claimed DLA in the first place then there should be no problem
Put it this way if he`d said he couldnt sit in a chair for more than 10 minutes without needing to move around then driving long distances would mean he no longer qualified for DLA
You also state that "your husband has decided hes been on I/B lomg enough and wants to work",do his doctors agree that this would be ok health wise?
It might be a good idea to speak to a disability employment advisor at the JC+,and get some advice as to whats avaliable help wise,and what the score is re:dla and other benefits.
good luck
John

The main point that myself and others have made is that you do not need to tell DLA if you start work, it is not one of the change of circumstances that needs to be reported.

hilstep2000

I work and get DLA. You can, and it isn't affected by anything else. Also it doesn't count as income for Tax credits, or housing/council tax benefit either.

davsidipp

yes you can work and claim dla but getting higher rate mobility states you have to be virtually unable to walk to recieve this so that counts out a manual job.

wolfehouse

if he is on incapacity benefit and wishes to work he should first consult his individual personal advisor at job centre plus because there are loads of schemes just now to help people back into work (including discussions on the implications to benefits and hopefully whether it is worthwhile working or staying on benefit). There is also extra money given to you as an incentive for your first year back to work (but people miss this when it finishes).
oh and you should still be able to get dla from what you describe but they can always review any time.

all part of the governments 'pathways to work' scheme.