DISABILITY LIVING ALLOWANCE
What is Disability Living Allowance?
Disability Living Allowance is a tax-free, non means tested social security benefit for people with disabilities. DLA is for people who need help with looking after themselves (care) and/or people who find it difficult to walk or get around (mobility).
The two parts of DLA are called the care component and the mobility component. You can be paid either component of DLA on its own or both at the same time if you qualify. The care component is paid at three different rates. These rates are currently set at: Higher rate - £ 64.50, Middle rate - £ 43.15, Lower rate - £ 17.10.
The mobility component is paid at two different rates: Higher rate - £ 45.00, Lower rate - £ 17.10. The lower mobility rate is aimed at people who can walk but need supervision when out of doors. For children to qualify they must need more supervision than is normally required at their age. People who are blind, have learning disabilities or epilepsy are most likely to qualify. The mobility component can only be paid from the age of five.
How long must care have been needed?
A person must normally have needed help for three months and must be likely to need help for a further six months or more.
How to claim DLA
You will need to get a DLA claim pack (DLA1) from your local Benefits Agency.
Is the form difficult to fill out?
Oh yes! But don't be put off. If you are having problems filling out the form you can ask a social worker for help or alternatively you can ask the Citizen's Advice Bureau.
Asking for a review
If you are not happy with the outcome of your claim you can ask for a review. You have to do this within three months of receiving the original decision. If you are still not happy after the review you have the right to appeal to an independent Disability Appeal Tribunal. Once again you have to do this within three months of the review decision.
Will it take long?
The DLA are notoriously slow at processing applications (only 80% of new DLA claims are cleared within 53 working days). Our advice is to send all correspondance by recorded delivery. Why? Because as with all government agencies letters have a strange habit of disappearing. It will also allow you to know when the DLA received your letter.
Contact details:
Disability Living Allowance Unit
Warbreck House - Warbreck Hill - Blackpool - FY2 0YE
Tel: 0845 7123456
INVALID CARE ALLOWANCE
What is Invalid Care Allowance?
Invalid Care Allowance is a weekly benefit for women and men, married or single, under 65 who are looking after a severely disabled person. It does not depend on you having paid National Insurance contributions, but it is taxable. ICA is currently £ 42.45 per week.
How do I know if I qualify?
In order to qualify you must:
A. Be spending at least 35 hours a week caring for a person who receives the care component of DLA at either the middle or higher rate
B. You must not be earning more than £ 50.00 a week
C. You must not be in receipt of either a Widow's Pension or Incapacity Benefit.
How do I claim ICA?
You will need to get an ICA claim form from your local Benefits Agency.
Contact details:
Invalid Care Allowance Unit
Palatine House - Preston - PR1 1HB
INCOME SUPPORT
What is Income Support?
Income Support is a means-tested social security benefit to help people who work less than 16 hours a week and do not have enough money to live on.
How is Income Support worked out?
If you qualify for it, the amount you get will be worked out by adding up the personal allowances and any premiums you qualify for, and then taking away the amount you already get from things like part-time work or other social security benefits.
Personal Allowances are weekly payments towards day-to-day living expenses for you, your partner if you have one, and for any children or young people you are responsible for.
Premiums are weekly additions to Income Support personal allowances for groups of people who have extra needs, such as people with diabled children.
How to claim Income Support
You will need to get a Income Support claim pack from your local Benefits Agency.
What are the current Income Support rates from April 2007?
Personal allowances:
Single people
Aged under 18: £ 35.65
Aged under 18 higher: £ 46.85
Aged 18-24: £ 46.85
Aged 25 or over: £ 59.15
Couple
Both aged 18 or over: £ 92.80 Lone parents
Aged 16-17: £ 35.65
Aged 18 or over: £ 59.15 Dependent children
From birth to 20th birthday: £ 47.75
Premiums:
Family: £ 16.43
Disabled child: £ 46.69
Carer: £ 27.15
HOUSING BENEFIT
What is Housing Benefit?
Housing Benefit is a cash benefit to help you pay your rent or service charges if you are on Income Support or a low income and have less than £ 16,000 savings. The amount of help available depends on your income compared to your housing costs.
If you are on Income Support or have a low income you will get maximum Housing Benefit which is usually 100% of eligible or basic rent. If your income is above Income Support level this will be taken into account and the benefit will be rather less. You lose 65p for each £ 1 of income above Income upport level but this is only a rough guide.
For more information regarding Housing Benefit you will need to contact your local council.
COUNCIL TAX AND COUNCIL TAX BENEFIT
Council Tax is the local tax set by local councils to help pay for local services.
There is one bill per dwelling and it is based on the relative value of your property to others in your area. Bills are reduced for some properties which have been adapted for a disabled occupier.
Reductions for people with disabilities.
If your home has been specially adapted for your disabled son/daughter, the council tax may be reduced to that of a property in the band immediately below yours. e.g if your house is in band D your bill will be reduced to band C level.
Council Tax Benefit
People responsible for council tax bills who get Income Support qualify for 100% council tax benefit, so you will pay nothing unless they have a working non-dependant living with them. Other people on low incomes will also qualify for council tax benefit but how much will depend upon your personal circumstances.
How to claim.
If you think you are eligible for a reduction in Council Tax, or for Council Tax Benefit you should contact your local council.
ROAD TAX EXEMPTION
If your child gets the higher rate of the mobility component of DLA, you are entitled to apply for Vehicle Excise Duty exemption.
How can I apply?
You will need to write to the DLA unit (c/f above) and ask for a Certificate of Entitlement to Disability Living Allowance (form ref:DLA404).
Once you have received a DLA404 form you will need to take it to any large post office along with an MOT certificate, your insurance papers and your vehicle registration document.
A new tax disc will then be issued free of charge.
SOCIAL FUND
If you get Income Support and you or someone in your family is disabled, or seriously ill, you may be able to get a Community Care Grant to pay for certain items you cannot afford out of your weekly benefit. These may include clothing, bedding, laundry equipment, minor structural repairs, gas and electricity meter reconnection charges, redecoration and furnishings, heaters and safety items.
For more details about community care grants and loans ask for a SF300 form from your local Benefits Agency.
FAMILY FUND TRUST
The purpose of the Family Fund Trust is to ease the stress on families who care for very severly diabled children under 16, by providing grants and information related to care of the child.
If you want to find out more you can visit their web site at: http://www.familyfund.org.uk
MOTABILITY
What is Motability?
Motability is a registered charity, which helps disabled people and their families to become mobile. It does this by helping them use the Higher Rate Mobility component of their Diability Living Allowance to lease or buy a car, or to buy a powered wheelchair or scooter.
Who can apply?
Applicants must be in receipt of the Higher Rate Mobility component of their Diability Living Allowance, which must be awarded long enough to cover the full length of the chosen agreement. Children from the age of five can apply as passengers provided they receive the correct allowance.
If you want to find out more you can visit their web site at: http://www.motability.co.uk
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