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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think the DWP have made a mistake?

40 replies

DayDreamer99 · 06/12/2017 12:16

Just got dd DLA award letter, we had firdt payment last Friday so knew it had been awarded. The letter says she has been awarded high rate mobility and no care component. I just want to see if anybody with more experience of DLA thought it is a strange award before I ring them. Dd is not a wheel chair user but does need watching outside as she has no road sense she is 11 if that makes a difference.

OP posts:
Fairylea · 14/12/2017 14:38

Judging by what you’ve said here it does sound like they’ve made a mistake - but I would be worried you would lose the hrm by querying it. It’s near impossible to get nowadays. I have a child aged 5 with severe autism and learning disabilities who attends complex needs school and he receives high rate care and low rate mobility despite me doing everything I could to get hrm (used cerebra dla guide, had numerous reports to substantiate, etc etc). I would think they have made an error in not awarding some sort of care component.

taratill · 14/12/2017 14:53

I think that's an error. my DS is the same age with very similar issues. He gets mid rate care and low rate mobility.

baritonehome · 14/12/2017 15:05

clearly a mistake. You need to have high rate care if you to quality for high rate mobility under the severe mental impairment rule.
As you DD did not get even low rate care, let along middle or high, I have no idea how this came about in the first place. Clearly an error has been made.

missadasmith · 14/12/2017 15:52

no idea what I would do. agree with PP that you need to get high rate care to get high rate mobility under the SMI rule. At least this was the case.

So technically you have been awarded a mobility rate which you cannot have as you don't fulfill the criteria. No idea if they run internal audits and if this can come up and haunt you and it is therefore better to ask them to look at the claim again or if it is better to stay silent.

Sounds like you should be on low rate mobility with a care rate instead (which in monetary terms would probably quite similar). Hopefully someone more knowledgeable about these DLA intricacies will be along.

Do you work? If she gets middle rate care you would qualify for Carer's Allowance. but not with high rate mobility.

Original poster
DayDreamer99 · 14/12/2017 17:19

Ok rang DWP and dd had definitely been awarded hrm because she is registered visually impaired so it is an automatic entitlement, she has also been awarded mrc but that part on the letter was missing from the envelope. It should of been on the back side of the first page but the whole page was blank! So glad I rang now as it just didn't sit right with me.

OP posts:
Original poster
DayDreamer99 · 14/12/2017 17:21

No I don't work I am a sahp, not sure we would qualify for carers allowance is it means tested. Dh works full time on a semi decent wage.

OP posts:
Knittedfairies · 14/12/2017 17:26

That makes more sense!

HardHatForTesco · 14/12/2017 17:26

Carers allowance is not means tested but it is taxable and there are limits as to how much you are allowed to earn each week and still be eligible to claim.
If your dd has MRC you will be able to claim, it's a simple process.

Justwhenyouthink · 14/12/2017 17:32

Your DP's income is irrelevant for Carers Allowance. If you have no earned income you should apply, as long as you are providing 35 hours a week of care for your daughter. It will also provide you with NI credits towards your pension.

Original poster
DayDreamer99 · 14/12/2017 17:35

Thank you will look into that. I did tick the box about being visually impaired and sent certificate but didn't give any info about it on the form. The whole dla thing is a mine field, she was diagnosed visually impaired in March 2007 at 6 months old so I could have been claim for her the whole time can't believe I didn't know about this. On the bright side we have it now and the extra money will help pay for the extra things dd needs. Thank you mumsnet for all the advice.

OP posts:
LordSugarWillSeeYouNow · 14/12/2017 17:36

Hi op,
My ds gets dla, high rate care and low rate mobility.
I do not work so claim carers allowance. You can claim it if you earn under approx £120 per week.
Also a lot of people miss this one, if you claim child tax credits you get an enhanced rate if child is on at least middle rate care.
This is quite a lot of money added to the amount and can make a big difference to yours and dd's lives.

I didn't claim for a couple of years after ds was diagnosed ( autism ) and when i did I made sure we claimed for everything he was entitled to.

LordSugarWillSeeYouNow · 14/12/2017 17:37

Op I'm pretty sure that mobility is "only" awarded after the age of 5.

baritonehome · 14/12/2017 18:09

if she get middle rate care then carers allowance is only a formality of you don't work. doesn't matter if you DH earns well or not. it is not means tested.

Fairylea · 14/12/2017 19:26

You will get carers allowance regardless of your dhs income. It is only based on your own income and the fact the child you are caring for receives at least mid rate care.

Fairylea · 14/12/2017 19:28

Also dependent on your dhs wage you may be entitled to a disability credit from tax credits - regardless of whether you previously qualified for tax credits. We receive an extra £100 a week in tax credits on top of our usual amount as a severe disability element for ds (he is on high rate).

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