Disability Living Allowance

 

Sometimes referred to as DLA – This is a tax-free benefit for children and adults who need help with personal care or who have walking difficulties because they are physically or mentally disabled. Your child must need a lot more help or supervision than other children of the same age.

 

Overview

Our children, who are Visually Impaired, need extra care, attention and supervision when compared to their peers.

As parents we often ‘get on with things’ and look after our children according to their needs, regardless of any additional and/or special needs they may have.

My point is that to qualify for DLA all those extra things we do MUST be written on the forms as this is classed as care above and beyond what is expected for a child of a similar age, so please don’t under estimate our role as care giver in the lives of our children.                                                                                      

Many of us have spent hours filling in these forms and I strongly recommend that you enlist the support of a Health Visitor, another parent or one of us here at ‘Common Sense’ to fully include all that is necessary as these documents are counted as evidence of the additional care that your child needs.

 

Disability Living Allowance has two parts called 'components':

·        a care component - if your child needs help looking after themselves or supervision to keep them safe

·        a mobility component - if your child can't walk or needs help getting around

Some people will be entitled to receive just one component; others may get both.

The care component and mobility component are paid at different rates depending on how the disability affects them.

 

Care Component

To get the care component of Disability Living Allowance, the disability must be severe enough for them to:

·        need help with things such as washing, dressing, eating, getting to and using the toilet, or communicating their needs, or

·        need supervision to avoid them putting themselves or others in substantial danger, or

·        need someone with them when they are on dialysis, or

·        be unable to prepare a cooked main meal for themselves (if they had the ingredients), if they are aged 16 or over

 

There are three rates of care component depending on how your disability affects your child:

·        the lowest rate, if they need help or supervision for some of the day or they are unable to prepare a cooked main meal

·        the middle rate, if they need help or supervision frequently throughout the day, or during the night, or someone with you while on dialysis

·        the highest rate, if they need help or supervision frequently throughout the day and during the night

 

Mobility Component

You can claim for mobility needs from:

·        age three, if your child is unable, or virtually unable, to walk

·        age three, if your child is assessed to be both 100% disabled because of loss of eyesight and not less than 80% disabled because of deafness

·        age three, if your child is severely mentally impaired with severe behavioral problems and qualifies for the highest rate of care component

·        age five, if your child needs guidance or supervision when walking out of doors

To get the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance, their disability must be severe enough for them to have the following walking difficulties, even when wearing or using an aid or equipment they normally use:

·        they are unable or virtually unable to walk, or they have no feet or legs, or

·        they are assessed to be both 100% disabled because of loss of eyesight and not less than 80% disabled because of deafness and they need someone with you when you are out of doors, or

·        they are severely mentally impaired with severe behavioral problems and qualify for the highest rate of care component, or

·        the effort of walking could threaten their life or seriously affect their health, or

·        they need guidance and/or supervision from another person when walking out of doors in unfamiliar places

There are two rates of the mobility component depending on how your disability affects your child:

·        the lower rate, if they need guidance or supervision out of doors

·        the higher rate, if they have any of the other, more severe, walking difficulties

 

If they start to get Disability Living Allowance it might increase the amount of other benefits or credits you're entitled to, such as Income Support, Pension Credit, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit, Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit. Disability Living Allowance is normally ignored as income for working out these income-related benefits and credits.

Also if your child gets awarded Disability Living Allowance care component at the middle or highest rate, and you are caring for them for 35 hours a week or more, you may be able to get Carer’s Allowance. (See also Carers Allowance below)

 

To qualify for these, it does not happen automatically, you will have to telephone to get the extra entitlements.

For example, with Child Tax Credits if you are also in receipt of DLA, you will be entitled to a Disability element (paid in addition to the child element) £2,440 annually.

If you are on high rate care DLA you will also be entitled to a severe disability element (paid in addition to the child and disability elements) of £980 annually.

 

How to apply

This link gives you the option of completing the form online or to download and print the form to post. I would recommend that you download the PDF and fill it out on your pc to post to them, as then you are able to save exactly what you have written, then this can be used for future reference, or for the DLA renewal.

direct.gov.uk

Here is a fantastic site for going through each step of the forms making sure you have filled it in as thoroughly as possible.

bhas.org.uk

 

Carer's Allowance

CA- The main state benefit that carers can claim is Carer's Allowance. Carer's Allowance is a benefit for people who regularly spend at least 35 hours a week caring for someone with a severe disability who receives a Disability Living Allowance (Middle or Higher Rate for Personal Care) or Attendance Allowance.

 

Overview

‘Recognising yourself as a carer is the very first step to getting the support you need. Many of us do not see ourselves as careers straight away: we are mums and dads, husbands, wives, partners, brothers, sisters, friends and neighbours. We are simply doing what anyone would, caring unpaid for a loved one or friend, helping them through when they are unable to do things for themselves. The fact is that you are also a care, and there are things that you need to know. No one likes to be labelled, but recognising yourself as a carer can be the gateway to getting a range of help and support.’

 

carersuk.org

 

To qualify for a Carer's Allowance you need to meet the following criteria:

·        You must be 16 years old or over

·        You must look after someone for at least 35 hours a week

·        The person you look after must receive a qualifying disability benefit

·        If you work you must not earn more than £87 a week (although this figure is revised every April, so be sure to check).

·        You must not get one of a list of other benefits

·        You must be living in the UK when you claim Carer's Allowance

·        You must not be a full-time student. This is defined as supervised studying for over 21 hours a week

 

 More in-depth rules for Carers allowance are found in this link.

