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Original poster

Odd find, secret DLA allowance....

197 replies

sooperdooper · 19/05/2012 10:27

I live with my DP, we're getting married later this year

I was just doing some tidying up, and sorting out a pile of paperwork/letters etc on the kitchen table, putting stuff in the pile to shred/file away etc

And I've found a letter, to DP from the DLA, about Disability Living Allowance, that he's getting nearky £400 a month on a higher rate care & lower rate mobility allowance - which I had no idea about whatsoever? Confused

I wasn't snooping, just sorting through what was important and what could be thrown away, it wasn't in an envelope, just in with other letters on the table

I know his in his family there is a medical history if disabilities - his brother has spina biffida & learning difficulties, and his sister has spina biffida but works normally although I know she does suffer a lot of pain sometimes & has had so many ops over the years to enable to her now live a fairly normal life

But he has never, ever told me her receives DLA, it's so strange and I just don't know what to think

He's at work today and then going to a friends tonight from work, I won't really see him until tomorrow, but this is just so odd

I don't even know what advise I'm looking for really, guess I'm just confused

OP posts:
Original poster
sooperdooper · 19/05/2012 10:58

I know how hard it is to get DLA as well, my mum is registared disabled now but she struggled for ages to actually get any DLA help

OP posts:
TheHouseOnTheCorner · 19/05/2012 10:59

Does the letter indicate how old the claim is? I can't understand how he's kept the letters from you since you live together...he's not being particularly careful is he? If it WAS soemthing dodgy, surely he would be hiding them at work or something?

I would be careful before you accuse....it could be a mistake.

Jinsei · 19/05/2012 11:00

Just another thought - if he left this on the kitchen table and made no attempt to hide it, could it be some sort of error that they have sent it to him instead of another family member? Confused

Original poster
sooperdooper · 19/05/2012 11:02

It's from April this year, I'm not going to accuse him of anything, I just want to know what it's about

OP posts:
Original poster
sooperdooper · 19/05/2012 11:03

It was originally send to his mum & dad's address and they must've forwarded/passed it on to him

OP posts:
HecateTrivia · 19/05/2012 11:04

It's either an error or he's committing fraud.

Nobody has high enough care needs to require high rate care without it being obvious to someone they live with.

Nobody.

Jinsei · 19/05/2012 11:07

If it was sent to his parents' house, are you sure it wasn't mistakenly addressed to him somehow instead of his brother?

Could his parents have got confused and entered the wrong name on a claim form somehow? Confused

Northernlurker · 19/05/2012 11:07

If it was sent to his parent's address then I think the chances are high it's fraud I'm afraid. Does his brother still live with them? What's the betting the claim details are identical.

Sod him going to friends after work. I would be ringing him and telling him to come home NOW or if that's impossible then as soon as work finishes. This is very serious.

Original poster
sooperdooper · 19/05/2012 11:09

He lived at his parents house until about a year ago, I don't think it going to his parents is that odd tbh, he has some other things go there and then get forwarded on

OP posts:
hiveofbees · 19/05/2012 11:11

Like everyone else said, DLA is about needs, not diagnosis. It isnt plausible that you could live with someone and not be aware of someone who needed high rate care.

Maybe the letter is an error, maybe some mix up at the benefits office and sent to the wrong address for that name, and he has left it out to deal with it after work?

Northernlurker · 19/05/2012 11:12

Is his name similar to his brother's?

DPrince · 19/05/2012 11:15

I think its very odd he is getting post to his parents if he doesn't live there. General junk mail fair enough. But actual mail. Why hasn't he changed addresses. From I can gather having post sent to different addresses would be something benefit fraud would look at. I get you don't want to think badly of him. But if it was a mistake, wouldn't he have mentioned it?

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 19/05/2012 11:16

Its possible his parents made the extra claim when he was younger and he hasn't discontinued it :(

Original poster
sooperdooper · 19/05/2012 11:17

I know DLA is about needs, not diagnosis, my mum recieves DLA for severe arthritis and a heart condition

There could be some error, in the it went to his parents house and his brother would definitley be getting DLA in some form

I won't know until I speak to him

OP posts:
HecateTrivia · 19/05/2012 11:17

Then it is a possibility that the claim is fraudulent and he is/they are saying that he lives with them and is cared for by them. They would also be entitled to carers allowance as well. Although that is means tested.

If it's not an error, of course.

Based on what you have said, there is no WAY he actually has high rate care needs, so it's either, like I say, fraud or an error.

If it's an error, then of course he will be on the phone to them first thing monday to say that they've made a mistake...

Northernlurker · 19/05/2012 11:19

£400 a month is a lot of money. If this is fraud then I suspect enough will be outstanding to make the consequences very serious. If it's an error - you'll have trouble proving that tbh. Who gets £400 a month in to the bank account - having also provided their bank details 'in error' and doesn't query it?

Original poster
sooperdooper · 19/05/2012 11:20

I don't think it's that odd getting post sent to an old address like a parents if you know it's going to get passed on, I got some things still sent to my folks place after I moved out because I knew I'd always get them sent on

I don't know, it's just weird, very very weird

But like I said, he so incredibly protective, especially over his brother, that I can't see that he'd be claiming something like this fraduelently, because to me, it's like taking that money from someone in his brothers situation who really, really needs constant support

Very confused

OP posts:
ebbandflow · 19/05/2012 11:21

Do you know his national insurance number? as that is the reference number for DLA, if this matches your dp then this claim is def for him.

perceptionreality · 19/05/2012 11:21

This seems odd. It's very difficult to claim DLA fraudulently because you need a supporting statement from the consultant who manages you condition. But you will only know by asking him...

Original poster
sooperdooper · 19/05/2012 11:22

Then it is a possibility that the claim is fraudulent and he is/they are saying that he lives with them and is cared for by them. They would also be entitled to carers allowance as well. Although that is means tested.

Possibly, but I can't see them doing that, why would they when they do have a quite serioulsy disabled son they do care for?

Ugh, head is a bit mashed

OP posts:
FinallyFacingUpToIt · 19/05/2012 11:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
sooperdooper · 19/05/2012 11:24

Yeah, perceptionreality, that's what I really don't understand, my mum struggled massively to get her DLA and she had to get the doctors to sign it off - you don't just ask for it and it's given, you have to get it medically approved, so how could that happen if there isn't something wrong?

OP posts:
AmberLeaf · 19/05/2012 11:25

How long have you been together?

Does he have any history of mental health problems?

saggarmakersbottomknocker · 19/05/2012 11:25

As others have said - the NI number on the letter is that of the claimant even if the claimant is a child.

If it's your dp's NI number then it's a fraudulent claim. Sorry.

DPrince · 19/05/2012 11:26

Is it possible his parents were claiming for him, when he was younger?