What does a childs DLA award do to my Tax Credits award?

blue_monkey_2

Hi all,

My son has just received middle rate care DLA which has been backdated and we have just had a lump sum so I need to call the Tax Credits people to tell them.

Please can you tell me who the DLA is for? I mean, will they now take my tax credits from me to make up for giving him this money?

I want to get my son one of the big play equipment things because we are not able to go out and socialise with lots of other children or in busy parks, etc... as he gets a bit stroppy if there is no play equipment available so this is why the big one at home would be ideal.

I have picked one out but had a sudden thought that they may now deduct this money from my tax credits award when I call them and as it is the end of the year I'll have to pay it all back, I already owe them nearly £700 for an 'overpayment' so do not want to plan the new play equipment if I will have to pay this DLA money to the tax credits people because it'll mean I have received additional income and then do not qualify. If I have to pay it then I have no problem with this, I am not trying to shirk out of it, but I wanted to know before I plan to get anything new for the garden.

Does anyone know what will happen in regard to this please. I hope what I have written and what I have asked is making sense.

Thank you.

geordie_lass_2

You should receive additional Child Tax Credits if your son is receiving DLA, they vary in amount depending on whether he is getting the Low, Middle or Highest amount and will also be backdated to the same date as the DLA.

Also, find out if you are entitled to claim Carers Allowance, you are entitled to this if your son is getting the Middle or High rate of DLA for Care or Mobility I believe. You will need to tell Tax Credits about this too if you receive it, it may entitle you to some more Tax Credits.

The money you get is for your son so it won't penalise you financially in any way, you are just claiming it on his behalf as he is under 16. Check out your award notices and you will see that he has been given his own NI number for the claim.

hth

donnalove

hiya

DLA is not counted as income for any benefits.
you will get an extra premium(around2200)added on to your child tax credits, you should ring them up and tell them and they will back date payments to the start of your sons DLA.

so i say go get him that play equipment

also have a browse through the family fund(sorry dont have link).
they are invaluable and you can apply for a grant ev year towards certain things or even holidays, obviously they have certain criteria rules regards income.

donnalove

geordie_lass wrote: »

You should receive additional Child Tax Credits if your son is receiving DLA, they vary in amount depending on whether he is getting the Low, Middle or Highest amount and will also be backdated to the same date as the DLA.

Also, find out if you are entitled to claim Carers Allowance, you are entitled to this if your son is getting the Middle or High rate of DLA for Care or Mobility I believe. You will need to tell Tax Credits about this too if you receive it, it may entitle you to some more Tax Credits.

The money you get is for your son so it won't penalise you financially in any way, you are just claiming it on his behalf as he is under 16. Check out your award notices and you will see that he has been given his own NI number for the claim.

hth

if you claim carers allowance this will count as income for ctc and will not entitle you to more money.

[Deleted User]

geordie_lass wrote: »

You should receive additional Child Tax Credits if your son is receiving DLA, they vary in amount depending on whether he is getting the Low, Middle or Highest amount and will also be backdated to the same date as the DLA.

Also, find out if you are entitled to claim Carers Allowance, you are entitled to this if your son is getting the Middle or High rate of DLA for Care or Mobility I believe. You will need to tell Tax Credits about this too if you receive it, it may entitle you to some more Tax Credits.

The money you get is for your son so it won't penalise you financially in any way, you are just claiming it on his behalf as he is under 16. Check out your award notices and you will see that he has been given his own NI number for the claim.

hth

carers allow. is paid on the basis of middle/higher rate care only,and not mobility,as C/A is taxable nto sure how that affects ctc

blue_monkey_2

Ah, lovely, thank you a bit extra though? That is a (nice) surprise - it means I can get him something more than I intended. I did not notice about the NI number either, that is interesting. I was worried they might take it back from me and although I had picked the new play equipment out I didn't want to sell the old stuff while there was a danger I might not actually get the money. It is nice that we can get some things for the garden though, climbing frames, playhouses and a slide (the only thing he has asked for is a 'curly tunnel slide' but that is £600 - eek - so my carers allowance will go towards that if I get it back dated!!)

I have been up since 6.00 this morning trying to get my accounts up to date, I had my own business until Jan this year so trying to get everything in order and on paper as I did the carers allowance online but they want my P/L account for the last trading year. I do not have one of those as I do not run a huge business but I will send my end of year trading accounts to them that I put into HMRC, I thought this would be enough - but I have not done it yet as it was not due, LOL.

Still, it's a kick up the butt as I have to get these accounts in order so we can sort the tax credits and carers allowance - I think I get £100 lump free sum (from HMRC ?) for submitting them early as well so that would be a some extra towards it all as well.

Thanks so much for letting me know so quickly.

blue_monkey_2

OK, thanks, will check out ow the carers allowance will affect us as I am about to claim for that (just have to sort my accounts and sign the form). So maybe what they give in CTC for his disability they will take because of the CA. I can spend the money that he has got then and the other slide will have to wait as the CA backdated would have bought this, LOL!!

lil_me

www.familyfund.org.uk have a look and see if you qualify, they might be able to help with the play equipment.

IIRC you said your son was diagnosed with Autism? Try www.asd-forum.org.uk for info on FF applications which have been successful etc. The first award is usually the highest, only one item being granted per year after that (until they reach the age limit) so usually worth applying for the larger things first.

Your carers allowance will be classed as income for WTC purposes.

blue_monkey_2

Thank you lil me, I think we qualify due to the low income we are on too. I think I did see this before and disregarded it as hubby does the overtime that he can but it says gross earned income is less than £23,000 whch is great as hubby is only on £19,500. That would certainly be of some help. I will check these out later on tonight when I get a spare 5 minutes. x

lil_me

I have a rule, if the worst they can say is no, it's worth asking.

It can take a while to come through so print the forms off and get them in ASAP, they sometimes send someone to visit on first applications but they are lovely ad help to look at what you can apply for.

mandy.h_2

i recently applied to family fund for my son who has aspergers and we are now going on holiday in agust paid for by them he has lovely new bedding and a new wardrobe. i only asked for help towards the holiday but the lovely lady said it was our first claim and so we could have extras, so glad i apllied now