 

carersuk.org

 

If you are found to be eligible, the weekly rate is £48.65. This is reduced by the amount of certain other benefits, including State Pension that you may receive. If you receive certain other benefits at £48.65 or more a week, Carer's Allowance cannot be paid to you as well. You may be able to get an additional amount for your husband, wife or civil partner or someone living with you who looks after your dependent children.

 

Effect on other benefits and entitlements

If you claim Income Support, and you are entitled to Carer’s Allowance you may be able to get an extra amount included in your Income Support. This is called a 'carer premium'. You will need to apply for the Carer's Allowance to receive the Carer Premium. 

It is an extra amount of money (up to £27.15 a week) included in the calculation of Income Support, income-based Job Seekers' Allowance, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit (Rent Rebate in Northern Ireland). An amount equivalent to the Carer Premium is used to calculate Pension Credit.

You cannot receive Carers Allowance and a State Retirement Pension. If however you are a carer who would qualify for Carers Allowance, you may be entitled to what is known as Underlying Entitlement, which may entitle you to benefits that your retirement pension does not.

 

Carer’s assessment

 

Carer’s have a legal right to an assessment of their needs.  It is your chance to discuss with social services what help you need with caring. You can also discuss any help that would maintain your own health and balance caring with other aspects of your life, like work and family.  Social services use the assessment to decide what help to provide.

 

carersuk.org

 

How to apply

You can apply online:

 

dwp.gov.uk

 

Download a PDF to print and post:

 

dwp.gov.uk

 

Ring for a claim pack: 01253 856 123

 

Useful information and links

The RNIB offer support to those applying for benefits.

 

rnib.org.uk

A page dedicated to different services available to those who are carers.

 

direct.gov.uk

 

 

Motability

Buying and adapting a car can be expensive. The Motability Scheme - run by the independent not-for-profit organisation Motability - gives disabled people the opportunity to own or lease a car at an affordable price.

 

The Motability Scheme can help you with leasing or buying a car if drive a car for a child aged three or over who is entitled to the higher rate mobility component of Disability Living Allowance.

 

If money is a problem when financing the car or adaptations, Motability may be able to provide a grant through their own charitable fund or the Specialised Vehicle Funds, which they administer for the government.

Disabled people don't have to pay VAT on the cost of hiring a car through the Motability Scheme. The cost of any work involved in adapting a vehicle for a disabled person is also eligible for VAT relief.

 

You can apply for exemption from paying vehicle tax if you receive the higher rate of the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance.

 

If you are receiving higher rate mobility component of your child’s Disability Living Allowance then do not delay, telephone or visit the Motability website for more information.

 

Telephone: 0845 456 4566

 

motability.co.uk

 

 

 

Blue badge scheme

The Blue Badge scheme provides a range of parking concessions for people with severe mobility problems who have difficulty using public transport. The scheme operates throughout the UK.

 

You are automatically eligible to apply for a badge if your child is over two years old and either:

 

·        They receive the Higher Rate of the Mobility Component of the Disability Living Allowance.

·        They are registered blind.

 

Your child may also be eligible for a badge if they are over two years old and either:

 

·        They have a permanent and sustainable disability which means that they cannot walk, or which makes walking very difficult.

 

If you are a parent of a child who is less than two years old, you may apply for a badge for your child if they have a specific medical condition which means that they either:

 

·        They must always be accompanied by bulky medical equipment which cannot be carried around without great difficulty.

·        They need to be kept near a vehicle at all times, so that they can, if necessary, be treated in the vehicle, or quickly driven to a place where they can be treated, such as a hospital.

 

Your local authority is responsible for issuing Blue Badge parking permits - contact them for more information. For families of Bournemouth and Poole details are as follows.

 

Bournemouth Borough Council

By Telephone: 01202 458744

By Email: blue.badges@bournemouth.gov.uk

 

Poole Borough Council

By Telephone: 01202 633605

By Email: bluebadges@poole.gov.uk

 

Alternatively there is a link below which will let you enter details of where you live and then take you to your local authority website where you can find out more and/or apply online.

 

local.direct.gov.uk

 

Council tax band reduction for disabled people

Council Tax helps pay for local services like policing and refuse collection. You may be entitled to a reduction in Council Tax if you are disabled or have a disabled person living with you.

The disabled band reduction scheme aims to ensure that disabled people do not pay more Council Tax because they live in a larger property than they would have needed if they were not disabled.  Having a disability does not automatically entitle you to a reduction.

In summary, the requirements for a reduction are that the property must be the main residence of at least one disabled person and it must have at least one of:

 

·        an additional bathroom or kitchen,

·        any other room (not being a toilet) which is mainly used by the disabled person, or

·        enough space for the use of a wheelchair - if the wheelchair is for outdoor use only, this will not count

 

The room or the wheelchair must also be essential or of major importance to the disabled person's well-being, due to the nature and extent of their disability.

 

'Disabled person' in this context means a person who is substantially and permanently disabled. The disabled person can be either an adult or a child and does not have to be responsible for paying the Council Tax bill.

 

Council Tax reduction for disabled people - how to apply:

 

direct.gov.uk

 

TV licence

If your child is registered blind, they can get a 50 percent discount on the cost of a TV licence. This means a colour licence will cost £67.75.

 

If the person who is registered blind is not the current licence holder for your address, you'll need to transfer the licence into their name, even if they are a child.

 

You will need to provide a photocopy of the certificate from your local authority or opthalmologist stating that your child is registered blind, and if you have only recently found out about the discount, refunds are available for previous years backdated to 1 April 2000. You will have to prove that you had a television licence and your child was registered blind during the relevant period.

 

 

You can do this by contacting TV Licensing.

 

Telephone: 0870 241 6468

 

tvlicensing.co.uk