Help! No money!!

Replies

By Tricia

Re: Help! No money!!
Thu 14 Feb 2008 19:10

Hello Lynne

I think you need to get that looked into. I get DLA high rate care for my son along with low rate mobility for him and because he is still in education still get his child benefit and child tax.. I get Carers allowance and topped up with Income support My eldest daughter is at college and has an Adult Education Grant of £30 per week only durring term time. My middle son is working part time in a pub earning around the same as your son on his apprentiship. I now have to pay the interest on my mortgage which is not a high rate but enough to make a difference in my weekly budget.

I can't understand why you have had your benefits stopped but would understand if your son had to pay a contribution towards the costs. As I have said get it checked out again by the Welfare Officer to make sure you are getting all of the benefits which you should be getting.

As for surviving I am living on a very fine line at the moment financially along with most carers in this country. Which really rattles my cage!

By Sparhawk73

Re: Help! No money!!
Fri 15 Feb 2008 09:21

Hi that is all wrong i have always been told that DLA can not be taken in to account with other benifits as it is to do with the Disabilty not any other things. You need to get a benifits review and also maybe if you have one your OT and also see if you should have a care manager from social services. I would also try and speak to your Local CAB and council . I think you should be entitled to more . I know it is a upsetting time but you need to fight hard or they will get away with it over and over again . It is them trying to save mone and look good in my opinon.

Keep us posted please and will support you with undertstanding.

Jason (sparhawk73)

By kerry

Re: Help! No money!!
Fri 15 Feb 2008 16:38

it spounds like you have been mis informed. the DLA is supposed to be extra money, not money instead of.
it is not means tested. (you could be richard branson and still get it,) and the IS should be on top, dla is not to replace it.
the dla is because it is more expensive to live with a disability and its to cover extra costs like your meds.
I cant understand this. Can youngest apply for carers allowance if hes only on 80 pw? Or if not then he should surely get working tax credit if hes supposed to keep you and your other son.
If i were you id enquire about an independant benefit review. (ive had one, theyre great, and really helpful and have no agenda)
good luck
kerry

By Tricia

Re: Help! No money!!
Fri 15 Feb 2008 17:40

someone please correct me if I am wrong on this but I don't think you can get working tax credits if you are under 25 years old. But if working still expected to contribute towards certain expenses if parents are on means tested benefits.

This is to encourage young people to stop at home as long as possible. Only in circumstances if a child is involved then working tax credits and child tax credits be awarded

By nat38

Re: Help! No money!!
Mon 18 Feb 2008 17:39

dla does not affect other benefits also you need to get your sons dla and mobility checked my daughter sounds similar and she gets high rate everything we get the car go and get a full assesment

nataliexxxx fight all the way and send dla all recent consultant reports with application

By loopy

Re: Help! No money!!
Mon 18 Feb 2008 21:26

dla does not affect any other benefits. i know that you cant claim carers allowance for your son if you are in receipt of incapacity benefit for yourself. get yourself down to your local citizens advice and get a benefit review. this does not sound right to me. please keep us posted

By Lynne D

Re: Help! No money!!
Mon 18 Feb 2008 23:45

Just a small update (and it is small!) kerry thank you, i never thought of youngest claiming, and i am going to look into that one. Been on phone about eldest, and the lady said he should be able to claim income support or incapacity in his own right, and another benefit - called "young persons disability premium" now dont quote me on that one, as i do get muddled, and it might not be right name............but it was definatly called young persons something or other lol - doh!!! anyway i have to go to doctors and get a note to say he is not capable of holding down a job and needs support in all aspects of his daily living to qualify, so no problems there! just waiting for the forms to come (tomorrow hopefully) As for me - well still no joy there, been phoning CAB up........ permanantly on answer phone and there is no message service, so got one of my carers to take me up............. STEPS!!! arrrghhhh well that was helpful wasnt it? anyway the office is shut because there is no one to man it at the moment - even more helpful!!!
Right now a few of you have mentioned benefit review, could you please tell me who i get in contact for that - and what happens please? i do think that might be a good idea. Also what happens with this review - and will they come to me?
Oh and by the way, thank you so much everyone for your replies, i really do appreciate it - still sick with worry, but at least i am hopeful for eldest child about money, and i am hanging on to his placement at local learning disabilities centre, i can only afford one day a week for him, but he loves going and was really worried in case i had to take him out but it is £20 a day (hence just the one day a week) and it is totally out of question if i have no money coming in!!!

By welfare

Re: Help! No money!!
Fri 22 Feb 2008 16:04

It would appear things have changed because you are no longer receiving Child Benefit for any of your children. From the circumstances you describe, your minimum income (excluding your DLA Care and Mobility) should be £84.40 per week - which could be made up of Incapacity Benefit and/or Income Support. Your 19 year old son should have the same income in his own right. You have lost the Severe Disability Premium as you are no longer classed as living alone, now that your youngest is an adult. Should your youngest leave home at any time,you and your son will again be entitled to an additional £48.45 each Severe Disability Premium (as you would then be classed as living alone because of you and your eldest son's DLA Mid and High Care) and you could claim Carers Allowance for your eldest son and your eldest son could claim Carers Allowance for you. This would mean you would then both be entitled to £27.15 per week extra as a Carer's Premium, without losing the severe disability premium. Also remember that if you get Income Support reinstated you will be entitled to apply for help with the interest on your mortgage. Your youngest son is not expected to "keep" you or your eldest son - although if you were receiving Council Tax Benefit, this may be reduced by a small amount as your youngest son's income can be taken into account for Housing and Council Tax Benefit purposes. Hope this helps and isn't too confusing x

By sooz

Re: Help! No money!!
Sat 8 Mar 2008 19:24

Hi, on a more specific note, I thought Id provide some advice on prescription charges. there is absolutely no need for you to pay for each item everytime.

Option 1:
Pre-payment certificate. As you get more than 4 items a month you can pay upfront £26.85 for a 3-month or £98.70 for a 12-month. You then get as many items as you want over that period. Much, much cheaper! See this website for details:
www.ppa.org.uk

Option 2: Check carefully that you actually have to pay for prescriptions, it is a little complicated! See these websites for details:
www.ppa.org.uk
for disabilities, including "a continuing physical disability which means the person cannot go out without the help of another person." - needs a medex form to be completed and then signed by your doctor.

www.ppa.org.uk
the HC2 certificate, gives free treatment to people on low income. You need an income of less than 16 grand, it looks at savings and weekly income. The help extends to all your dependents too! Helps also with dentists, opticians, travel to hospital etc. form is lengthy but very do-able.

most local pharmacies should have a copy of all the info and forms. really hope this helps.

By sooz

Re: Help! No money!!
Sat 8 Mar 2008 19:28

well, that was supposed to come up as links to the specific bits of the webiste, but didnt sorry! go to www.ppa.org.uk then there is a tiny section with a purple pound sign saying "help with health costs" on the right hand side. this contains all relevant links.